Album Review: The High Strung – Quiet Riots

The High Strung
Quiet Riots
Independent
★★★

February 14, 2019

Josh Malerman became a household name in December last year when Netflix released the movie adaptation of his book Birdbox. Now engrained in pop culture history, penning a revolutionary sci-fi novel is not his first trip around the block. Those who are familiar with The High Strung consider this stardust moment secondary to the almost 20 years of albums. Add Quiet Riots to the list.

This is the longest it has taken for them to unleash new material. It has been five years between the release of I, Anybody and Quiet Riots. Their new album is a dimensional and estranged look at ‘60s pop that bellows out jangled entanglements. We think we know what we are getting ourselves into but The High Strung are masters at keeping time out of joint. But it’s neither here nor there. Malerman’s view is an intricate look of culture through eclectic spectacles, but you have to be in that ’60s psychedelic frame of mind to take the dive.

You have the hippy dippy “If You Want To Roll” where the band channels the utopian spirit of The New Seekers. Instead of hope, they spread actuality. “If you want to roll, you can roll with me.” Either way, they are going to roll so you might as well join along. The song spins into this Elephant 6 wonderland of multi-instrumental fairy tale pondering. Or, listen to Cat Stevens’ “If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out” from Harold & Maude.

The High Strung – If You Want to Roll

“Darling Weirdo” is a Beatles-infused accomplishment. It could easily come from the Yellow Submarine era of ‘60s strangeness. Dayglo pop coloration dissolves in guitar passages that musically continue the conversation.

There is a conglomeration of geekdom that fuels Quiet Riots. The psychedelic serenade on “Rubik’s Cube” turns The High Strungs music multidimensional. Beyond the grounded psych pop that lays at the foundation of their music, they turn their time warp into poetry. Lyrically Malerman is a visionary that breathes a fascinating dimensional thought into what the band creates. Proudly put this on the shelf with Apples in Stereo and Elf Power.