The opening on two punch of “Let’s Do It Again” and the title track deliver that crunchy power pop hook, with a reliable catchy chorus and lush organ swells. “I Don’t Need That Kind of Loving,” a cover of the rockabilly jumper by Adam Faith, leads into the crooner pop of “I’ll Be Your Man,” with strings by Krista Wroten on violin and Elen Wroten on cello. “O Christine” provides Cartwright an old school rock & roll crier, and the opportunity for a bit of Steve Cropper-styled guitar finesse. For “Moving & Shaking” and “A Good Life, all Cartwright had to do is slow down the band for another bittersweet ballad and add a little pedal steel guitar from John Whittemore to create an authentic country feel.
That winning retro mix of 50’s rock & roll and 80’s power pop is at the heart of “You Don’t Know What You’re Missing,” while “Just Say When” benefits from Cartwright’s duet with Coco Hames, but the rest of the record is filled up with reliable pop hooks, and catchy, danceable tunes. Reigning Sound has more than delivered on the title’s promise of “A Little More Time”.
Brian Q. Newcomb
For more of Brian Q. Newcomb’s music reviews, check out The Fire Note
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