It is their biggest selling album of all time.

With a cover directly lifted from Little Richard's eponymous debut, the record opens with an infectious "MT" - the group's only real successful use of electronics - which has a killer guitar hook balanced with some of the group's most meditative lyrics. Overall less hook-laden than the Island album but no less satisfying a listen. At the end of the disc are 4 alternate versions from the Island album.

Also included are some really really great liner notes, which tend to hype Mark Tootle's input with the group. In fact, most of the record spotlights Mark Tootle's songwriting: "Nowhere Else," "This Is the Way Love Is," "Don't, This Way," "You Walked in the Room," "The Days to Come," and "Love Without Dreams." Scuttlebutt is there was some bad blood going on between Tootle and Roe at the time, which would make much of the total Sticks and Stones package a kind of peace offering. Note too that opening track "MT" is also Mark Tootle's initials... Coincidence?!... methinks not!

Funny to think that this could have been the last will and testament of The 77's.

track listing: MT Nowhere Else This Is the Way Love Is Perfect Blues Don't, This Way You Walked in the Room The Days to Come The Loop God Sends Quails Love Without Dreams lost island treasures: Do It for Love The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes and The Pride of Life Pearls Before Swine Bottom Line personnel: Mike Roe - guitar, lead vocals Jan Eric - bass, vocals Mark Tootle - guitar, keyboards, vocals Aaron Smith - still more pounding and trashing