Year In Review 2024 - Favorite Albums Part 1 (Honorable Mentions & Let Downs)

Another year is finishing up and @RockBodElec wouldn't be a proper music site if we didn't end the year with a "Best Of" list, so RtBE presents 2024's Favorite Albums Part 1 (Honorable Mentions and Let Downs):

In the instance that RtBE has reviewed the album, either on this site or elsewhere, we will link to that review and just give a quick summation; click on the name/title and you can read our full opinion. RtBE also worked with the Glide Team to give input on their Top 20 so you can expect some overlap if you already have seen that list.

Again the focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen all the way through. We know these are a dying breed, but it still is the way we consume music, no shuffle, Spotify, AI curated playlists, or streaming for us.

These are the albums that just missed out on being included in our top ten favorite for the year (coming soon). After some very excellent albums, we have a few releases from artists we dig, which we were let down by. 

Like all of our lists or 'best of'', these are meant to start conversations, not end them...

RIP Mary Weiss

Mary Weiss has died. 

The lead singer of The Shangri-Las was reportedly 75. RtBE are big fans of Weiss and the band, having loved their tough girl group sounds, as well as Weiss' comeback album she recorded with The Reigning Sound.

My mother grew up with The Shangri-Las and has fond memories of the group so there is an added personal connection, but we can all experience her music. Listen to some of it below:

  

Album Review: The Hypos -The Hypos

Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here:

It is of The Hypos self-titled debut. This band is a mixture of RtBE favorites over the years as Scott McMicken (Dr. Dog) and Greg Cartwright (Reigning Sound) teamed up with other Asheville musicians and released this album.  

Their debut is very roots rock, an Americana album in the vein of The Band. Big fans of this one. 

Support the band, buy the album, read the review and peep some video below:

Bandcamp's Final Goodbye to Reigning Sound and Possible Hello To Cartwright/McMicken?

A few months back RtBE wrote about Greg Cartwright's decision to end the Reigning Sound moniker. Then last month we reviewed his final album with the band, the live recording Memphis in June. 

Now Bandcamp does an excellent job wrapping up their career and talking to Cartwright about his decision to move on. It looks like we may have been correct about one prediction, a follow up from The Parting Gifts is on the horizon, however, we could never have guessed another revelation here:

He (Cartwright) also shared some details on an unnamed project he has started with Dr. Dog’s Scott McMicken. “He just moved to Asheville a couple months ago, and we put a band together with a couple of friends of ours,” Cartwright says. “It’s a four-piece with guitars, bass, drums, and occasionally some keyboards. It’s been super fun writing songs with him and writing for that dynamic and not being the bandleader having another person who seems to lead sometimes. We’ve done some recording, but we’re not quite done with it.”

Wow. This would be a combo of two all-time favorites for RtBE as we have loved both Reigning Sound and Dr. Dog since we first heard each. Having had the pleasure of interviewing Scott for Glide, this pair would be a joy to check out.  

Here's hoping something comes to fruition from their sessions. Until then, check out songs by both Reigning Sound and Dr. Dog below. 

Album Review: Reigning Sound - Memphis In June

Reigning Sound

Memphis In June

*** out of *****

What originally seemed like a stop gap release from a band that couldn't tour due to Covid-19, gains more gravitas with last months announcement that founding member Greg Cartwright has decided to dissolve Reigning Sound after twenty plus years of service. Memphis In June now captures the final lineup of the band and the one that basically started it all back in 2001 with Break Up, Break Down.  

The group doesn't go back that far in it's repertoire for this live album though as it focuses on newer fare, opening with and highlighting their final studio album, the aptly named A Little More Time With Reigning Sound. Both opener "Let's Do It Again" and "A Little More Time" stay close to the album versions, banging and shaking with garage rock energy and well balanced low end. 

The group brings in some guest to add strings as "Never Coming Home" employs Elen Wroten's cello and Krista Wroten's violin to add drama to the Shattered tune while John Whittemore's steel guitar join the strings for "Drowning" and a weepy "On and On". 

The organ drenched "She's Bored With You" kicks off a more punkish retro run as Alex Greene's keys wash over the rollicking low end as "Time Bomb High School" blasts ahead and "Reptile Style" is grooving, less frantic than past released versions. "Funny Thing" goes for the slow bass bumping route around twinkling guitars and soothing vocals from Cartwright. 

The album wraps up with three newer songs, the first being the duet "Just Say When" which adds Coco Hames vocals to the mix with a return of the string section. "I'll Be Your Man" keeps the strings around for a soothing if lackluster offering before wrapping up the live record with more pedal steel and weeping feelings on "Moving and Shaking". Ending the record on a dour, bittersweet note feels the same way as reading the social media post last month and finding out Cartwright was ending the band, seemingly out of nowhere.  

The truth is none of these versions reexamine the originals in unique fashion and the studio efforts are definitive. That said, Reigning Sound were one of the best garage bands of any era so the vibrating live album Memphis In June is a fine parting gift from the outfit.   

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Support the artists, buy the album and peep some video below:

Greg Cartwright Ends Reigning Sound

The Memphis based Reigning Sound was one of the best garage rockin' soul influenced bands out there and as of last week they are no more. 

Due to Covid-19, Greg Cartwright (the founding and truly only full time member) canceled the groups upcoming European tour and announced that he was dissolving the band after releasing a live album earlier this month. It is unclear where Cartwright goes from here as he seems like a rock and roll lifer, having recently written songs with The Black Keys, producing longtime friends Quintron and Miss Pussycat and other projects. 

Odds are he will continue in some form, (maybe a follow up Parting Gifts record or Oblivions reunion is coming) but this post is for a reflection on one of RtBE's all time favorite groups. 

Reigning Sound made our 2000's decade best list over on Glide with the timeless Too Much Guitar and it can't be stated enough that we loved catching them live. Their first album is solid, Time Bomb High School is a classic as is their Live at Goner Records album. Love and Curses is one of our favorite from the band, their most recent album is also a joy to hear and we rated that high on our year end list. 

Point is, Reigning Sound rule.  

The band will be missed and RtBE like many other rock and roll fans will be waiting to see where Cartwright goes next as he is one of our all-time favorite songwriters, producers and performers.

So turn the volume up and play some of the band's best tunes below, one from each of their studio albums (all of which are worth owning) and a bonus live jam:

  

New Black Keys Album, Dropout Boogie, Coming in May First Single "Wild Child" Released

The Black Keys are back at it. Just last year they released their Mississippi blues cover album Delta Kream and now they are prepping an album of originals titled Dropout Boogie.

The album will feature appearances from Billy F. Gibbons (ZZ Top), RtBE Favorite Greg Cartwright (Reigning Sound), and Angelo Petraglia (Kings Of Leon’s former producer and co-writer).

The album arrives in May, the first single is released already and is called "Wild Child". You can listen to it, and watch the humorous video, right now:

Year In Review 2021 - Favorite Albums 2021

Here are our all of our favorite albums of 2021. This is the year end review, all in one place.

You can find our favorite album cover art, RtBE's favorite archive releases and picks for best live shows. 

Below are our picks for RtBE's favorite albums of the year. It starts with our honorable mentions then moves into our top ten albums of the year. There is a short blurb about the album and a song from it, click on the title to read our full review of the selected records. The focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen to all the way through.

Thanks for reading. Until next year....

Year In Review 2021 - Favorite Albums Part 3 (#5-1)

Another year is finishing up and @RockBodElec wouldn't be a proper music site if we didn't end the year with a "Best Of" list, so RtBE presents 2021's Favorite Albums Part 3 (Numbers 5-1):

In the instance that RtBE has reviewed the album, either on this site or elsewhere, we will link to that review and just give a quick summation; click on the name/title and you can read our full opinion. RtBE worked with the Glide Team to give input on their Top 20 so you can expect some overlap if you already have seen that list.

Again the focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen all the way through. We know these are a dying breed, but it still is the way we consume music, no shuffle, Spotify or singles for us.

This ends our top ten and we have a wrap up of the full list below. You can see the first part of this list and the Just Misses if you haven't yet. 

Like all of our lists or 'best of' roundups, these are meant to start conversations, not end them...

Live Streams: Reigning Sound

For the last year live music was on lock down (like everything else in New York City). Live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are improving on the pandemic front in this city, but live streams will be an option for the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always please support the artists any which way you can.

Today we highlight: Reigning Sound 

Shot earlier this year at the Harbor Town Amphitheater in Memphis, TN the band will be playing some tunes focused on their recent excellent new release, A Little More Time With Reigning Sound. 

The full concert premieres on today, and tickets are on sale now for just $7.98 (including service fee) with a two-week rebroadcast.  Here is a preview tune from the show:

New Album From Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Goblin Alert, Produced By Greg Cartwright

The dance rock freakers Quintron & Miss Pussycat are releasing a new album Goblin Alert out October 16th.

The record will be released on Goner Records and produced by Greg Cartwright. You can pre-order now.

We dig Quintron & Miss Pussycat having caught them live a few drunken late nights down in NOLA. This should be a fun weird one as the duo is not just using a drum machine this time out, they are experimenting with a full band.  

Here is the first song, "Buc cee's Got A Problem" and an album teaser:

10 Years With Glide Magazine: A Look Back Part 5

Wow, @glidemag, has it really been 10 years since I first contributed to the website? That is hard to believe, time flies. In chatting with the sites fantastic editor, Shane Handler, about this series it turns out I have been the longest continual contributor to Glide, that's a fun feat. It continues to be a great ride but since everyone likes round numbers, I decided to take some time to look back at my favorite writings for the site.

For our final installment we want to focus on the piece we go back to the most and the one we were the most proud to work on, as we helped shape Glide's List of the Best Albums of The Decade.

Greg Cartwright Streaming DJ Set

We went through the archives of WFMU's Ichiban Rock and Soul and found this great DJ Set from one of favorites, Greg Cartwright the main man behind that sweet Reigning Sound.

There are only a few frontman we would love to hear DJ and honestly Cartwright tops the list. Not only does he have a great ear for a cool tune, he also acts as music historian, playing tracks, artists and record labels we have never heard ever. It opens up new worlds of sound leading to endless crate digging and youtube searching for the scratchy vinyl gems.
 
Click here for the Greg's playing of tunes that focuses on some rockabilly this go around, making things ease by with grace a soulful style. This is the 7th time Greg has DJ'ed for the site, we will probably go back and focus on a few more of these, but this one is a great way to kick off a sleepy hump day. Enjoy. 

Setlist:
Mello-Tones - Twistin' Guitar
Mel Street - Moonshine Man
Elmer Lush - Tavern Song
Marvin Rainwater - Gamblin' Man
Buck Jones - Box Of Grass
Charlie Starr - Solitary Woman
Red West - My Babe
Wild Bill Cooksy - Mississippi Hippie
Ray Griff - Sugar From My Candy
Mel Tillis - Loco Weed
Rose Maddox - What Good Will It Do
Eddie Noack - Shotgun House
Ilene Rushing - Shake It Baby
Dean Greer - Who Can That Fool Be
Freddy McDuff - Jack Daddy
Red West - Bossa Nova Mommza
Les Waldroop - Watergate Bugs
George Darro - Eye'n You Up
Jerry McGill - I Wanna Make Sweet Love
Betty Foley - Old Moon
Ricky Wilkins - Hang Loose
Loyd Howell - Truck Driving Jack
Zookie & The Potentates - Bachelors Got It Made
Ray Smith - Let Yourself Go
Jerry Reed - Twist-A-Roo
Mello-Tones - Walkin' Charlie
Dennis Wheeler - Rock Bottom 

Year in Review 2014- Top 10 Albums Part 1 (The Just Misses & Let Downs)

Another great year is finishing up for Rock The Body Electric and we wouldn't be a proper music site if we didn't end the year with a "Best Of" list, so RtBE Presents the Best of 2014 Top Ten Albums: The Just Misses & Let Downs:

In the instance that RtBE has reviewed the album either on the site or somewhere else we will link to that review and just give a quick summation, just click on the name and title and you can read it.  RtBE worked with the Glide Team to give input on the their Top 20 so expect some overlap. 

Again the focus here is on full albums, not singles, but full releases you can slap on and listen to the all the way through. We know these are a dying breed, but it still is the way we consume music, no shuffle or singles for us. We will remove ourselves from the rankings but we wouldn't mind if you gave it a listen.

Today we are going to focus on the "Just Misses" of our top 10 and unfortunately the "Let Downs" released this year. Obviously these are just our personal preferences, feel free to voice your opinion in the comments.  Expect installment 2 (#10-6) soon, but for now click on the jump:

Live Review: Reigning Sound 8/28/14 NY, NY

Hey all got a new live review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!

One of our favorite bands played out favorite NYC venue the Thursday before Labor Day as Reigning Sound played the Bowery Ballroom.

The show wasn't the best we have seen them but it was a fun night on the LES. As we said last week we aren't enamored with the playing on the new album and that style stuck in the live setting. The band seems to be in a chill mode and I really think I dig them better with a bit of an edge, but either way you can really appreciate the great catalog of tunes they produce. This also got us pumped for a show Labor Day Sunday that we will be reviewing shortly on RtBE.

Read all about it on Glide and peep some video below, not of this particular show (because I can't find any) but of other live moments from RS and Naomi Shelton:

Album Review: Reigning Sound- Shattered

Reigning Sound

Shattered

** out of *****

Lets this get out of the way upfront, while we are utterly disappointed by this album we still love Greg Cartwright's songwriting and style, just not his (and the groups) performance on this record. Reigning Sound are going for a soul album and fall short on all fronts but primarily in desire; Cartwright and company just don't sound engaged throughout Shattered.

Cartwright's singing in particular is distant and flat. The band has successfully slowed down on each of their albums and the results have been gripping with a slow burn and vocal performance that conjured hurt and desire; on Shattered Greg's vocals just feel bored. "Falling Rain" is a good example, a fine song but when it comes to the singing there isn't any immediate feeling except a blasé attitude.

The minimalism garage rock is still intact but a touch half baked on tracks like opener "North Cakalacky Girl" and "If You Gotta Leave". The bare bones rock isn't energetic or particularly memorable. The group expands to bring in a well represented string section on "Never Coming Home" proving to be the best track on the disk along with the B3 flavored upbeat shake of "My My". Those two tracks show the old swagger and new experimentation that make this band retro cool and vitally alive.

Unfortunately on Shattered these are the outliers.  Tracks like "In My Dreams" are more the norm with it's rhyming of dreams with dreams, not moving the dial at all. Cartwright has set the bar high for this band with albums as amazing as Too Much Guitar, Time Bomb High School and Love and Curses and with a lot to live up to Shattered simply doesn't. Here's hoping some meaning and desire enter the garage the next time Cartwright and company suit up.
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Oh man this one hurts...Reigning Sound are one of our favorite bands playing today and this disk just falls flat all over. Oh well, they can't all be zingers.

Still you should support the band here, buy the disk here and peep some video of the best two jams below:
"Never Coming Home"


"My My"

Year In Review 2013- Favorite Live Show of 2013

The live show is a slippery thing.  There are lots of variables at play most having little to do with the performance itself.  Does the venue have enough bathrooms?  Is it going to rain?  What day of the week is it on?  Did I have a shitty day at work before hand?  Did tickets cost waaay too much? All of this effects one's opinion of a live show before the band even tunes up and with reason, but when the stars align, there is no place RtBE would rather be then in the moment of magic occurring spontaneously from the stage.

Live Music Has No Equal.   

While we can't see every show that is out there we try our hardest to see as many as we can (and more then most) here at RtBE.  Sure there are a few left, we may catch Phish at the Garden, but for now here is a listing of of the best concerts we were fortunate enough to have seen in 2013, and one show at the bottom that took the top prize as this RtBE's 2013 Show of the Year. To continue our Best of 2013 just click that Read More button and get started

Live Review: Reiging Sound 4Knots Festival 6/29/13 NYC

Our View of the set

4Knots Music Festival

6/29/13

South Street Seaport, NYC

We were a little later then we would have liked to been on Saturday which caused us to miss a few of the earlier acts, but the gorgeous day was still shining bright when we strolled into the South Street Seaport and grabbed our first of many refreshing cocktails on the day.

We entered just as Parquet Courts ended their set on the main stage and we were told we missed a good one so we will have to check them out. Marnie Stern immediately started up the last set of the day on the "B" stage, but her group wailed and slammed winningly through a punky off kilter rager in the hot sun. The Men played a varying set of rock that touched on punk, Pink Floyd and a set closing cover of The Stooges "I Wanna Be Your Dog" complete with saxophone tooting and stage destruction; their set made me really want to revisit their recent album.

Then the group we have been waiting for months to see, Reigning Sound hit the stage. Greg Cartwright and company are clearly not daytime people as they were dressed in layers of clothing, contradictory to the 90 degree heat. The sun hide behind some buildings soon after the group started with their opening "Your Love Is A Fine Thing" showing off the harmonies that liken them to 50's rock so well. After a few sound issues the tambourine started shaking while Cartwright broke out a song from his Parting Gifts record "Bound To Let Me Down", a surprise tune all around which was a joy to hear.  

"Straight Shooter" had the organ pumping while "Reptile Style" slithered in the now (semi) cooling shade. "We Repel Each Other" focused on some thunderous drumming, while "Debris" from Love and Curses might have been the most perfectly played tune on the day.

A quick and really swinging version of "Time Bomb High School" was blasted through as was "If You Can't Give Me Everything", two of the bands best tunes. A cool treat during "You Got Me Hummin'" saw a few passing boats blowing their horns with the music.

Coming off the stage Greg was sweaty and beat read, maybe playing in a t-shirt might have been a better move, but the band delivered on all fronts. Obviously we here at RtBE love Reigning Sound and think they are one of the most underrated out their today, their late set is definitely a nod to their talent, but it was interesting being in a crowd of people who hadn't come for Reigning Sound to view them.

Most seemed semi interested, but politely cheered and clapped. Let's face it we have been going to 4Knots/Siren Fest for a long time now and these are basically hipster showcases...Reigning Sound is far from that world, (Cartwright has been making great music for longer then some of these acts have been alive) but they are a treat anytime we can catch them.

While we stuck around for the first two Kurt Vile songs the night had other things for us to do so we moseyed along...until next year...   

While we sample Sazerac's, you should sample these

We are down in New Orleans, living the good dirty life, with that output will be pretty slow the next few days. Reminder you can listen to the fest on WWOZ.

So check out these blogs, they are over on the right hand side, but I am not sure if everyone see's them all the time.

WFMU's Icihban Soul

This blog is one I consistently love...it surprises me how good the music that they focus on makes me feel.  Everything from a young Otis Redding to Tassle Twirling this site has it all and always puts a smile on my face or a tear in my eye.  Great stuff...oh and RTBE Favorite Greg Cartwright has been known to DJ there.

Hidden Track

We hype them periodically, but Scott and crew do a great job with the blog on Glide.  Give them love and check out everything from jambands (their bread and butter) to indie rock to beer and food posts.    

nyctaper

We haven't pumped them up in a bit so we will remind you...the best in live music taping here in NYC, period. They even have a KILLER recording of our pick for show of the year from last year.  You can grab that recording here.  

There are tons of other ones, feel free to leave your favorites in the comments...be back soon..maybe, we just might stick around this town...

Norton Records Benefit Tomorrow Night with Reigning Sound

The show we were pumped for back in January is happening tomorrow night at The Bell House:

Unfortunately we won't be there, but we will be someplace warmer (hopefully); enjoying some Spring Training Baseball in FLA. This show is for a good cause though as Norton Records looks to rebuild post Hurricane Sandy.

Looks like some tickets are still available...what are you waiting for!??! Here is some Reigning Sound to help out the soul on this Thursday Afternoon:

Sam The Sham & The Pharaoh's Cover:

God Damn...listening to those two makes me want to see the fellas so bad...C'mon back to NYC soon Greg and company!