’77, a Spanish hard rock band founded by the Valeta brothers, tells you everything you need to know about their music with this album title. This is pure ’70s rock ‘n’ roll mixed with a heavy boogie that has many parallels to AC/DC — especially on the title track, which could easily pass as a takeoff on “Sin City.” Now and again, you also sense some Status Quo, too.
Elsewhere, ’77 shucks its penchant for AC/DC on pieces such as “Jazz It Up,” which convinces with a brilliant groove. “Stay Away From Water” has a special charm owing to an acoustic guitar and some soft whistling. But, unfortunately, it seems that by then ’77 has already run out of ideas. After a few songs, with the exceptions already mentioned, Maximum Rock ‘n Roll begins to sound more and more like copies of their great models.
A track like “Stay Away From Water” is so close to mimickry that you begin to wonder whether the band is actually still writing their own songs. They could easily find work as a roving cover band. Another problem is the production, which is simply bad. Even the guitar solos sound like they were recorded from inside a cardboard box.
In the end, it might just be that ’77 have arrived a bit too late, because there are so many ’70s-retro rock bands out there. Besides, if you want to swim with the wave, it takes a bit more than two or three good songs. That’s something to build on, but not much more.
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