by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Seven Mary Three isn't much more than a standard bar band, but they tear through American Standard with enough energy to convince listeners they're something more. Beneath that energy and their crushing, grungy riffs, the band displays some promising songwriting skills, highlighted by the single "Cumbersome." Most of American Standard relies on the group's ability to rock, not their ability to write. Consequently, it sounds good as it is playing, but only a handful of tracks are truly memorable.