Customer Reviews

Too Much Guitar

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a kid I grew up listening to bands like the Seeds and the Blues Magoos. In high school it was Cream, Hendrix, etc., then later Roxy, the Dolls and later yet 77 punk that helped me thru this existential void we call the world. In the mid 80's it was the Psychedelic/Garage Rock revival that, although not quite as good as the original thing from the 60's, was the best thing around for a new music fix. If you love music, you feed on it like blood, and you need fresh blood all the time to mix in with the good old stuff. This is the best new garage rock album I've heard since the great Swedish band the Nomads released their brilliant "Where the Wolfbane Blooms" debut back in the mid-80's. Greg Cartwright can do no wrong. He is a modern master of rock and roll. This is a much rawer recording than "Time Bomb High School"...much more "garage"... and an even better album. To me this reaches the perfect balance between the ultra-savage Oblivians sound and the more mainstream production of the earlier Reigning Sound albums. Most importantly, Mr. Cartwright writes gret songs, and possesses the kind of big soulful voice that most white guys could only dream of.

Largely devoid of the ballads and slower moments on their previous releases, TMG goes straight for the throat and does not let go. It seems Mr Cartwright has sorta come full circle to the intensity of his earlier band, the Oblivians; even though this work is more focused, it's equally devastating. We're talking killer garage rock here, with a healthy dose of Memphis soul thrown in. Hopefully this won't be overlooked during this current garage rock revival or whatever, because I can't imagine anybody playing this style of music with as much conviction and integrity today. Perhaps a little bit more of the diversity they previously displayed would have been nice, but with this much energy that's a minor complaint.

Both this album and the Reigning Sound's earlier "Time Bomb High School" represent the best on offer in the retro garage rock revival that's currently underway. Intensity, authenticity, chops, nice production values, and -- here's the kicker -- actual songcraft. You can't go wrong with either album if soul-infused '60s rock 'n' roll pushes your buttons. File under modern-day "Nuggets."

Reigning Sound have confirmed their status with this album as the best rock n' roll band in the world today. Hands down. I hope they make a decent living out of it, cause they deserve to; however, I hope they stay bubbling under the surface in terms of popularity. It'd be such a shame to lose a talent like Greg Cartwright to the bad guys.

'Too much guitar' is a very different animal to the previous two albums, its just got so much more crunch. 'Time Bomb High School' is still my favourite as its just has a swagger & groove that drives me nuts. But the sum of the parts of the three albums equals a modern rock n' roll trilogy to rival any other since the mid-70's.

This album is beginning-to-end brilliant. Sort of like the Greg Oblivian of "Popular Favorites," only even more mature. It is pure rock 'n' roll heaven. And it's also by far the best Reigning Sound album. I find something about the other RS albums almost deliberately un-Oblivian-like. Even more so than Greg's Compulsive Gambler albums. I find "Home For Orphans" almost unlistenable. It's so mellow it verges on soporific. This CD, for lack of a better word, is really fun. There's no joy in the other RS CDs. And Greg would appear to agree, because he definitely kicks it up when he's playing live, often rocking out with most of these and the other few up-tempo songs he's written with this band.

It just doesn't make sense to me why if you can create music like this, which is so exuberant, why you would make music like what is found on "Home for Orphans" and "Break Up, Break Down," which is kind of weak and whiny. Anyway, if you're going to check out this band, start here. This is by far their best. And I hope they return to this type of sound soon.

Yeah sure this has all been done before; but somehow Reigning Sound still sounds fresh and new. Too Much Guitar, is easily the groups greatest and strongest release to date. It's true blue guitar driven garage rock to the core, and some of the best the genre has ever released. I truly believe if the Nuggets compilation had been released today this would for sure be the bulk of the collection.

Greg Cartwright leads the band with a great bluesy punk infused guitar swagger and a raugh set of pipes. Jeremy Scott and Greg Roberson lay down one tight rhythem after another. The killer opening cut 'We Repel Each Other' and 'Your Love Is A Fine Thing' open the album with a force so fierce you can't help but shake something. 'Let Yourself Go' and 'Medication' bring a feel too powerful to ignore. The patronizing 'If You Can't Give Me Everything' provides versitility and a slower groove to the alum. It's 'Ill Cry' however that is the focal point of the album. This lovers lament is easily the greatest rock n' roll song of the last twenty years.

Too Much Guitar is without question the greatest, strongest, and all around most concistant rock n' roll album of the 2000's so far.

of the recordings so far put out by the reigning sound this one will be most beloved by rock and roll mayhem fanatics. the raw crunch and buzz and wild plan of attack on their instruments will scare those with lesser hearts for the pure joy and emotion of noise. this is the rock and roll animal sound of the garage moved into your home or car or wherever you might listen (maybe even in the garage?). music for the maniac inside you. i personally love this cd. give it a chance if you love loud well-made anarchy in the u.s.a.

"The Reigning Sound are ace."

Niklas Arson

The Hives
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A garage band out of Memphis, TN these guys kill it.
You may read reviews saying the vocals are mixed to low. At first I thought the same, but after repeated spins, I can't imagine it any other way. Frontman Greg Cartwright's vocals are real similar to Rob Tyner's growl from MC5. Matter a fact this memphis group has a pretty decent motor city conection with Cartwright producing The Detroit Cobra's latest album Baby (2005). One of the best new bands I've discovered in the last couple of years.

Reigning Sound is definitely a band to check out, the sound of their music resembles a lot of classic rock bands but they stand out in their own way. Although I thought the vocals were pretty low on this album, Time Bomb High School sounds a bit more refreshing in my opinion, but its definitely a statisfying feeling to hear good old rock n' roll.