Customer Reviews

Sticks and Stones

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had never heard of the 77s when a good friend of mine recommended this CD to me a few years ago. Being a fan of 80s rock/new wave/alternative music (Smiths, REM, U2, Psychedelic Furs, Simple Minds, etc.), he thought I might enjoy this little known album as a "Christian" alternative to those bands. It was the best recommendation anyone has ever given to me.

Having been described as "too Christian for the radio, and too radio for the Church," the 77s never received the commercial success in either market that they deserve. I guess that is what makes them true artists.

This album is essentially a "greatest misses" - a collection of songs that for one reason or another didn't make it onto the band's proper albums. Having never heard those prior albums, to me Sticks and Stones is more of a Greatest Hits. Nearly every song is absolutely brilliant. As singles, the songs would fit perfectly on any John Hughes 80s teen flick soundtrack (Pretty in Pink, Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Some Kind of Wonderful, etc.). Yet the songs flow together like any proper album should.

More importantly, like all great music, these songs transcend the time in which they were created. The lyrics and the music are as relevant today as when they were first released in the early 1990.

The liner notes include brief but interesting descriptions of each song by Michael Roe, the band's guitarist and lead singer.

Incidentally, the band's name comes from Matthew 18:22, where Jesus responds to Peter's question as to how many times he should forgive a brother who has sinned against him. Seventy-seven times - or seventy-times seven. So when people call you names because of the music you listen to or your faith in Christ, just remember - sticks and stones may break your bones ...

Although it was offered as a collection of odds and ends and unreleased material, Sticks & Stones includes some of the best work by the early incarnation of the 77s. The first ten songs, all previously unreleased, come together to form a record that any band would be proud to have produced. The last four songs are alternate takes of songs from the self-titled Island record, and each is superior to those on that record, particularly "The Lust...". Sticks and Stones is full of gems and not to be missed!

I agree with the best of the reviews on this. The Seventy Sevens were a rare group that had it in the 80s. After U2 broke down the wall for Christians to get back into the music and art world and out of the closet, the Seventy Sevens were one of the few groups that provided some of the best music for the beleagured ones who grew up on the best of pop rock, but mostly only had other options for appropriate listening of those days.

This album alone is worth the purchase for one of the best pop songs, THE LUST, THE FLESH, THE EYES & THE PRIDE OF LIFE. Other favorites include: YOU WALKED IN THE ROOM, NOWHERE ELSE, THE DAYS TO COME and LOVE WITHOUT DREAMS.

I only wish they added All Fall Down and Unguarded Moment...more gems.

Another band of those days was the Altar Boys.

They were exciting days...

I must admit, I am a huge 77s fan, but everyone I've ever played this CD for has loved it as much as I do! (It's probably my favorite album of theirs ever) There is such a variety of music here - pop, folk, even a little blues. Impressive guitar by frontman, Mike Roe, as always... Unfortunately overlooked in the 80s and 90s due to their "Christian" label, this group appeals to U2 and REM fans. Buy it; you'll like it!!

It might just be the history I have with it, but it's pretty much my favorite pop/rock record of all time. God forbid you live the rest of your life and not hear it. It's been out of print since 1997 or so, which is a grave injustice. My track by track review is as follows:

1) MT - This is the one that reeled me in back in 1991. It's a catchy song, which Mike Roe no longer owns anymore. In his words, "Fox owns the song lock, stock and barrel". It was featured in some variation on Beverly Hills 90210. It's about as straight forward as a radio hit can get, for the 80s anyway. 7/10

2) Nowhere Else - Just a warm, up-lifting, mid-tempo, summery pop song complete with "nah nahs". The 77s aren't usually this whimsical. But, they pull it off here. 8/10

3) This Is the Way Love Is - A checklist of attributes for love accompanied by a rockin' back drop. Drummer Aaron "A-Train" Smith starts to really shine here. A catchy piano melody is syncopated throughout the song. 8/10

4) Perfect Blues - Man, this thing is a monster and rocks in a highly fundamental way. Not too many bands associated with CCM are able to pull off that Stones-y swagger as well as The 77s do here. In fact, it sounds a bit like the love child of the Stones and Jerry Lee Lewis. Sounds icky on paper but you have to hear it for yourself. A-Train, once again, murders behind the kit. 10/10

5) Don't, This Way - Probably not the most appropriate song to follow "Perfect Blues", but then again, this is essentially a set of demos. This is a sad song driven by a sorrowful guitar line, beautifully written and arranged. It stretches over the 7 minute mark, but it's worth it. Mike Roe aptly describes it as the "saddest song I've ever heard". I tend to agree. 10/10

6) You Walked In the Room - A catchy song more than a little reminiscent of Julian Cope in parts. Lyrics appear to describe a scenario of people living a certain kind of life, only to find themselves caught off guard upon the arrival of a certain person that causes them to look more inside themselves ("...you walked in the room...and people seem to get a retrospective look in their eye..."). Could be Jesus, who knows. Unfortunately, it's one of the more sonically crude tracks here. Kind of a shame, because it has a great melody and clever lyrics. If it could just get a re-mastering job, it would warrant a 10. 8/10

7) The Days to Come - This sounds like something that comes straight from War-era U2. Roe pleads "...if we don't release the past, we'll slap the face of the days to come..." It's fast paced and features chimey Edge-like guitar licks. 9/10

8) The Loop - This is the only track that can truly pass for a dud. There are some interesting parts, but it's mostly a dated instrumental track that doesn't really go anywhere. 5/10

9) God Sends Quails - Probably my favorite song from the record. An ominous bass line and 2 minute bluesy guitar solo introduces this track, and then it escalates from there into a theme not too far removed from "The Days to Come" in that the haunting chorus states "..you can't go back..you can't go back..you can go on..." Dark, dreamy, and very melodic. 10/10

10) Love Without Dreams - One of the poppier songs here. This is the one that took me the longest to warm up to. Not sure why. It has everything that makes The 77s great. More in the sunnier inspirational vein like "Nowhere Else" or "This is the Way Love is". 8/10

Four variations of "lost Island treasures" from the self titled 1987 release on Island Records are tacked on to this Cd to make up tracks 11-14. They are "The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes, and the Pride of Life", "Do It For Love", "Pearls Before Swine", and "Bottom Line". I tend to prefer the Island versions, but these versions are hardly unimpressive.

I still remember the first song I heard from this cd way back in 87 on Christian radio. The song 'Pearls Before Swine' was driving me nuts! I had just burned my collection of not-so Godly music which included a few albums by The Cramps and here was a band on Christian radio sounding just like them??? Wowser! My suspicions that this tune was inspired by The Cramps would be validated by Mike Roe years later at Cornerstone in 97. This was my first ever cd purchase as a Christian and still sounds just as fresh with every play.
I'm one for the more hard-rockin sounds,this album is going to be enjoyed by anyone who is fond of the music of Zepplin, The Who, Stones, etc. Mike Roe may not be one of the greatest lyricists, but he has this wonderful ability to impliment the sounds and styles of so many rock bands of the 70s into his own music and still have a unique sound. I think 'This Is The Way Love Is'would have been a big radio hit had there been some good promotion and distribution of this cd back in the day. One of my all-time favorite cds and if you ever get a chance to purchase the import version don't miss out! The Spark label cd has dropped 3 tunes and added 4 songs from the 77s 'More Miserable' era which makes for a perfect songlist on an already great cd! The import cd also has a slightly altered version of 'You Walked In The Room'.

This album still blows my doors down! These are supposedly the lost children of the Seventy Sevens, but it sure seems like their greatest hits to me. Every song has passion, power, and purpose. I think they went downhill after this release, which is a bummer, but this one shimmers even after 15 years. It's worth the higher price!

This is one of my favorite CD's of all time. I'm an avid 77's fan, and this is my fave (though they are all great). "The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes, and the Pride of Life" is a classic and will make you think about your own life. "Do It For Love" is one of my all time favorite songs, period. The version on this album is their first and best. "Nowhere Else" was the song my wife and I danced to at our wedding.

Each song is amazing because it's raw. At the time none of them had been released. Hard to imagine. This CD is no longer in print, so whenever you can buy a copy make sure to stop the presses and do so. You won't be disappointed.

I picked this CD up in a Christian music store in, well, more years ago than I care to remember. Even so, it sits at my work desk to this day. The sounds, songs and sentiments draw me back everytime. Most noteable is "Nowhere Else." It is a song that I played as I drove into the city and dreamed of my then future wife. It's dazzling, sweeping lyrics and heartfelt passions ground you in the realization that nothing is more important that the one you love.
Another tune, "The Lust, The Flesh..." touches the quiet soul and cautions them against the rampant commercialism in the world. To those in love, it is a pause. Asking what is more important? Material or introspective?
Each listener will make his or her own connections, of course. But you WILL make connections-that's what this whole album is about. Listen. Learn. Love.

This is a great collection of well-crafted hard rock and pop (in the best sense of the word) songs. The 77's prove how good they are by releasing a collection of 'reject' songs that is dynamite. Don't get me wrong, if you want the distortion laden 77's of recent times, you'll only get a couple tunes that will really rock hard enough to satisfy you. But if you want great hard rock/pop music then this is for you. Not a bad one in the bunch. Read the review above by Daniel Martin - it is both accurate and informative.