Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 08/20/2002
Time Bomb High School is much more than another
garage tribute to soulful '60s Brit-
rock. But the sophomore effort from
the Reigning Sound is something less than the band's minimal,
country-folk debut. During knockouts like
the Rolling Stones-flavored
"Straight Shooter" and
"I'd Much Rather Be With the Boys," Greg Cartwright and his Memphis combo's sound is as pure, and as well-grounded, as anything since
Exile on Main Street. With 14 tracks, however, the material and arrangements are spread just a little too thin, and too many average tunes are allowed in the mix. A bit of a stylistic return for former
Oblivians member
Cartwright,
Time Bomb High School crackles with raucous
garage energy. While nothing like the
punk/
soul primal scream of the musician/songwriter's earlier days, this disc surpasses any reasonable swagger quota.
The Reigning Sound's moody, countrified debut had a relative wealth of riveting numbers, and more conceptual clarity, but this 2002
In The Red title will definitely satisfy
Cartwright fans as well as listeners wary of the inevitable post-
White Stripes garage posers.
~Vincent Jeffries, All Music Guide
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