Considering Sticks and Stones
May 10, 2008 by cavman
My daughter pulled my copy of the 77’s Sticks and Stones out this morning and asked to listen to it. My heart skipped a beat in joy. But I’m not sure she really understands the greatness that is this album.
I had listened to Ping Pong Over the Abyss as a new Christian back in ‘86 or ‘87. I didn’t like it. I wrote them off. Then, on my initial visit to RTS Orlando, a guy named Andy Graham gave me a tape of Sticks and Stones. I was converted. It was alternative enough to be ‘cool’ and ‘pop’ enough to be accessible. Sticks and Stones is a compilation of sorts featuring 14 hits, cast offs and unreleased takes. There is plenty of great music here.
The album starts off with 3 alt-pop-rock numbers featuring some good guitar work. Make that very good. The focus of MT, Nowhere Else and This is the Way Love Is seems to be a relationship with Christ.
The sound and subject matter shift with Perfect Blues. It is a more blues oriented number about how none of us meets the standards of others in relationships. It is about the struggle of relationships and expectations. Once again Mike Roe provides some nice guitar work.
I had this album for years before I realized what Don’t, This Way was about. I had thought it was about a failed relationship. I was cranking the album in my apartment when the truth hit me like a ton of bricks. It is, as the liner notes say, the saddest song ever. It is about a lover looking over the dead body of their beloved. It is a return to a more alt-pop-rock sound, but the music matches the lyrics to create a nearly perfect song. There is plenty of mournful guitar to set the mood. It nearly brings me to tears when I listen. Some might find the length of song (7:22) excessive, but I don’t. I love some of the extended jams on this disc.
You Walked in the Room is a catchy little number. Not one of my favorites, but still good. The bass lines really come through on this song about being lonely in the midst of a big party, until …. It has a nice guitar riff during the chorus. It continues to how we put others down to build ourselves up. It is like a mediation on the Proverb “when words are many sin is not absent.”
The Days to Come is another alt-pop-rock song. Good, but not one of the best songs on this disc. MIke has some good guitar work as the song moves toward the end. It is followed by the instrumental song The Loop. It has a funky little bass line and builds slowly adding layers of music slowly until the guitars finally kick in. Since I like instrumental rock music, I can really get into this one. The instruments gradually fade out until you are left with the drum.
God Sends Quail is a great rock & blues song. It has an “ominous bass line” running throughout. It has the feel of a jam with Mike sweating out some great licks until finally he sings “You failed … you spit out manna and God sends quail … you can’t go back, you can’t go back, … you can go on.” It is a song about God’s frustrating faithfulness in the midst of our failures. Sometimes His faithfulness means discipline, which can be hard to take. But this lament is one of my favorites on the album.
Love Without Dreams has some good lyrics, but for some reason this song just doesn’t hit me muscially. “Okay say ‘no’ with your lips, but some day say ‘yes’ with your, you can’t have love without dreams, and you’ve got to have some dreams this side of paradise, … and you can’t see your dreams without paying the price…”
The disc then moves into the “lost Island treasures”, some songs from their time on Island records. It starts with Do It for Love. This was a demo version. It is okay, but has the unfortunate fate of being directly before one my favorite songs of all time.
That song is The Lust, the Flesh, the Eyes and the Pride of Life. This rock & roll lament is a meditation of sorts on 1 John 2. The lyrics just hit home for this sinner. Each verse covers one of these 4 sources of temptation which “drain the life right out of me.” Rare is the song that examines this subject which is a sad reflection of our church culture. But in God’s mercy, this one does. This was a demo version. I haven’t heard a bad version.
Next is the blues rock lament Pearls Before Swine. All 8:12 of it. It was their first go thru that was ‘accidentally’ recorded by the producer. The bass and drums build the mood for Mike’s pained vocals and some extended jamming. This is not a happy song. We need more laments to lay out our pain and sorrow- often self-inflicted. This is made to be played live.
The album ends with Bottom Line, a return to the alt-pop-rock sound. A bit repetative.
Altogether a great alt-rock album from a great band that has stood the test of time.
I can’t resist commenting on this. I used to play bass quite often and found this to be a great warm up tape to throw in before band practice or a gig. I can say that this 77’s tape is one that I never tired of listening to. The only other album of this time period that compares is the Violet Burning’s “Strength”. How satisfying it was to listen to these in my earlier days in the faith. Oddly enough I tend to be somewhat more reserved in my musical tastes nowadays. But my wife is out for a run/walk and the kids are playing in the creek so I think I’ll enjoy some old friends. Thanks Cavdaughter.
I always called them the greatest band you never heard. I don’t know if I said it first or last - but I know it applies. The live version of Mary and the Baby Elvis is perhaps one of the greatest rock band performances and reminds me of why this band is so amazing. They come out with a song like that which is almost whimsical and silly - and then turn around and blast you with the truth.
I had this album for years before I realized what Don’t, This Way was about. I had thought it was about a failed relationship. I was cranking the album in my apartment when the truth hit me like a ton of bricks. It is, as the liner notes say, the saddest song ever. It is about a lover looking over the dead body of their beloved.
Actually, Cavman, your initial instincts were correct. The song is about a failed relationship, not the death of a loved one. Ironically, when I first heard the song, I thought just the opposite. I was shocked to discover that the song was inspired by a divorce.
Just thought you’d like to know …
Mike Beidler
Executive Producer, The 77’s, Holy Ghost Building
Quite surprised, but you would know better than I would. Still an incredibly sad song.
BTW, my 8-year-old daughter’s favorite albums are Sticks & Stones and the Princess Bride soundtrack. I’m so proud!
Have you had the opportunity to pick up the Sevens latest album, Holy Ghost Building? It’s absolutely incredible!
No, I haven’t bought many albums in the last few years. I’ll keep it in mind, as well as the ‘new’ Swirling Eddies disc. I’m much anticipating the new U2.
I’m currently enjoying some selections from Holy Ghost Building on the 77s My Space page:
http://www.myspace.com/the77s
Very bluesy with a gospel influence, which is great. the lyrics are among their most straight forward.
Cavman,
Aside from the very last song on the album (the original 77s-penned “A Lifetime Without You”), the entirety of the album are covers of old gospel, blues, and bluegrass tunes, the original versions of which you can easily find on iTunes (with the exception of Steve Scott’s “Stranger, Won’t You Change Your Sinful Ways,” which has never been previously recorded). Through a few iTunes purchases, I’ve quite enjoyed creating my own “retroactive” 77’s tribute album.
Because the majority of the songs are covers, it would explain why their lyrics are “among their most straight-forward,” as you astutely observed.
Now to begin work on Mike Roe’s upcoming solo album … =)