Customer Reviews

Seventh Key

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

 

 

This is one of the best straighforward rock albums I have ever heard. From the very begining, it kicks butt. There are a few slightly weak songs (Missy, Broken Home) but even those have some redeemable qualities such as Rich Williams guitar solo on Missy. The rest are great. Why wouldn't they be with the talents of Steve Walsh, Phil Ehart, Steve Morse, Mike Slammer and the afore mentioned Williams. Billy Greer not only shines on bass, but also as a vocalist. You will not be dissapointed. 4.5 stars

Didn't expect much from this, just thought it would be a self indulgent release from Billy Greer. Wrong!. The opening tune (the "Kid can play") is a beast!. Billy's vocal ability really shines and Mike Slammer is a frick'n genius. If you have been waiting for Steve Walsh to get his voice back (dont get me wrong Steve is my hero) close you eyes and listen to Sevent Key.
Old rock Hounds will love this. I did!

Seventh Key is the solo project of Billy Greer, who has gained success as the bassist (and sometimes vocalist) of bands like Kansas and Streets and is also a member of the band whose album took the #1 spot in my top 25 of last year, The Sign. I rate the two Streets albums very high as well and when I read in the album info for this Seventh Key album that the sound style was to be described as a fascinating modern mixture of powerful rockin' attitude of Streets mixed with the class and melodies of the late eighties Kansas I couldn't wait to hear the album. I've always preferred Streets and the late eighties Kansas over early Kansas, so the promise of hearing songs in that same vein again really made me long for the album's release. When it arrived I immediately put it in the player and... was a bit disappointed. Why? Probably because I thought I would instantaneously love it just as much as the Streets albums or the Power and In The Spirit Of Things albums by Kansas. Having known those albums for so long I kind of forgot that it took some time as well before I loved them the way I do now. But I played the album over and over and over again... and slowly but steady I got hooked. I found myself humming songs from the album while getting out of bed, taking a shower, while on my way to work, during meetings... Seventh Key gradually got a hold on me up to a point that I can't say anything less than that I would be surprised if anything will actually top it this. It has everything an AOR fan could ever dream of. Brilliant songwriting, excellent musicianship and an incredible production (by Mike Slamer) are what you'll find here. From the straight-in-your-face opener The Kid Could Play to the piano driven ballad Broken Home to the mighty Only The Brave, we're talking AOR at its best here. Every time you play the album something new occurs from the beautiful layers of music Greer and Slamer have created. Every time you play the album it releases more of its treasures... Only heaven knows when it'll stop. I've been around for quite a while and I've heard a lot within the genre. And although I love a lot of the albums that have been released over the years, every once in a while an album comes out that stands out above almost anything else. An album that's considered a classic. This is such an album. Every emotion is present, every nerve is being touched and it keeps you on your toes all the way through. I'll tell you beforehand this album will stand the test of time without losing anything of its flair. Ever!

I love this c.d. You have everything in it. Fantastic guitar work, as always from Mike Slamer, great vocals from Billy Greer, a list of whos who from Kansas. All of which translates into a really great album from Seventh Key!! If you love this c.d., look into Slamer. Billy Greer plays on that one for Mike Slamer. They are a fantastic songwriting duo that is so hard to find nowadays. I give this effort 6 stars!!

Billy Greer, the bass guitarist/vocalist since 1985 for Kansas, finally gets to step out and feature his electrifying high tenor voice on SEVENTH KEY. Not billed as a Billy Greer album because of record company concerns in Europe, where the album was first released, the title is a bit confusing, leading one to believe that this is a new band called Seventh Key, when that is not really the case (odd, since at least many fans of Kansas, Streets, and similar bands already know who Billy Greer is, but wouldn't have any idea what a band called Seventh Key is!). This is Billy's effort all the way, along with expert help from producer, guitarist, and co-writer Mike Slamer.

If you like hard rock, or what is now sometimes called "melodic rock," with very high production values, multitracked vocals, and screaming electric guitar solos, this is the album for you. Those who enjoyed the direction Kansas took in the mid-'80s or late '80s should enjoy this album as well. I was reminded, in fact, of the more pop-oriented moments on "Drastic Measures," the last Kansas album until they re-formed in 1985.

I've listened to "Seventh Key" many times now and I think the songwriting varies wildly, but a couple of tunes stand out, namely "Only The Brave" and a terrific ballad, "Broken Home," that Kansas considered but ended up rejecting for the "Power" album in 1986.

There are some surprises here and there, including a Steve Walsh song, "Forsaken," and there are guest appearances from most of Greer's Kansas bandmates. Not a surprise at all is Billy Greer's terrific lead voice, which Kansas fanatics have had glimpses of but it's nice to finally have a full album's worth.

I've never been a huge fan of this kind of rock (except for the ballads), preferring lighter/more progressive stuff, but I can highly recommend "Seventh Key" if you like the sort of album I described above. I would have given this 3 1/2 stars if that had been possible.

"Seventh Key" seems to have been well received by the European hard rock community so far & the production is without question a 5-star effort. Certainly worth getting for Kansas/Streets fans or anyone who enjoys Boston, Night Ranger, etc.

Well done, Mr. Greer. =)

If you like Kansas you are going to enjoy this!!!
Also check "The Raging Fire" another excelente CD from Seventh Key.
Billy Greer + Mike Slamer = Good Music.

Greer sounds more like a Streets era Walsh than Walsh of today sounds(like awful). This cd isn't bad at all

Mike Slamer known by City Boy and the Streets is again showing his art of songwriting, excellent arrangement and production in solo project of Billy Greer (Kansas), Seventh Key. I first encountered with Mike Slamer in his recent masterpieces �gMetallic Blue�h and �gSlaves of The New World�h under the name Steelhouse Lane. As Mike co-wrote most of the tracks, the sound of the band is mostly that of Steelhouse Lane. To be more precise more pop and catchy than Steelhouse Lane. 80s fans may reminisce The Streets or Kansas around �gPower�h or �gIn The Spirit of Things�h era. �gWhen Love Is Dying�h outstanding dramatic ballad is my #1 favorite of this album. �gEvery Time It Rains�h, �gNo Man�fs Land�h are not by Mike but they are stellar tracks reminding me of "Power" era Kansas. Mike Slamer excellently adds current mainstream melodic rock edge to this album. During 90s Mike assisted some of melodic hard rock masterpieces. �gDr. Love�h from �gDouble Eclipse�h by Hardline is one of the finest examples.

Essential for melodic rock fans, highly recommended for Kansas, Two Fires, Hardline, Night Ranger and Survivor fans. Also check Steelhouse Lane�fs masterpieces.

It looks like I have to go against the crowd on this one, which is a shame because I usually agree wholeheartedly with susumu-5. This is simply a watered-down version of Steelhouse Lane's "Metallic Blue", one of my all-time favorites. The pedigree of the musicians led me to believe that this was going to blow me away, and it just didn't. There are some catchy tunes, most notably "Every Time It Rains," but nothing that turns this album into a standout. The biggest mystery is "No Man's Land." Looking at the guest musician credits, I figured that this would basically be a Kansas song. Listening to it, it sounds like Kansas started to write a killer song, but got interrupted halfway through, so the producers just decided to repeat the two-line chorus ad nauseum.

I must admit that watered-down melodic rock is still better than no melodic rock. Add this to your collection if you have money to burn, but Mike Slamer did a better job with Steelhouse Lane and Billy Greer did a better job with The Sign. If your budget is limited, buy those albums first.

What a suprise for me, awesome, the meeting of "Steelhouse Lane" guitar + "Kansas" beautiful voice is an explosive melodic Hard Rock, this CD is worth because 50% of the songs are good, which is rare in nowadays, how many times, you bought a CD just for 1 or 2 songs, not in this case, "The Kid Could Play" in bad days "When Love Is Dying" but there are "No Man's Land" "Every Time It Rains" and when he fails he became "Prisoner of Love" and rest in "Broken Home" listening to his "SEVENTH KEY"...