7 Seconds

7 Seconds: Take It Back, Take It On, Take It Over!Take It Back, Take It On, Take It Over! (2005)
Side One Dummy Records

Reviewer Rating: 4.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: HeinHein
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on January 25th 2004It's already been over five years since their last studio album Scream Real Loud was released. That beauty was a definite grab-back to the fury and rapidity of 7 Seconds' glory days, and with this new album it looks like they picked up the appeals and demands of their fans to remain loyal to the sou.

It's already been over five years since their last studio album Scream Real Loud was released. That beauty was a definite grab-back to the fury and rapidity of 7 Seconds' glory days, and with this new album it looks like they picked up the appeals and demands of their fans to remain loyal to the sound that offered them immortality in hardcore-punk environments. This band was and will always be my absolute favorite band in pre-Bad Religion punk times.

The word "hardcore" is too often associated with growling voices and New York, because although this might be "Your Parent's Hardcore" (as they sing themselves), to me this band IS the real cradle of melodic punk-hardcore. A band that influenced so many of their descendents (yep, Bill Stevenson mixed it) even until this very day, and not only because of their intensity in music, but equally as much because of their lyrics that always gave me that warm feeling of belonging to a community that really means something. In fact, it's like a religious experience without a god: be good to your fellow men, be friends, be openminded and feel united. Their classic song "Walk Together, Rock Together" is my personal gospel, really.

There's not that much new about the whirlwinding 17 songs that are on this album. Just 4 of them are over 2 minutes long and there's hardly any pauses between them (how I love that traditional Ramones-y concept!). It's literally three-chord choruses, battering drums and of course Kevin Seconds' genuine, glorious, high-pitched vocals supported by the wow-ing backings. Although this discription might sound like this is very simplistic music, and maybe to some extent it is, don't underestimate them either because these easy chords are held together in many different formats, and the bassplay could stand the test with Rancid's Matt Freeman or All's Karl Alvarez at times. These are not sing- but shout-along songs, the perfect epitome of how a live band should be playing: through the tough sound they manage to provoke that joyous feeling, inviting to throw these fists in the air like not many bands can.

Nice songs never last long, and since these are all short songs, it's not too difficult to figure out these are all good. Maybe my nostalgic feelings are preventing me once more to give an unbiased opinion, but please kids… this crew just breathes punk rock as I feel punk rock is meant to be breathed: breath-taking.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

minorthreatguy (June 5, 2010)

eh. alright album.

Anonymous (October 30, 2005)

i hate this album. it sounds like fucking pennywise trying to sound like minor threat.

Anonymous (March 13, 2005)

People can complain all they want about all of the songs "sounding the same", "being too simple", etc. this may be so for those who don't have the ear and love of old school hardcore punk. I Just bought this album, and it is exactly what i was hoping for.

The passion of Kevin's lyrics just makes me smile, and the energy of the music is pefect. Turn this shit up loud and listen to everything. 7 Seconds is not backround music.

Anonymous (February 9, 2005)

i'm not going to bitch about this album because i do enjoy the band, but most of the songs one this album sound exactly the same. they are good, but too hard to tell one song from the next.

on another note, how the hell was black flag speed metal?

Not-To-Regret (February 1, 2005)

"I agree completely BSD.....that's the point I was trying to get across. I mean, I can understand if people don't like the "dark" stuff....but if it's your cup of tea (which both kinds are for me) then it's great stuff."

This guy has it right, he likes everything Black Flag has done, he doesn't ditch a band because they stray from formulaic hardcore. The point is, bands grow, mature and experiment with different sounds, some fans however, do not understand this and can only tolerate 100% punk. Therefore they come to say comments like "I only like their hardcore early stuff..." or "the new shit sucks, i'll stick with 'insert album name here' thank you". If I like a band, I make an attempt to enjoy and explore all their releases. Weather it be modern punk or old school straight ahead punk (IE: bad religion)

BrandonSideleau (January 29, 2005)

I agree completely BSD.....that's the point I was trying to get across. I mean, I can understand if people don't like the "dark" stuff....but if it's your cup of tea (which both kinds are for me) then it's great stuff.

Anonymous (January 29, 2005)

'My War' itself is a great crossover album... But I must say, "Damaged" is closer to "The First Four Years" than it.

And, even though it's stereotypical, "Damaged" IS easily their best LP. As Bad Brains' debut is their best and "Hear Nothing, See Nothing..." is the best Discharge ever put out...

Yeah, maybe Ginn's guitar technique got cooler and more out there, and I even like trudging through stuff like "Nothing Left Inside", but it doesn't get you moving like "Nervous Breakdown", "Jealous Again", or "Six Pack" (though Rollins' version is a lot better in my opinion). The distinct difference is that early Flag was just concentrated on being energetic and insane... Later Flag is just brooding and dark.

-BSD

BrandonSideleau (January 28, 2005)

I never said Black Flag or Discharge's work was "stale and boring"...in fact, I love Discharge's early years far more than their average metal years. The First Four years by Black Flag is one of my all time favorite albums....but My War, Damaged and In My Head beat it in my opinion. What I meant by "stale and boring" is emotionless, flat hardcore like Agnostic Front or the Exploited.....that shit just blows, maybe that's not what you meant by "hardcore". I love Minor Threat and the Bad Brains....the creators of hardcore. Not to mention the Bad Brains rocked just as hard when they wen't slightly "metal"....my point is that just because something isnt fast and short....doesn't mean it sucks. My War is easily the most crushing record ever created, and if you don't like that kinda music then fine....but it's your opinion.

Anonymous (January 28, 2005)

"Stale, straight up hardcore is just boring"

I say pure hardcore is the better form. I guess that makes me a "poser bitch", because frankly - Grave New World sucked the shit out of my asshole. I'm also to understand that Jerry's Kids finest hour was not "Is this my World", it was their album from '88 right?. Black Flag got way better when Greg Ginn decided he wanted to go hard rock, and let me guess...the misfits ruled as soon as danzig left the band, huh?

I think what really makes you sound like a complete fucking retard is your generalization that Discharge, DRI, Jerry's Kids and Black Flag's earlier material is "Stale and Boring". That is by far the last thing anyone who ever claimed to like/know anything about punk would say.

-Ken

BrandonSideleau (January 28, 2005)

listen to this little poser bitch below me. DRI, Black Flag and even Discharge had some amazing moments when they abandoned the tired "hardcore" formula......and I wouldn't call it "metal" either......Damn, little bitches like this make me hate the "punk rock" scene.....there is other, very good music out there.....and punk rock is ONLY at it's best when it's mixed with those kinds of music. Stale, straight up hardcore is just boring.

Anonymous (January 28, 2005)

"Their "experimental" period was like a breath of fresh air at a time when too many hardcore bands were taking the easy way out."

you mean, switching to speed metal from hardcore and then sucking mad balls? (DRI, Jerry's Kids [shit, like every band from Boston], Black Flag, Discharge....I could go on)

inanechild (January 27, 2005)

In reply to AP sucking: I was flipping through the latest issue (the one where 7 Seconds gets a bad review), and I came to a bizarre realization: all these makeup wearing emo pretty boys dominating every article actually makes me miss spiky haired skateboarders in Atticus t-shirts dominating every article. I never thought I'd come to that.

notfeelingcreative (January 27, 2005)

bitches be talking shit bout kev seconds on interpunk yo. fuck dat son ill bust a cap in yo crackah ass.

-Tyrone Swingline

Yeah, but honestly, I also prefer the skiba half of the split! I'd take 7 seconds over ALK3 any fucking day (7 seconds worst album is 20 times better than alk3s best album), but solo kev doesn't do it for me as much!!

Anonymous (January 27, 2005)

I wouldnt be suprised if the issue with a negative review in it has ashley simpson on the cover.

I believe it was Senses Fail...... Same thing,.

Anonymous (January 27, 2005)

can someone fill me in on why that dude put

Tom McClintock
California State Senator
19th District

in his thing? i'm out of the loop. is it really the cali state senator?

Anonymous (January 27, 2005)

I wouldnt be suprised if the issue with a negative review in it has ashley simpson on the cover.

I believe it was Senses Fail.

swingline (January 27, 2005)

http://www.interpunk.com/item.cfm?Item=83649&

bitches be talking shit bout kev seconds on interpunk yo. fuck dat son ill bust a cap in yo crackah ass.

-Tyrone Swingline

KB (January 27, 2005)

This album rules.

Score is for the fact that this is the only thread I've ever read on this site where the majority of the people posting havent bitched or been overall negative....In fact, I dont think anyone's been negative. That actually says a lot about how awesome this band is.

Hein (January 26, 2005)

Yeah guys, sorry, obviously I meant the previous studio album was Good To Go, and not Scream Real Loud. My fault.

joeg (January 26, 2005)

"Would grunge-era listeners like myself enjoy 7 seconds?
I mean those who were raised in the school of Offspring, NOFX and Green Day? Not the lo-fi punk that inspired those bands."

oooooo..........yeah...........uh...........this is .......uhh.....lo-fi punk too........yeah.......

Not-To-Regret (January 26, 2005)

Would grunge-era listeners like myself enjoy 7 seconds?
I mean those who were raised in the school of Offspring, NOFX and Green Day? Not the lo-fi punk that inspired those bands.

Anonymous (January 26, 2005)

This is a good album but I find it is pretty much interchangable with Good to Go. I really don't see much difference between the two and The Crew (excluding recording quality) for that matter. People bag on Pennywise for never changing but I can honestly tell the slight difference between most of their albums but the 7 Seconds hardcore era has to be the most stuck in one gear collection of albums (not including the experimental rock tangent they went on) I have ever heard. The tempos never ever change, every song has the whoas in the background, and the 28 minutes always flies by without you even noticing what song you are on until you look at the CD player and realize you are on track 11 already.

I still like this band but I find they don't really write very memorable songs.

TheOneTrueBill (January 26, 2005)

AP gave it a three, but wrote more about the negative aspects (to which there are none in my opinion) than the positive ones. So it wasn't a totaly negative review.

thefunkybrother (January 26, 2005)

Actually, I have read the review from AP and it went something like that it was "essentialy a carbon copy of 1999's Good To Go." Also in that review, it stated that it was "ultimately monotonous."
I, personally, haven't heard the CD yet though, but I have been waiting for a damn paycheck so that I can acquire it.

BrandonSideleau (January 26, 2005)

the problem with all the "depressing" music these days is that its way too polished and non-threatening......if I wanna listen to something depressing I'll grab some Joy Division or Roy Orbison. Oh yeah.....this album kills, just what the doctor ordered.

sickboi (January 26, 2005)

AP gave this a negative review?

Wow, even I didn't think they were that moronic.

Let me guess, it went something like this:

"Forefathers of posi-core, 7 Seconds are back with yet another album trapped in the 80's. Come on guys, times are changing, I didn't hear one scream on this album, and all of your lyrics are happy and positive. Negativity and depression are what its all about these days geezers!"

Fuck AP.

Anonymous (January 26, 2005)

fuck AP....I'd rather check out kerrrang or something

Anonymous (January 26, 2005)

Alternative press is closer to teen people than it is anything punk rock !! I wouldnt be suprised if the issue with a negative review in it has ashley simpson on the cover.

Anonymous (January 26, 2005)

Alternative Press gave this album a negative review. Idiots.

Anonymous (January 26, 2005)

hey jerkoff... Scream Real Loud is a live album. you are a moron.

Anonymous (January 26, 2005)

hey jerkoff... Scream Real Loud is a live album. you are a moron.

dazed (January 26, 2005)

I need this.

joeg (January 26, 2005)

Help - I want to get back into 7 Seconds. The only album I have of theirs is "The Crew." Which albums should I get in what order? Should I go chronologically, or is there a patch of bland releases that I should skip over?

ok, next go and get Walk Together Rock Together. that's a classic record. then go get anyone of the following in any order: their new one, good to go, alt.music.hardcore. if you're open minded, you can try the rest of their experimental stuff.

cdogg (January 26, 2005)

notfeelingcreative (January 26, 2005)

It's about fucking time, I needed this really bad.

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

I'm lovin' it!

"This is your parents...hard core! hard core!"

Damn, they proudly admit they've been around that long--and they haven't deteriorated over time like some bands I know! (Seriously, what are the "Soul Brains"?)

Tom McClintock
California State Senator
19th District

jamespastepunk (January 25, 2005)

No Shai Hulud review?

What, did the name not fit in the space?

(Don't flame, I'm only joking.)

joeg (January 25, 2005)

"'ve never heard these guys before, but I now want to on the basis that they've got 17 tracks in 28 minutes. Seriously, punk bands nowadays write songs that are way too long for the genre. (Of course, if the band happens to be great, then length doesn't matter."

Their old shit is even faster :)

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

I've never heard these guys before, but I now want to on the basis that they've got 17 tracks in 28 minutes. Seriously, punk bands nowadays write songs that are way too long for the genre. (Of course, if the band happens to be great, then length doesn't matter.)

-Chinatown

BrandonSideleau (January 25, 2005)

experimental periods are always bagged on by "punk rock" phonies. I personally really enjoy their experimental period.....as I do many other hardcore punk band's experimentations, many of which are successful.....at times even more so than their punk stuff (well, not 7 Seconds, but there are other bands.....like the Bad Brains and Black Flag, that released stuff just as good while experimenting).

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

Their "experimental" period was like a breath of fresh air at a time when too many hardcore bands were taking the easy way out. Ourselves, Soulforce, and Shizzy were fantastic albums. And so is Take It Back Take It On Take It Over. Again, in a time when so many bands opt to do punk by numbers 7Seconds blasts away with a classic hardcore album. Buy this, learn (and live) the lyrics, and I'll see you in the pit when they tour. 10 out of 10 - BRILLIANT!

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

yeah i remember the experiemental stuff...saw it on mtv actually, before i was old enough to know any better to turn off mtv. that was my first exposure to 7 seconds. a few years later after it was poignently (spell?) pointed out to me that i was a punk, i bout "the crew" and it, like many albums, changed my life. noone else will say it, but 7 Seconds are indeed the west coast's Minor Threat, and the 2 are both in my top 5 punk bands of all time list. Go get this album and if you dont, well, i dont want to pass judgement, but you REALLY suck.

-----Xis

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

They got "experimental", and that's about the only way to describe their middle period besides the word "crappy"...

-BSD

punkcorekid (January 25, 2005)

i'm gonna stay young until i die.

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

great review, great album.

28 minutes, 17 amazing tracks.

skankin_in_the_pit (January 25, 2005)

"Gotta love a band that has been going for this long and hasn't started sucking yet. An ace album"

They had an "experimental" period in which they put out a couple records that most people on this site would say suck. I don't hate 'em but they rarely find their way into my stereo.

jamespastepunk (January 25, 2005)

Good to Go slayed, and this is much better than GtG.

joeg (January 25, 2005)

"Are you just going off the "Check Back In February" on the website or is there already a date booked where you live?"

No. I'm just going off the website and kev's updates.

threechordsandthetruth (January 25, 2005)

These are one of the few bands that nobody really shit talks.

BrandonSideleau (January 25, 2005)

me like.....me like alot. what a no bullshit band.

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

Glad 7 seconds is back to it. To the guy below me, I've heard that they turned into a Kansas-sounding band somewhere in the late 80's.

I'm sure BSD will be able to confirm / deny. He's way better at this history stuff than I am.

-Ken

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

Gotta love a band that has been going for this long and hasn't started sucking yet. An ace album.

Joe

sickboi (January 25, 2005)

The Social D album is great as well.

thirtyseconds (January 25, 2005)

What a fucking great day for reviews. This shit rules

bizzlebrizzle (January 25, 2005)

To the guy talking about older punk bands releasing great new stuff, I'd say this was definitely the only one that holds its own compared to older material. Bad Religion's new one is a dissapointment, didn't evne bother with Social D, and Descendents one was good but I just haven't listened to it that much.

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

the last studio album was good to go. and kevin seconds did that acoustic thing with the dude from a3 as well.

but this album is amaizing. notice how all the older punk bands release great albums of late (descendents, bad religion, social d, 7 seconds) but the majority of what is passed of for newer punk is just watered down mtv crap? the old men are showing the kids how its done.

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

What a day for music, i dont have enough money-oldpunker-

bizzlebrizzle (January 25, 2005)

I disagree Forty.

I'm betting Paradise or II will have that title. Not that this isn't great, I mean, I haven't bought it yet, but I did get the KYI/7 Seconds split and enjoyed the Kill Your Idols half more.

sickboi (January 25, 2005)

Disagree.

I've been waiting for this since the day after I bought 'Good to Go'.

jamespastepunk (January 25, 2005)

Bet you that none of you will remember the CD come the end of this year.

That said, this cd is absolutely glorious.

sickboi (January 25, 2005)

Agreed 40, album of the year.

"My Band, Our Crew" is fucking amazing, and "Still On It" reminds me of the Descendents.

killyouridols (January 25, 2005)

yeah
" this crew just breathes punk rock as I feel punk rock is meant to be breathed: breath-taking. "
one of the best sentences i've read on this site.

skankin_in_the_pit (January 25, 2005)

Hein definitely meant 'Good To Go'. I really dig Hein's nostalgic reviews of older bands like this or that Subhumans live record review.

I don't like how some people are saying this is a return to their old sound or a comeback. Their last record was full of the same ole' fun, fast, scream along, anthems just like this.

"I haven't gotten it yet but i'll pick it up tomorrow. I'm totally jacked for their upcoming tour next month."

Are you just going off the "Check Back In February" on the website or is there already a date booked where you live?

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

What a great album, my first experience with this band was amazing.

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

Dear Hein, Scream Real Loud was a live cd; thus i dont think it really is a studio record.

swingline (January 25, 2005)

your parents hardcore kicks ass

Psychoos231 (January 25, 2005)

This week had some good shit

joeg (January 25, 2005)

I haven't gotten it yet but i'll pick it up tomorrow. I'm totally jacked for their upcoming tour next month.

FortyMinutesWest (January 25, 2005)

Album of the year.

Amazing.

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

I love 7 Seconds, but I'm not sure they're "9" material.... still, really good, solid, traditional, CA hardcore that makes me want to skateboard. Kevin Seconds, I salute you.

OC

TheOneTrueBill (January 25, 2005)

I've listened to it three times since I got back from the record store, including just sitting reading the lyrics. It's just amazing.

This is already guaranteed to be in the my top 3 albums of the year