The High Strung - These Are The Good Times

I don’t know about you, but I’m having a tough time deciphering what country a band is from by the sound of their vocals nowadays. England, Ireland, Australia, Detroit…hell your guess is as good as mine. Well, The High Strung, originally from Detroit, Michigan, have now relocated to Brooklyn, New York. But judging by the sound of These Are the Good Times, one would think this is yet another British retro-rock band. Just like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC). But while Black Rebel Motorcycle Club evokes the darker sound of the late 60’s/early 70’s British rock, The High Strung chooses to focus on the vibrant pop sounds of that era instead. In fact, you’ll swear the opening track, “Wretched Boy,” is a Lennon-McCartney composition. These Are The Good Times playfully chronicles the 40 years of rock 'n’ roll to date. Certain tracks recall The Beatles (“Ain’t That Something”), The Clash (“I Got Frustration”) and The Kinks (“Real Nice Boy”). Others compete with The Strokes (“Show A Sign of Life”), The Libertines (“Throwaway”) and Fountains of Wayne (“Cocksure”). The one element all of these bands have in common is energy. Even though the average track length on These Are The Good Times is around two and a half minutes, they definitely pack a punch. If you blend the British Invasion of the late 60’s/early 70’s with the modern British Invasion you’ll get The High Strung from Detroit Michigan. [www.thehighstrung.com]