Customer Reviews

A Golden Field Of Radioactive Crows

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

 

 

The Seventy-Sevens are one of those great bands that never seems to get the credit they deserve. A Golden Field of Radioactive Crows is a fine album from a very talented Mike Roe and Co. It still has some of the old 77s "broodiness", but it isn't as dark as something like Drowning with Land in Sight, or Tom Tom Blues. The 77s are very good at what they do, with is basically blues-rock. This album seems to have a little something for everyone, so I would recommend it.

Includes the songs from the EP in this song listing along with some newer material from the band. This one kind of grows on you. I was so used to the old 77's material, but after repeated listenings it has caught my ear, and I like it! Mike's songwriting is still sometimes a bit on the edge but one can see the angle he's coming from . The production quality is 5 stars but it's the lyrical content that would make me rate this 4. If your a fan of the band, by all means get this CD! If this is the first time checking out the 77's, you might want to listen to some of the older material first. The musical content is good too, about 4.5 stars and they as always, do an excellent job there too. May they have many more releases! It's still one of my favorite bands Christian or otherwise!

If you have never heard of the 77's but you like Christian alternative music, buy all the 77's albums and get rid of whatever you are listening to now.

This is simply the best band around, secular or Christian....that sounds like an exageration but once you have seen them live you will agree.

This album, despite the wacky name is almost their best album. The 77's is one of the few bands where their best songs are live recordings where they improvise endlessly. "88" is their best album due to this fact. But of their harder albums, Pray Naked, Late etc. this is better, richer and more playable.

One of the best unimprovised 77's song ever in on this album, "Begin" is the best musically, the deepest lyrically and has great and unexpectedly smooth changes of pace. It combines all their strengths, acoustic guitar and subtly smooth and strong base line, Mike singing harmony, some brief but moving guitar solos and lyrics that reach you when you listen to them but somehow are not as impressive when you read them.

Also notable is "U R tripping" a song that doesn't sound like any other 77's song I can recall.

There is a lot new and suprisingly on this album, but also a lot of the same immense musical creativity and talent that is the 77s.

This is a fantastic set of songs crafted in the way that only the 77's can achieve. The backdrop is heavy guitars, in the foreground is the pure rock voice of Mr. Roe. The lyrics are smart, catchy and from time to time - profound. Listen to 'Related' and you will understand- "You cannot keep the box that you came in". 'Mr. Magoo' is a fast-paced alternative cut. 'Genuine' is exactly that. This album (very fortunately) typifies what we all would have hoped for in a turn-of-the-century version of this ultra-cool Christian Rock crew.

One listen makes it clear that "A Golden Field..." is a more collaborative effort than anything the 77s have put out in the last decade. The liner notes confirm it, with drummer Spencer or bassist Harmon credited with music, lyrics or both on every song and head man Roe contributing to a lesser extent than in the past. This collaboration brings new stylistic territory with it, nothing extreme but still noticeable. While "A Golden Field..." is a solid record, it seems like a transition for the band that could bear much greater fruit on future offerings.

I have been sort of backing into the music of the 77s. They have quickly become one of my all-time favorite bands. They are Christians and write from that perspective, but it is not "Christian Music" per se. I'd recommend them to anyone.

The lyrics might offer Christians and non-believers lots to think about, but what does the 77s sound like? Hard pop to alternative is closest to defineable genres in which the 77s fit. Hard, but not really heavy, slightly punkish, '70s-flavored, laid back headphone music also describes 'em. No offense intended to Michael Roe (the vocalist), but he sounds a bit like Mick Jagger. Despite this, the 77s sound great! They're on the fringe of popular Christian music in that they're too Christian for the mainstream, but they're lyrically too edgy for the Christian subculture. Mark Allan Powell's Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (also available at Amazon) calls the 77s "one of the two or three best Christian rock bands of all time." As Christian bands go, and they come and go pretty quickly, the 77s have been around for quite a while (since '79). That longevity is indicative of the quality of their work. The 77s doesn't play your stereotyped Christian music! Golden Field is the only 77s album I own (now), but after hearing them, they're definitely on my want-list!