With the huge success of hip hop and pop music, the rock genre seems to have fallen off the map. So far this year the void has only been fed by a choice few, notable among them--Pearl Jam, Semisonic, and Scott Weiland. Fortunately, Seven Mary Three's new release Orange Ave., offers hope that Rock and Roll isn't dead--it's just taking a nap.

If you've never heard of 7M3, you're not alone. Though they're not exactly a household name, their 1995 debut, American Standard had a post-grunge sound that was timed perfectly. The two singles, "Water's Edge" and "Cumbersome" exploded onto modern rock radio, and remained in heavy rotation for several months. Next came the release of RockCrown in 1997. This time, the approach was a little on the lighter side of 7M3. The album was full of beautiful acoustically based tracks, which partially explains why it was all but overlooked--the album''s singles Lucky, and Make Up Your Mind didn't perform as well on the charts as the singles from American Standard (mostly due to bad promotion).

With Orange Ave., Seven Mary Three find themselves creating a more layered approach, blending the rock of American Standard with the acoustic ballads of RockCrown. The new songs are full of hooks and catchy rhythms. The tempo remains relatively constant throughout, with pop melodies combined with appealing rock patterns and elegantly laced ballads. Yet, they don't stray as far from their tried-and-true harder edge. The first single, "Over Your Shoulder," gives a good taste of the albums overall sound, and is currently being added to modern rock radio across the nation.

I guess to put it simply, it's a great album for the time. Something to get you through those long, hot summer nights. Great songs by a great band. If you have interests ranging anywhere from Pearl Jam to Grant Lee Buffalo, Orange Ave. is right up your ally.