Customer Reviews

Economy of Sound

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have to admit, when I bought this cd on whim after seeing it in the store, not even previously knowing it had been released yet, I was a little thrown off the first time through. The last SMT record I bought was "Rock Crown" and this new one was just different. More pop? I wasn't sure. And I was confused as to why Jason Ross inexplicably sings with a different vocal style than on previous records. Every now and then, a hint of his old raspy growl comes through, but for the most part, his voice is smoother, and flat out different. Neither good nor bad. But I decided to keep spinning it.

On every listen this album just gets better and better. The songs all either rock or sway, they're all good. My personal highlights include: "Wait" "Faster" "Man in Control" "Zeroes and Ones" and "Steal a Car"

If you like 7m3, there is no reason you should go without this record. Get it. Get it.

Seven Mary Three are back(not that they have anything to be ashamed of in Rock Crown or Orange Ave.). They have created by far the best cd of 2001. The cd kicks off with a rocker in "sleepwalking" and closes with the most inspired song Jason Ross has ever written in "tug". "Faster" and "Honey" shows the mainstream rock/pop abiltity of the band. While "Steal a Car" and "Breakdown" is just the band jamming out as hard as they can. "Man In Control" is also a great song that deserves to be heard.

This is a band that knows where its going now. They aren't jumping on some bandwagon. Instead they are doing what has become the exception these days Writing good songs playing with emotion. I just hope they don't wait another 3 years before putting another cd out

I have been a big fan of the band since American Standard. Back then, the band grabbed my attention with its ability to mix hard-driving, raucous tunes like "My My" with melodic and unique songs like "Rodrigo" and "Punch In and Out". In addition, Jason Ross' ability to transform his wonderfully raspy vocals into a melodic tones caught me off guard as well.

The follow up album, Rock Crown, highlighted the band's diverse talent to an even greater extent. From beginning to end, it walks a delicate balance between strightforward rock n' roll and addictive, innovative pop-inspired riffs that make it one of the most prized CDs in my collection.

While The Economy of Sound contains hints ("Wait" and "First Time Believers" are good examples) of what made me a big fan of the first two records, it just doesn't have the same impact. Still, it is a good record. If you like this, I urge you to give one of the first two a listen--I bet you won't be disappointed.

American Standard and RockCrown were amazing. Orange Ave. was a nightmare. I didn't know what to expect from the Economy of Sound album.

First off, it blows Orange Ave. away, thank the Lord. 7m3 put that cosmic, weak southern ballad (stuff) to rest. The Economy of Sound offers excellent tracks such as "Sleepwalking", "Wait", "Honey", and "Zeroes and Ones". I can listen to this album from beginning to end, without skipping a track. That's an impressive follow up to an album where I would skip past 8 or 9 songs. The Economy of Sound does have a weak finish, but in my opinion, it's better to end the album weak than to kick it off weak.

7m3 seems reborn in 2001 and I just wish "Wait" could receive the airplay it deserves. It is undoubtedly amongst the finest 7m3 has ever recorded.

From the opening track "Sleepwalking", Orlando's first "big rock band", shift into overdrive and rock through twelve fantastic songs. It's time for critics to get over the "Eddie Vedder/Pearl Jam" stigma attached to the band since it's platinum selling first release American Standard. Jason Ross has become one of modern rocks great songwriters and all of the songs on The Economy of Sound have the potential to become huge hits. Stations are currently playing "Wait" and let's hope that great songs like "Faster", "Honey" and "Breakdown" also make it on the airwaves.

Seven Mary Three singer Jason Ross has pulled off a feat which many, many people attempt, but practically none can actually do. Over the course of time, his voice has gotten younger. It has moved in the opposite direction of the clock. The coarse voice which once belted out the lyrics to such hard-rock tunes as "Water's Edge" and "My My" has since smoothed itself out, taking on a mellow, Tom Petty-like quality. And the music has adjusted accordingly. While maintaining the medium-paced, medium-rocking, and slightly country-tinged sound that was everywhere in 1994, 7M3 have toned it down a little, pretty much bringing it into the Tom Petty range. There are still moments of difference - "Still I Find You" mixes hopeful lyrics with a rather grim chord pattern, while "Summer is Over" introduces itself with a trippy guitar line that could have been written by Pink Floyd or the Beatles (in their later days, at least). Most of the album, however, relies on the bright guitar lines and simple but accurate drumbeats regretfully reserved now for the classic rock stations.

Another backward change in this album is in the subject matter. On older albums like 1995's American Standard, many of the songs told a story of some sort - alienation, distress, reluctant happiness. Economy, on the other hand, mostly offers "the usual" - relationship problems, search for adventure, the kind of thing that was big with 7M3's contemporaries like the Gin Blossoms or the Screaming Trees (incidentally, 7M3 are the only band from their old scene to still have much of an existence, unless you want to count Better Than Ezra's horrendous new pop sound). "Summer is Over" still tries for the old style, creating a metaphor of some sort; unfortunately, it's not clear exactly what this metaphor is or what it means. Still, it all comes together nicely, and is a perfect fit to Ross' new, mellower voice.

Overall, The Economy of Sound is a pleasant album. The sound of six years ago is a welcome break from much of today's popular music, and it's good to know there's still someone out there making it. Seven Mary Three have turned back the clock on their own sound. Maybe it's time for the mainstream to do the same.

"Economy of Sound" from Seven Mary Three is a great album. After nearly two years of "Wait"ing, I purchased the CD on June 12th. Most of you have probably heard "Wait" on your local radio station or you may have saw 7 Mary 3 on Jay Leno on June 12th. The first single "Wait" will appear on the "Crazy/Beautiful" soundtrack with is set to release this summer. I feel that "Wait" is a great track, but honestly, it isn't the best song on the cd. My personal favorite is "Faster." If you hear "Wait" and you don't think 7 Mary 3 would be your type of band, I can almost promise you that you're wrong. Just purchase "Economy of Sound". There are 12 tracks on the album and one should grab you. While you're in the process of picking up "Economy of Sound", I'd recommend that you purchase "American Standard", or "Rock Crown" or "Orange Avenue." All three of those are also great CD's. You don't know what you're missing by not having a music collection that doesn't contain SEVEN MARY THREE. I promise that after listening to SEVEN MARY THREE, you'll really appreciate that talent, hard work, soul and determination that Jason, Giti, Casey and Thomas have offer. These guys are so down to earth and wonderful!

Seven Mary Three has always been an intriguing band. Although their sound itself has changed quite a bit (from 90s alternative rock to something more poppy and upbeat), they've always worn their southern influences on their sleeves. There's just something special about Ross's vocals... even when he isn't growling. On The Economy of Sound, he also sounds smooth, gentle... almost like honey (and in the actual track "Honey").

The Economy of Sound has a perfect Autumn sound... it feels like October, after the leaves' colors have changed ("Summer Is Over") and trick-or-treaters are getting ready to go around town. Songs like "Wait", "Faster", "Still I Find You", "First Time Believers", "Steal a Car"... perfect music for those breezy, chilly months. And something for people all over the country, and perhaps the world.

I've been listening to them for a while and this was definitely a scale tipper for me to go out and get everything they release when I find out it's been released. My only problem is "Don't Walk with the Devil" is advertised as a bonus track everywhere for this album; and I've heard it on the internet once or twice but have never found it on this album, the two that I have.

They turned this record into a long awaited statement. They put the hammer down that they still were for real and could be good in many ways. For a great deal of the cd, it meant appealing more in a rhythmic, singing, and pop-observing way. Topics may have actually gotten stranger here, except for when he is merely dreaming in "sleepwalking". I love this album, but it doesn't really pull together the way I had hoped (I don't like "tug"--by the way, did you know that "Tug" was the origional idea for the title of this album? I know because I was on the Seven Mary Three Street Team for this album).

Favorite songs: Faster, Honey, Zeroes and Ones. Mainly, I think "honey" is the best song on this album. It sticks with you and is a easy-to-get great example of all the great many metaphors Seven Mary Three uses. I also like the speed-fast edgy craziness of "Breakdown" and the slow-paced methodic hypnotism of "Zeroes and Ones". I dislike "tug" for it's boringness and inability to fit in musically with this album. However, the way it tells a story in pieces with metaphors spewed about does keep it close to belonging, enough to keep this a five star cd. This is a case where the worst song is still worth listening to, and in some ways over again. So the bottom line is this cd is excellent, don't bother yourself with trying to find the hit--only "wait" and "sleepwalking" made the radio.