7 Seconds “Praise”
7 Seconds “Praise” 1987. Positive Force Records. Four(ish)-song EP issued on the band’s own label. Melodic 80’s punk, much less hardcore than their earlier material plus a big 80’s production (The Cult is the first reference that springs to mind, followed closely by U2 and then The Cure: think that big, soaring over-the-top anthemic 80’s sound). I for sure saw them while they toured for this EP in ’87, either at the ABC Boxing Club or Kutska’s in Green Bay (probably both with how much 7 Seconds toured). The tracks “Praise” and “You Live and Die for Freedom” are particularly Cult-ish; the latter written for Amnesty International and both a bit preachy, though heartfeltily-so. “You Live and Die” mashes up with “Siren” making it sort of one, sort of two tracks (hence the fourish number of tracks on the EP). “Catching” has whispers of hair metal and “Not Enough Time” has a guitar hook that sounds a little Edge-y. I love 7 Seconds but Praise is definitely not tops for me in their catalogue.
No recorded video that I’m aware of from the Green Bay shows but here’s footage from the Hung Jury Pub in DC from ’87.
Daily (maybe) pulls from the vault: 33-1/3, 45, 78, old, older, classic, new, good, bad. Subjective. Autobiographical. Occasionally putting a record up for sale.