Shattered [LP]

by The Reigning Sound

Overview

Greg Cartwright has always been a rock & roller with the heart of a soul man, but on his fifth studio album with Reigning Sound, 2014's Shattered, it's the soul man who speaks the loudest. After a five-year layoff, during which Cartwright had to deal with the death of a handful of family and friends (including his onetime bandmate and protege Jay Reatard), Reigning Sound have a new lineup again, and Shattered is a more measured and contemplative set than this group has released in the past, as Cartwright's new songs reflect his deep love of classic soul music. Cartwright sounds passionate but sadly reflective on tracks like "If You Gotta Leave" and "In My Dreams," and while he can still turn up the amps and rock with authority on numbers like "North Cackalacky Girl" and "My My," it's the sad songs that dominate Shattered and ultimately matter the most. Cartwright has never been afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve, both as a singer and a vocalist, and if he's a bit more subtle on Shattered than on, say, Time Bomb High School, he never sounds less than sincere or compelling, and "Falling Rain" and "You Did Wrong" show he doesn't have to shout to make his feelings understood. The members of Cartwright's new band -- Dave Amels on organ, Mike Catanese on guitar, Benjamin Trokan on bass, and Mikey Post on drums -- are graceful with the slow numbers and muscular when they need to rock, and the low-key string charts on "Once More" and "Never Coming Home" provide a new wrinkle that fits these songs perfectly. The best thing about Reigning Sound has always been Cartwright's gifts as a songwriter and his ability to make those songs come alive with his vocals, and Shattered demonstrates that even when he's aiming to caress rather than bruise, he's an artist who makes a real impact. Some Reigning Sound fans might miss the harder-rocking side of the band, but if you're looking for ten new Greg Cartwright songs sung with real heart and soul, Shattered is just what you've been waiting for. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	07/15/2014
Label:	Merge
UPC:	0673855047010
Rank:	59803

Tracks

1. North Cackalacky Girl
2. Never Coming Home
3. Falling Rain
4. If You Gotta Leave
5. You Did Wrong
6. Once More
7. My My
8. Starting New
9. Baby, It¿¿¿s Too Late
10. In My Dreams
11. I¿¿¿m Trying (To Be the Man You Need)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Reigning Sound   Primary Artist
Dave Amels   Organ
John Whittemore   Pedal Steel
Greg Cartwright   Guitar,Vocals
Benjamin Trokan   Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Jana Misener   Cello
Mikey Post   Drums,Percussion
Krista Wroten   Violin
Adam Woodward   Piano
Mike Catanese   Guitar,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Dave Amels   Photography,Group Member
Greg Cartwright   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Liner Notes,Group Member
Doug Easley   Mixing
Jeff Lipton   Mastering
Brian Landrum   Mixing
Benjamin Trokan   Group Member
Maggie Fost   Design
Nathanael Roney   Lettering
Mikey Post   Group Member
Wayne Gordon   Engineer
Maria Rice   Mastering Assistant
Garland Hilton   Composer
Mike Catanese   Group Member
Sal Williams   Cover Drawing