Time Bomb High School

Reigning Sound: Rock’s saviors?

Monday, August 10th, 2009 | musiX | 1 Comment

Remember back in the early aughts when bands like The Strokes and The Vines were going to save rock ‘n’ roll? I don’t remember … did they ever save it?

Years before garage rock moved to the dorm room, bands like The Gories, The Mummies, The Oblivians and countless others were carrying the torch, making strange and primitive noise underground … wait a minute, did they save rock ‘n’ roll? The Oblivians lasted about as long as any band of that ilk should, and disbanded in 1998 after five years (although they are back together playing dates). Greg Cartwright went on to form Reigning Sound soon after, a band that dipped as much into musty garages as it did deep into the soul of Memphis R&B. I’ve doted on the band tirelessly, Cartwright in particular—to my friends, on this blog, in my column, year-end lists … on this blog again. Maybe they saved rock ‘n’ roll for me.

Cartwright is from another time—it’s unlikely he’s ever listened to The Strokes, or even Black Lips. But he has listened to The Counts and The Guillotines and Glass Sun. In fact Reigning Sound’s cover of the Glass Sun banger “Stick Up For Me” is the tune that immediately grabbed me off their latest Love and Curses, the band’s first platter of new material in five years. It doesn’t quite match up to Break Up, Break Down and Time Bomb High School, both more refined albums that captured the tenderness of early Roy Orbison and Carl Perkins. Love and Curses is essentially Reigning Sound live—sweatier, grittier, not quite as sweet. Although Cartwright has his moments, most notably in “The Bells” and “Something to Hold Onto,” where his venomous rasp gives way to grievous croon and Dave Amels’ organ swirls between the guitars.

I’m still soaking it in, but I keep going back to that Glass Sun cover. I’ve actually decided that from now on when someone asks what kind of music I listen to I’m just going to strap headphones to their skull and let the song play. I hope that doesn’t make things awkward.

“Stick Up For Me” - Reigning Sound

“Something to Hold Onto” - Reigning Sound

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Reigning Sound making new sounds in 2009

Monday, January 26th, 2009 | musiX | No Comments

A few years ago, a friend turned me on to the Reigning Sound, which immediately became one of my favorite bands. I listened to Home For Orphans and Time Bomb High School until the discs turned to a fine glittery dust. I told all of my friends about them. Bought more records. Told more friends … maybe even told a few enemies.

Reigning Sound singer/guitarist Greg Cartwright might be the only man alive who can pen songs where a shit-storm of distortion can sidle up ever-so tenderly to soulful hooks and tearjerker lyrics. But it’s not all guitar ruckus. Cartwright’s voice always comes through like a man who’s lost it all, especially on songs like “If You Can’t Give Me Everything” and “Since When.” So damn pretty.

He’s been at for years with his former Memphis garage outfits Compulsive Gamblers and the Oblivians. Reigning Sound formed in 2001 and released a few albums including the aforementioned works along with the aptly titled Too Much Guitar in 2004. The band also backed former Shangri-Las’s singer Mary Weiss on her 2007 album Dangerous Game.

Reigning Sound calls North Carolina home these days, and the band is currently working on some new sounds that should hit wax sometime this year on In The Red. I’ll be keeping an eye out. Not enough people know about these guys. Shame. But those who know, know better, and are very intelligent human beings.

“Straight Shooter” - Reigning Sound (Time Bomb High School)

“If You Can’t Give Me Everything” - Reigning Sound (Home For Orphans)

“Since When” - Reigning Sound (acoustic live on Thacker Mountain Radio)

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