The High Score
Sexy Losers (Lynn Point Records)

A Knoxville super-group of sorts, The High Score really racks up the points on their excellent debut CD. Boasting a who's who of the last decade of Knox rock, the 'Score features 2/3 of Ramblin' Roy, half of The Faults (both fractions represent vocalist/guitarist Robbie Trosper and drummer Jason Peters), former Mustard frontman Chris Cook and bassist Dave Walker. Together, the band creates an amalgam of indie rock, punk and country sounds that never fits an exact category.

Let's face it: rock, punk and country all come from the same wellspring. And since all three genres have become firmly established components of popular music, crossover is inevitable. The High Score is adept at utilizing elements of all three genres to maximum effect, making music that just sounds good, feels good, and goes down as smooth as that third can of Pabst.

I could go the obvious route and compare The High Score to the big R's: The Replacements and The Rolling Stones. Their bluesy, rockin' swagger is in the same time-honored tradition. But then the band throws a curve ball and sounds kind of like Bob Mould ("Laid Up") or even The Pixies ("Call It Vicious"). Chris Cook's trademark guitar skronk adds a welcome edginess to the sound while Robbie Trosper's rock-steady riffage hammers it down with total exuberance.

The High Score could easily make it big, if'n they really felt like going out and doing it. But somehow, I think they're content to just make kick-ass music and see what happens. And if that's not a high goal, then what is? Who knows, these guys just might be Knoxville's next export. Stranger things have happened. Sexy Losers definitely succeeds on the sexy level, but this one's a winner for damn sure.

—Madame "I don't understand this bit at all" Georgie with John Sewell and Mike Gibson
 

March 20, 2003 * Vol. 13, No. 12
© 2003 Metro Pulse