Rentals - Seven More Minutes (15 tracks) +Album Reviews

Get off Matt's back. This album rocks.

Kevin | 10/12/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since when were artists not allowed to release albums that sound different than previous records? Seven More Minutes is definitely a departure from "Return of the Rentals." That doesn't make it a bad album. If you're going to label this album as "bad," give a reason besides "not enough moog," or "that damn fake British accent." (Which, for the record, I've never noticed.) I've been listening to this album since last March. (I got a copy from a radio station. But don't worry, I bought it when it came out.) Even before that, I knew that Matt was going to give us something he put his entire heart behind. I didn't have expectations, because I knew they would be wrong. I feel sorry for those of you who didn't find what you were looking for in "Seven More Minutes." It's a beautifully constructed masterpiece. If you ever read this, Matt, I want you to know that you have had a wonderful influence over my life since late 1995. I just hope to see you and The Rentals live someday. Come play Knox College!"

Matt paints a good picture of fun and its aftermath.....

Kevin | 05/19/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Rentals - Seven More MinutesMatt Sharp, ex-Weezer bassist, makes a strong case for living it up on the new Rentals album, "Seven More Minutes". Tracks like "Barcelona", "Getting By", "The Cruise", rock while maintaing catchy hooks. "My Head is in the Sun" ( co written by Weezer's Rivers Cuomo ), "Overlee", "Hello, Hello" are so melancholy that they paint you different shades of blue.Matt Sharp, according to interviews, spent a year in Barcelona living life the European way and then went to London to record this masterpiece. The vocals are great with cutting harmonies and excellent support from Petra Haden, Maya Rudolph and others. A special guest appearance is put in by Blur's Damon Albarn on the jumping "Big Daddy C." with a chorus reminiscent of Naughty by Nature's "Hip Hop Horray".Overall, the music is full of familiar chord structures and typical rock drumming and guitar strumming with the added color of the Moog synthesizer. The arrangements though, take those structures and furnish them unique sound twists and dynamics which weren't present in the first Rentals album, "The Return of the Rentals". Although some lyrics get a little corny, they convey a certain mood, urge and unease that fill out the whole picture. Looking at it from with out, as a whole, you see a work that expresses the freedom of irresponsibility and the sadness of instability, the futile search to reconcile the need for fun, with the need to settle down and the reality of growing old.I can truly say that I love this album. Congratulations Matt Sharp on this picture of life.The Rentals - Seven More Minutes MaverickGetting by /Hello, Hello / She Says its alright/ The Cruise/ Barcelona / Say goodbye Forever/ Overlee / Big daddy C. / Keep Sleeping / The Man With Two Brains / Must Be Wrong / Insomnia/ It's Alright (reprise) / My Head is in the Sun / Jumping Around"

The Rentals...more than a retro throwback!

Kevin | Duluth, Georgia-United States | 01/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I got this disc, I had VERY high expectations. I was expecting to hear more of that hard-edged new-wave sound that made me fall in love with The Rentals. Five minutes into the disc, I was thinking to myself "What the h*ll is this?" I was barely hearing any synthesizers and violins. And not one, but TWO acoustic songs? Surely, this was a sacrilege. I promptly took the CD out of my player after it had gone through what I considered a whole album of garbage and set it aside, all the while mumbling to myself angrily. Two months later, I was in the mood for music and I couldn't find anything that I wanted to listen to. I don't know what compelled me to pick up the Seven More Minutes album, but I must thank that unseen force. What I was welcomed to was wonderfully crafted hooks in the brit-pop fashion, a soothing vocal style of Matt Sharp, and wonderful synthesizers. This album spans all sonic possibilities from the classic "Return Of..." style (Getting By), groove-laden goodness (Big Daddy C.), acoustic pop (My Head Is In The Sun/She Says It's Alright), even a punk sounding song (Insomnia), and the rest are just simple, triumphant tunes that make you wanna leave wherever you are and go to Spain and see why Matt Sharp digs the place so much. I don't know why I initially thought this album was trash, but I sure am glad that I listened to it a second time. Overall, this album proves that The Rentals are here to stay and would like to say "Hello.""

Underappreciated, but time will tell

devon bryant | chicago, IL | 12/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i bought this record right when it came out, have listened to it 1000s of times, seen different reactions from folks, but the one thing people always seem to miss is how sad a record it is. it's a deeply painful diary about the girl who likes him just fine, doesn't want more than that, doesn't care if he's gone, might get someone else...all set against the backdrop of his newfound anonymity in a foreign country, a language he doesn't speak, a freewheeling lifestyle that barely conceals the heavy thoughts (and pills) clouding his mind.
people who don't spend time with the complete story of this record (and it is a story) are missing a lot of excellent art. this record came out at the same time as the other classic "diary" records in '99, "electro-shock blues" by eels and "the proximity effect" by nada surf, which didn't actually come out at the time, though it was semi-released in promo copies and i was lucky enough to get one. these three records are highly confessional, excellently played, finely plotted, and will ALL eventually be realized as the classics they are. it reminds me of the Kinks, whose late-60s, early-70s records are only now receiving the recognition they deserve beyond their hardcore fans and fellow musicians. this record is the same. buy it, there's more going on than there seems."

Thank goodness Matt Sharp left Weezer

devon bryant | 03/20/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, I've been waiting a long while for the Rentals follow-up album. I've heard rumors and hints about 'Seven More Minutes' since as early as 1997, I think. I have the feeling it's been ready to go for awhile now, but has been held back -- mastering? mixing? rerecording? Who knows. Perhaps Maverick was just trying to build anticipation.This album is not a disappointment. It outshines Return of the Rentals in every possible way (which is certainly no mean feat). After listening to this album (repeatedly), Return of the Rentals seems amateurish and monotone (but still excellent). Matt Sharp has vastly improved as a song-writer. The sheer variety on this album is stellar. Look for cameo appearances, too, by Tim Wheeler (Ash), Donna Matthews (Elastica), Petra Haden (of course, ex-member of that dog.), and Damon Albarn (Blur). There's even a song co-written with Rivers Cuomo.These songs are catchy, poppy, addictive, just like the songs on the last album, but utilize a much broader soundscape than the Return of the Rentals' moog-meets-distorted-bass formula. Love it or hate it, there's a lot less (obvious) moog on this album. Personally I'm glad. A minor (very minor) complaint: two songs, The Cruise and Barcelona, both appeared in earlier formats (complete with different lyrics) as So Soon and California, respectively. (California, Barcelona, same syllable count; interchangable, see?) So Soon appeared on the friends of P single and California is, well, a rarity I found somewhere. I personally liked both of these older versions better than I did the new versions on the album. California, for example, is pure bliss: heavy distortion, falsetto vocals, a catchy refrain. Anyway, if you haven't heard these rarer versions of these songs, you won't really care.Seven More Minutes comes out April 13, I think, and I know I'll be at the record store, money in hand, when they open. It's simply an amazing album. If you're an old fan of the Rentals, you're in for a treat. And if you're not, there's lots and lots of room for new recruits with this new album. I dare say that this album SHOULD by all means attract many a new Rentals-crazed convert, but it probably won't, unless you go out of your way to go and listen to it. Or maybe this album will find Matt Sharp et al. fame. It darn well should.All I can say is thank God Matt Sharp left Weezer. Sure, there may have been a few teary eyes when he departed to pursue the Rentals full-time, but just remember--would this album have been written, otherwise? For what it's worth, the world has been blessed with 15 great songs."

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	Rentals Seven More Minutes Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock Track Listings (15) - Disc #1 Getting By Hello, Hello She Says It's Alright The Cruise Barcelona Say Goodbye Forever Overlee Big Daddy C. Keep Sleeping The Man With Two Brains Must Be Wrong Insomnia I'ts Alright (Reprise) My Head Is In The Sun Jumping Around great music
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