Description
Late is a compilation album by the American rock band The Seventy Sevens, independently released on the band’s own label Fools of the World in 2000, distributed by M8 Distribution. Among the tracks included are all five tracks from the band’s 1999 EP-release simply titled EP, alternate mixes of a couple of tracks from the 1995-release Tom Tom Blues (“Flowers In The Sand”, “Outskirts”, and “You Still Love Me”) as well as the at that point upcoming studio album A Golden Field of Radioactive Crows released in 2001 (“Related” and “Mr. Magoo”). The last four tracks on the compilation is live recordings from various shows the band did in 1997. The CD also includes the Seventy Sevens’ take on “Shotgun Angel”, a song written in the early seventies by Bill Sprouse Jr. for his band The Road Home, and originally recorded by Daniel Amos on their 1977-release Shotgun Angel.
In true feast or famine tradition, there have been four new 77s discs over the last few months, culminating in the release of their new full-length album A Golden Field of Radioactive Crows. First came an EP (cleverly titled EP) described as a taste of the new record. Then came Radioactive Singles, a bunch of remixes of tracks off the new album. Then, after Golden Field blew its third release date, came the aptly named Late, a collection of everything from the EP, most of Radioactive Singles and a few new things. Then, finally, the album itself. Late makes the two that preceded it redundant, so that and the new album are all you need to catch up.
I’ve heard it said that the 77s have been creating a season cycle with their records, and that theory holds up. They started as a summery blues-rock band, slowly darkening their sound over their first three albums. Pray Naked from 1992 was largely as gentle and sad as an autumn rain, and the follow-up, Drowning with Land in Sight, raged like a winter storm. Spring sprung with Tom Tom Blues, a more optimistic record, and now the group has come full circle with Golden Field, the happiest, sunniest album since their debut.
Fans of Michael Roe’s solo work will probably be surprised at how loud Golden Field is, but this band has always rocked. They became a trio with Tom Tom, and Golden Field is the sound of that trio having a grand old time. Even the slower tracks, like «There Forever», end up swimming in electric guitars, and when they lock into a groove, like they do on «Mean Green Season», they don’t sound anywhere near their mid-40s. Which they are, of course.
Highlights include the single «Mr. Magoo», a fun rocker that begins with the line, “I may be Mr. Magoo but I see through you,” and «Down From You», one of the most energetic and melodic pieces in the band’s catalog. A standout is «Related», which sounds like nothing the band has done before. It’s all jacked-up hip hop beats and phased guitars, and it works, though nothing else on Golden Field even tries to be that modern. Roe and company save the best for last with the ironically titled closer «Begin», a classic Roe semi-acoustic piece.
As good as Golden Field is, I have to mention my vague sense of disappointment with it. The songs are decent, but they’re not extraordinary. Roe never really cuts loose with a solo here, and I could listen to him play guitar all day and not get bored. The album is solid, quick and raucous, but it’s nowhere near as good as the 77s can get. It still ranks higher than a good 80% of what’s out there now, but I wouldn’t recommend it as an introduction to the band.
For that, you should get Late. The five songs from the EP are definitely extraordinary, especially the opener, «Unbalanced», which contains one of Roe’s best lines: “You’re so inviting but I still can’t come.” «The Years Go Down» exists in a state of divine fury, and it’s balanced off by the sweet «Sevens». Where Golden Field sticks to one style throughout, the EP flits from mood to mood marvelously.
The alternate takes of «Flowers in the Sand», «Outskirts» and «You Still Love Me» from Tom Tom Blues are all superior versions, particularly «Flowers», with its stripped-down instrumentation and terrific guitar work. The 77s’ version of Daniel Amos’ «Shotgun Angel» is note-perfect. Late closes with three outtakes from It’s for You, including a longer, better version of «Go With God, But Go».
If you want to check out Michael Roe and the 77s, and you do, my recommendation is to snag Late first. It’s an almost-perfect document of the different styles this band does so well, and of the guitar-playing master at its helm. Last time I mentioned Roe, I couldn’t recommend a starting point. If nothing else, Late provides that, and Golden Field thankfully continues the band’s sterling output. The 77s may be the best band you’ve never heard. [Andre Salles, Tuesday Morning 3 a.m., 6/13/01]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/late/378605752)
CD tracklist:
01. Unbalanced
02. Sevens
03. The Years Go Down
04. Best I Had
05. Blue Sky
06. Related (Unreleased Jacked Version)
07. Mr. Magoo (Alternate Mix)
08. Flowers In The Sand (Alternate Mix)
09. Outskirts (Alternate Mix)
10. You Still Love Me (Alternate Mix)
11. Honey Run (Instrumental Mix)
12. Shotgun Angel
13. Go With God, But Go (Live/Unreleased)
14. Perfect Blues (Live/Unreleased)
15. Dave’s Blues (Live/Unreleased)
16. Denomination Blues (Live/Unreleased)
Note: Available at Bandcamp: https://the77s.bandcamp.com/album/late
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