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
),
have a new lineup again, and
is a more measured and contemplative set than this group has released in the past, as
's new songs reflect his deep love of classic soul music.
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
and ultimately matter the most.
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
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
'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
has always been
's gifts as a songwriter and his ability to make those songs come alive with his vocals, and
demonstrates that even when he's aiming to caress rather than bruise, he's an artist who makes a real impact. Some
fans might miss the harder-rocking side of the band, but if you're looking for ten new
songs sung with real heart and soul,
is just what you've been waiting for. ~ Mark Deming