Being from my town (Orlando), 7M3 was pretty well-known around here, but I never really got into them. I remember when the first version of "Cumbersome" first started getting played on local radio, I thought it was new STP. The singer's voice sounded a lot like Weiland (this was around the Core/Purple era). Then, they rerecorded it and released the new version to national radio, which is the version everyone knows, and I didn't like it -- the vocals were much more "snarly" (?) and the guitars were much more jangly. They had a few other good tracks on that first album.
Anyways, they were still big in Orlando after their first album and played around town a lot. I have some friends who've shared a bill with them. I haven't listened to any of their other albums though.
You know, I just listened to the "Churn" version of "Cumbersome," and wow, what a difference! The first sounds more acoustic and downplayed. It almost sounds country. Yes, I agree that their singing voices sounded a bit similar. I just never saw the full-on comparisons other than that, really. STP grew into a more sleeker sound and image whereas 7M3 stayed in a more blue collar type of image. Yeah, Scott wore that worker 7-Up jacket and the guys did have a bit of a working class look to them, but they had a more vintage feel to their style. 7M3 seemed to have a more country feel and look. I mean, the cover of "American Standard" has the guy about to chop the chicken's head off for Pete's sake!
I'll have to listen to 7M3's albums to have a more broad opinion on them. I usually love a band when I listen to their albums all the way through a few times.
Oh, and I just remembered that I read somewhere that Jason Ross is the executive producer on MTV's "Made." Well, I don't think it's on, anymore. EyesofDisarray, did your friends have any cool stories about the guys?
