Whoo-ha! It's always nice to get a visit from an old friend, which is what this EP feels like. Only five songs are served up here, but the quality is pristine, comparible to the Sticks and Stones collection. These would serve well as a musical resume / demo of the band's talent. It's that beautiful melodic pop music that has the right amount of edgy ambience and tone to set it apart from tired old adult rock, yet light enough to appear boring to the energy-freak fans of hardcore punk or something else that relies heavily on speed to thrill the senses. Not to say the band doesn't rock out at times. "Blue Sky" goes fast and humorous: "Molene, saying what she didn't mean / making like a Dairy Queen / milking me when I was never going to be the king..." If any respectable label hears this EP and doesn't sign this band, something's wrong with the universe. It's a good thing we can enjoy these songs for now.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Steven S. BaldwinLike the saying goes, sometimes good things really do come to those who wait. The Seventy Sevens' last album of original material was 1995's Tom Tom Blues (1996 saw the release of Echos O' Faith, which was basically a laid-back live album). 1999, therefore, heralds the year that The Seventy Sevens finally released some new songs to their eager audience, even if a mere EP's worth of material makes…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Israel KlossThis latest offering from the 77s is another hit. Mike Roe, Mark Harmon and Bruce Spencer have created what sounds like a mix of Roe's "Row the Boat Ashore" and the 77s "Drowning with Land in Sight." These are three guys who just can't put out junk if you held a gun to each of their heads. With this, their 9th album (not including their compilations), it's certainly apparent why they are one of…Similar sounding releases
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