Reviews                  

Having each played in various bands prior to their recent collaboration in The High Score, the members of this Knoxville foursome are linked not only be experience but by an incestuous history. Vocalist/guitarist Robbie Trosper ascended from the Faults (a band that rose from the ashes of Knoxville alt-country legend V-roys) along with drummer Jason Peters. Ex-Faults members Mic Harrison and Jeff Bills have been integral factors in the production and release of this album on their Lynn Point Records label. Chris Cook, lending vocals and guitar, is a former Mustard member, while bassist Dave Walker previously played for a band called Teenage Cockring. Collectively, this band sits on a mountain of experience yet they lack any sort of stigma or battle-hardened attitude. Sexy Losers is a determined album that highlights both the similarities and separations of the group. And it may seem that these guys have been playing together for years. As Cook says, “...something happens when we play together; it just clicks.” Damn right it does. This debut album, in keeping with their Knoxville heritage, is an unassuming collection of pure, no-nonsense rock-n-roll laced with powerful pop sentiment. Treading softer ground, the band explores more sensitive songwriting arrangements and subtle, yet effective, vocal harmonies. Tracks like “Laid up,” “Motley Who,” and “I Feel Bad For You” are more of the commiserating ballad type with sincere refrain and singable harmonies, forgoing any mawkish tones that are often adopted by such efforts. This band knows how to pull it off. “Take a sad song, make it sing-along,” and throw in some Judas Priest counterplay to maintain that rough-around-the-edges sound. “She Don't Love Me,” with it's reference to popular Knoxville venue The Pilot Light (“sitting at the bar, drinking PBR”), is of the have-fun-and-sing-it-at-the-top-of-your-lungs-no-matter-where-you-are-or-who-is-watching variety. “Let the Stupidness Begin” allows the band to shop around their playful, pop sound with heated guitar refrain. Be serious when you need to be 'cause “it's all in the name of rock-n-roll so let the stupidness begin.” An unexpected departure from the bulk of this debut, “Mohawks and birkenstocks” reveals the band's innate unruliness to let go and let it rip. This rebellion-drenched track--with lyrics taking a dive off the highboard into reckless abandonment--is driven by an earthquake of bass reverberation and blazing guitar licks.

Contact: www.thehighscore.net