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Rating: I have never particularly loved melodic punk rock, I erroneously always associated the genre with Green Day and the last scene of punk made in MTV. When my heart was only and exclusively open to metal music, I saw punk musicians as a group of terrible players and nothing more, fortunately after several years I managed to understand that technical musical virtuosity in 95% of cases only makes a song unlistenable. Moral of the story? Long live 7 Seconds!
It was 1984 when two brothers from Reno (Nevada) formed this band, right in the best period of American Hardcore, following the good principles of straight edge, not coincidentally at the same time as their "positive cousins" from Washington, Minor Threat, became the godfathers of American punk.
"The Crew" was their first album, undoubtedly the purest, most furious, and fastest work that 7 Seconds have ever executed. Musically naive and fresh, composed of simple and effective songs, few riffs per song but with a lot of energy. All this is fully justified, both by the genre and the age of the musicians. You can hear the voice of Kevin Seconds, he was still a kid; but let's be clear, a kid with talent and many good ideas. Sometimes "sinister" melodic choruses are the ingredient that makes all this an excellent album, unusual and completely different from the punk standard of the moment.
Of the 18 songs on the record, only ten exceed the minute, and of these only two reach a record of two minutes, all the others range from thirty to fifty seconds.
The lyrics of the record are based on reaction, rejection of drugs, rejection of alcohol, anti-racism, refusal to conform to American society. They try to encourage youngsters not to be weak and to remain themselves despite what others thought, without falling into the traps of conformity, not having to wait until 21 to get drunk in bars but to be naturally active, not to be fooled by stereotypes and to try to live a healthy and long life to be proud of.
Positive hardcore seems like heresy just thinking about some of the fundamental punk bands "live fast die young" just recall the Germs of Derby Crash or Poison Idea of Pig Champion, nevertheless in America the movement gave a turn to many youngsters, making the genre almost more popular than nihilistic punk. Even though my lifestyle cannot be properly labeled with the adjective positive, I can still deduce that the themes of 7 Seconds are valid and relevant, and I believe they will be forever.
In conclusion, I can say that this album is indispensable in any collection, healthy music in every sense...
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Here's Your Warning (01:18)
Hey it's 1984,
With a glimpse of what's in store,
It looks like things are up to us,
No talk, just action in the streets,
That's what it's gonna take,
No calm youth in the U.S.A.
(Chorus)
It's summertime, American riot!
I can't complain, unless I try it!
The heat is here, a teenage warning!
To those who fear, here's your warning!
This could be the year
That we could make some people think,
With smarter minds we'll hit the streets,
United we must make our stand,
Divided we will fall,
But it's up to us to take that step
(Repeat Chorus)
Complacent kids, that's all they want,
But if they want trouble they'll get it!
Amidst years of youth unrest
And now someone is pissed, right!
(Repeat Chorus)
02 Definite Choice (00:55)
Take your pick and make a stand,
With no regrets or change of plan,
Keep your head, don't be afraid,
Be proud of the choice you've made.
Support your scene, you must believe,
Never stop just move ahead
(Chorus)
Oh Oh Oh! Deinite Choice!
Be positive, no ignorance,
To mindlessness, we must protest.
'Cause we're for real, we're gonna prove
That our movement's on the move,
Fuck big business, church and war,
That's not what we're fighting for
(Repeat Chorus)
03 Not Just Boys Fun (01:29)
Man you've gotta problem, who made you fuckin' king
A macho pig with nothing in your head.
No girls around you, their place is not at gigs,
Don't want 'em on the dance floor 'cos they're weak.
A woman's place, the kitchen, on her back,
It's time to change that attitude, and quick.
(Chorus)
Showing us your phobias, you're scared to see 'em think,
You'd rather dress 'em up in pretty lace,
All nice and colored pink.
You feel so fucking threatened,
When they stand out in front,
A stupid, passive piece of meat is all you really want
But it's:
Not just boys' fun (4x)
There's girls who put out fanzines, others put on shows,
Yet they're not allowed to get out on the floor.
Some make the music, well that you can accept.
Hell, maybe live you'll get some tits and ass
You fucking moron, your brains have run amuck,
A girl's only lot in life is not to fuck!
(Repeat Chorus)
06 You Lose (00:36)
You're beatin' up on your friends,
'Cos you're so insecure,
You wanna be the toughest,
But we all know for sure,
You thrash because you know
You're gonna start another fight,
But maybe when it's too late,
You'll finally see the light,
(Chorus)
You're tough, you fight, you win, so what! (2x)
You listen to the music,
It's the coolest thing to do,
But you don't ever listen
To what it says to you.
Your boots don't make you bigger,
Your pose is nothing new,
Someday it's gonna happen
When we watch you fuckin' lose
(Repeat Chorus 4x)
08 The Crew (00:51)
The older I become
I can't help thinking hard about,
What's really gonna happen,
And what's in store for
Us and them is bullshit,
And if we're gonna make it work
We've gotta care together
And see this too the end, see it to the end
(Chorus)
It'll take some time to fix it up
But that is something we must do,
With solid hearts and clearer minds,
We'll raise our voice and blast right through.
We'll stop the ones who fuck it up,
And show the world that they can't stop the crew.
The crew is me, the crew is you, yeah we're the crew!
The threat of war ain't over,
And yes I fear it's getting near,
With all this hate inside us,
It all may just start.
Here now will you listen,
Or would you rather just ignore
You say we have no future,
Do we have a chance? Do we have a chance?!
(Repeat Chorus)
15 Die Hard (00:57)
Action's being taken 'cos of this, You fucked with us and now we're really pissed. A hundred times you tried to shut us out, But silence isn't golden, hear us shout. (Chorus) Can't you see we're just too fast, youth we're made to last (2x) youth we're comin'!
18 Trust (02:13)
Hey now I've this feeling
That I've never felt before,
I know it ain't cool to say this now,
But I can't help the way I feel inside.
Around you I can be the way I am,
Be happy, pissed or sad,
But the things I always think about
Are of feelings we have shared.
(Chorus)
'Cos when we are together there is something
That I have with you, Trust!
And as we're growin' closer I can feel it
Flowing out from you, Trust!
I hope you can feel the same way
That I do, Trust!
If there's one thing down between us
That's a must, it's Trust!
Look now, we can share emotion
Something that we both thought was just too tough,
Aggression, love and honesty,
There could never be enough.
All I wanna do is just let you know that I care,
And when things get too hard for you,
Look back and I'll be there.
(Repeat Chorus)
You inspire me intensely
Without any doubt.
You keep me thinking, help me try,
Show that I can do without,
With you there's more foundation,
More than any other time,
And when it comes to you my heart is true,
Until the day I die
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