The Reigning Sound

The Reigning Sound
Origin	Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Genres	Garage punk, rock and roll
Years active	2001—present
Labels	Merge, In the Red, Norton, Sympathy for the Record Industry
Associated acts	Compulsive Gamblers, Oblivians, Greg Oblivian & The Tip Tops, 68 Comeback, The Deadly Snakes, Mary Weiss
Members	Greg Cartwright Carol Schumcher Lance Wille Dave Amels

Reigning Sound is an American garage punk band originally based out of Memphis, Tennessee, now located in Asheville, North Carolina. In 2012 it signed to Merge Records. The band's current lineup includes songwriter Greg Cartwright (lead vocals/guitar), Benny Trokan (bass), Mike Catanese (guitar), Mikey Post (drums) and Dave Amels (organ).

Reigning Sound was formed in 2001 by Memphis garage punk musician Greg Cartwright (vocals/guitar), who is also known for his bands the Compulsive Gamblers and the Oblivians. Originally the Memphis-based band featured Cartwright, Jeremy Scott (bass), Greg Roberson (drums) and Alex Greene (keyboards and guitar.) However, after Cartwright re-located his family to Asheville, North Carolina in 2004, bassist David Wayne Gay, drummer Lance Wille and keyboardist Dave Amels joined Cartwright until October 2011.[1]

Reigning Sound’s debut was "Two Sides to Every Man," a three-song 7", released in May 2001. One month later came their first full-length album "Break Up, Break Down" (Sympathy for the Record Industry.) With its country-folk melodies, the first album was to be an early blueprint of where Cartwright’s songwriting was headed.

"Time Bomb High School", (In the Red) was released in August 2002, and is known for its polished sound, pop hooks and delicate balance of classic R&B and rock & roll. Aside from the originals on the album, Cartwright blended in cover songs like “Stormy Weather” and “Brown Paper Sack”, producing them in the same, recognizable sound the band had developed.

Reigning Sound’s third album “Too Much Guitar,” (In the Red) was released in May 2004 with recording help from fellow Memphians Jay Reatard and Alicja Trout from the Lost Sounds; with a noticeably louder and noisier sound than previous recordings. Songs laced with psych-pop, garage, soul, country and (of course) too-much guitar compete with Cartwright’s vocals at times in the loud fuzzy mix. An opening slot on a huge American tour with the Swedish garage band The Hives helped to promote the album shortly after its release. A misprint in the album credits gives the impression that founding member Alex Greene appeared on only one song. In fact, he played on half the album: "You Got Me Hummin'", "When You Touch Me," "Get It," "Drowning," "Uptight Tonight," "Let Yourself Go," and "Medication."

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