The High Strung are described on Wikipedia as being a three-piece garage rock band from Detroit. This, their fourth album, seems to me to be a million miles away from that. This is a folksy tinged psychedelic pop album, which whilst being a touch repetitive, never has the chance to outstay its welcome, primarily because this eleven track album only clocks in at 29 minutes and 58 seconds, which is excellently economic and ensures that interest levels are maintained.
The first track ‘Standing at the Door of Self-Discovery’ is a great opener with excellent 1960’s tinged poppy harmonies and a sing along chorus. The lyrics on this track (as throughout the album) tend to be introspective and soul-searching.
“Standing at the door of self discovery, Where the air is cold,
The feelings are old, but you reconsider them.” This is a really strong track and sets the tone for the rest of the album, the melodic hooks and choruses grabbing the listener upon first hearing.
Following on from this, ‘Real Stone’ has an almost Stonesy feel, and some definite stoner lyrics “I looked for it at the bottom of a lake, but I found it on my Birthday cake, It’s a real stone” the chug along riffs pull this one through and it bears repeated hearing.
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‘The Lifestyle That Got Away’ is a faster, more acoustically based whimsical pop song with nostalgic lyrics “While my parents were asleep, I imagined every way I could go, With the blankets bunched at my feet.”
‘Out of Character’ opens with some Phil Spector style wall of sound drumming, and whilst the lyrics are repetitive it isn’t all-bad, as once again, the melody carries this through.
‘In the middle’ is a great track all about compromise, and at two minutes and twenty seconds, is a perfect pop song.
“You’ve got your thing, I’ve got mine, Let’s try to meet in the middle,We both work all the time, So let's meet in the middle.”
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