Reigning Sound - Time Bomb High School Reigning Sound

Back in 2002, Reigning Sound unleashed Time Bomb High School, an earth-scorching platter of rock and roll that conquered the hearts and ears of everyone from Little Steven Van Zandt to The Hives’ Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist. Time Bomb High School has since become a cratedigger’s grail, out of print on vinyl since its initial release. Now those seekers have reason to rejoice: Time Bomb High School is returning to vinyl; remastered and featuring new cover art by Greg Cartwright.

Hailed as “a truly unimpeachable rock’n’roll-soul classic” by The Guardian, Time Bomb High School was a breakthrough for the Memphis-based quartet of Cartwright (vocals, guitar), Jeremy Scott (bass, backing vocals), Greg Roberson (drums), and Alex Greene (organ, guitar, backing vocals). The songs — Cartwright’s originals and covers like “Stormy Weather” and “I’d Much Rather Be With the Boys” alike — are as alive as ever, but the heart of this edition of Time Bomb High School lies in its sequencing, which was kept true to the 2002 first pressing. The Side 1 features mid-tempo ballads, and love songs. Side 2 is all rockers.

The album opens with four of Reigning Sound’s most vulnerable yearners before breaking out into a rendition of Memphis

hometown heroes The Guilloteens “I Don’t Believe.” From this, an almost entirely new album emerges. The band’s swagger and bravado remains intact, but the album feels more earnest and open-hearted, like they’ve put down their guard to really let the listener in, its ravers feeling like shelter from the storm. There’s no wrong way to listen to Time Bomb High School, but this is its definitive form: a classic that’s ready for rediscovery, as vital to the rock canon as the dusty 45s that inspired Reigning Sound.