Royal Headache - High
Critic Score
Based on 15 reviews
2015 Ratings: #136 / 1021
User Score
Based on 152 ratings
2015 Rank: #108
Liked by 7 people
August 21, 2015 / Release Date
LP / Format
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
The Guardian

Thank goodness High has been let loose at last: this feels like one of those truly habit-forming, again-and-again pleasures.

90
NME

With ‘High’, they’ve recorded an almost perfect 30 minutes of indie-punk. There’s no flabbiness, no million-dollar production that adds nothing to the songs, no bloated guitar lines or pointless drum fills and nothing that even comes close to seeming in any way meaningless.

90
The Line of Best Fit
With this raw collection of songs, Royal Headache have bared themselves to the world, and it's enthralling.
85
The 405

Needless to say, despite its seemingly slight 29-minute length, High packs in more than enough ideas, hooks and moments of pure emotion that it will not wear out anytime soon.

80
Pitchfork

Royal Headache have taken steps forward since their last album—they’ve cleaned up their production and diversified their songwriting. Ultimately, though, the important bits are intact: the passion, the power, and the hooks that demand being shouted joyfully.

80
AllMusic

It makes for a great second album, one that holds tight to all the things that made the first one so satisfying, while adding some new wrinkles that only serve to improve things.

80
SPIN
They offer a survey of rock’s history, but their take is revisionist.
80
Exclaim!

Easy on the ears, heavy on the heart and definitely worth the wait, High will leave you feeling as such.

80
FasterLouder
That shaky marriage of lo-fi pub punk and Shogun’s heartening, soul-laced delivery is exactly what makes the band so special. Rather than being some novelty that loses its appeal, that bristling contrast makes the album a total thrill through every repeat listen.
70
Under the Radar

Royal Headache show sublime restraint with High, delivering on the romantic promise of their fantastically unhinged 2011 self-titled debut.

70
Rolling Stone

Royal Headache's execution is so straightforwardly 1977 that it almost teeters on generic garage-rock pastiche. The saving grace is this album's undeniable heart and soul.

58
Consequence of Sound
It turns out they were right to push through the breakup, but a few bleak songs dampen the high they’re chasing after as a result.
UltimateLifeFrm
90

Shoutout to @ElisPlaylist, thanks for the recommendation (1 of 2).

The second & final album from Australian punk group Royal Headache captures several different emotions in just a short space of 28 minutes.

Musically, the album sounds raw but vibrant, while lyrically feeling joyful but also managing to showcase certain moments of vulnerability as they explore themes like objects of desire or trying to find escapism in the world.

What I think makes each track work so well on this album is ... read more

nino21321312312
85

High has a lot of highs, and it's one of the better examples of using Garage rock sound to create this nostalgic feeling that is sweet and heartwarming. Vocals are well-paced in the instrumentation which is pretty colorful and just adds to the nostalgia factor.
Thanks shadow for the recommendation. 😉

ElisPlaylist
100

An indie-punk masterpiece that isn't afraid to get a little vulnerable

nino21321312312
85

High has a lot of highs, and it's one of the better examples of using Garage rock sound to create this nostalgic feeling that is sweet and heartwarming. Vocals are well-paced in the instrumentation which is pretty colorful and just adds to the nostalgia factor.
Thanks shadow for the recommendation. 😉

UltimateLifeFrm
90

Shoutout to @ElisPlaylist, thanks for the recommendation (1 of 2).

The second & final album from Australian punk group Royal Headache captures several different emotions in just a short space of 28 minutes.

Musically, the album sounds raw but vibrant, while lyrically feeling joyful but also managing to showcase certain moments of vulnerability as they explore themes like objects of desire or trying to find escapism in the world.

What I think makes each track work so well on this album is ... read more

allonlevin72
89

A fantastic combo of punk energy and soulful pop that has a little something for everybody. There's not a skippable song in the bunch.

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Track List

1My Own Fantasy
3:07
85
2Need You
2:24
100
3High
2:15
90
4Another World
2:22
90
5Wouldn't You Know
4:17
100
6Garbage
4:01
95
7Love Her If I Tried
3:03
95
8Carolina
3:16
100
9Little Star
2:35
95
10Electric Shock
1:29
90
Total Length: 28 minutes

Year End Lists

#5/Magnet
#8/Rough Trade
#14/FasterLouder
#15/SPIN
#32/Paste
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Added on: June 17, 2015