Thank goodness High has been let loose at last: this feels like one of those truly habit-forming, again-and-again pleasures.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Easy on the ears, heavy on the heart and definitely worth the wait, High will leave you feeling as such.
Royal Headache show sublime restraint with High, delivering on the romantic promise of their fantastically unhinged 2011 self-titled debut.
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.
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
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. 😉
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. 😉
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
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.
1 | My Own Fantasy 3:07 | 85 |
2 | Need You 2:24 | 100 |
3 | High 2:15 | 90 |
4 | Another World 2:22 | 90 |
5 | Wouldn't You Know 4:17 | 100 |
6 | Garbage 4:01 | 95 |
7 | Love Her If I Tried 3:03 | 95 |
8 | Carolina 3:16 | 100 |
9 | Little Star 2:35 | 95 |
10 | Electric Shock 1:29 | 90 |
#5 | / | Magnet |
#8 | / | Rough Trade |
#14 | / | FasterLouder |
#15 | / | SPIN |
#32 | / | Paste |