★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The first Reigning Sound record I listened to (2002's Time Bomb High School) was, I thought, a refreshing blast of garage rock. This one is a stylistic leap ahead, shedding the garage label and settling into just damn fine pop-rock. There are hints of the old garage sound, but also bits of country (like on "Moving and Shaking") and some jangle-rock as well. Overall, it's more polished, which normally I don't use as a compliment, but it's the best way I can think of to describe how the songwriting has blossomed. The vocals aren't as gritty and the lyrics are more worldly and plaintive. Favorite tracks: "Let's Do It Again," "A Little More Time," "Just Say When," "You Don't Know What You're Missing."
