High School Reunion 

Andrew Olson

Reader Weekly

The Alrights have re-released their debut album High School nationally through Manhattan’s City Canyons Records and can and can be heard this Friday and Saturday for FREE at the Reef Bar.

Working the past weekend at a studio in Minneapolis, the Alrights have been polishing off their fresh new sound.  For their next album (name unreleased) they plan a media blitzkrieg with live songs appearing on Mypace.com and the studio album highlighting their new hits.

“We are correlating the studio EP with the stuff we do on Myspace,” Danny Cosgrove of The Alrights said.  “Our new album will be released sometime in October and our Myspace page will have a bunch of new live stuff appear at the same time.” 

Their album High School begins like most days of old…  The ringing of the bell to start the day, and mass screams of guitar and heavy rock to keep you up.

Wake up, it’s time for school kids, and the Alrights are on your headphones as you enter the building.  Their first song, "Call Her Name" is a painful ode to memories sleeking around to an upbeat bassline.

Don’t get too caught up in the old days though, "Heaven Sends Her Regards” comes rocking in next. Imagine Prince singing with the Strokes playing behind him, launch John Lennon’s piano into the sky, and then let it ride the chorus to a pinnacle of music. You now have a picture of the contemplation and revelation that this catchy ditty has about questioning faith. This song also features a great Cello in the background played by Ed Willet and inspired by the Beatles through the mind of singer/songwriter Toby Churchill.

"In A Way" follows, and takes the listener walking down the sidewalk with a modern strut on piano. This song does for walking what Saturday Night Fever did; it makes it look and sound so cool. While walking we reach the "City Underground" and the life of a Donald Trump suit and tie, day to day, modern slavery career. The song states, "I wear a suit and a tie, yes everyday, making lots of money dressed this way… My family, they don’t understand. Don’t they know I do it all for them?" In the song the lyrics show the loss of individuality when growing older and having to provide for a family.

"Jump for Joy” is about what is happening in the mind of the worker. Banging piano with hints of the workers’ chains attached clang in until the song quiets and Toby sings in a questioning of value. The end of the song says, "So lock your door, don’t ever leave".

At this point the CD slows down for "If It Is A Dream". Quiet guitar and singing make this tune have the feel of if Oasis had ever gotten together with Otis Redding to sing "I’ve Got Dreams". This dream was about summer love though, and the memories of fleeting Grease-like emotions… That small town where at 16 you met the new girl in town and she loved you. In the fall she would head back to school and find your social status and you’d be forgotten… Living for a moment in a dream and hoping it lasts forever.. The sadness of this song makes the next two a bit perplexing in the scheme of the CD.

"The Sickness", a crowd favorite sang by Danny Cosgrove, begins with an awesome slow guitar and turns into poppy hand clapping, digital, hip-hop. The next song "Validation" contemplates death from the view of a young twenty-something poet. Before you go turning off the CD and ending it all, the next song drags you back in. "Alright by me" is jazzy with a love theme and lets you rest for a moment.

"Young Man Blues" can be best described if you close your eyes and picture Bob Dylan writing for John Lennon and a southern gospel choir about questioning art. The main theme is when Toby sings, "I’d rather be famous ‘cause I’ve been watching. It turns to gold whatever they’re touching". Contemplating the old conundrum of selling out versus being an artist.

The CD ends with two songs, "Almost Never Always" and "School Revisited". "Almost" is Maroon 5 mixed with some simplistic "Blah, Blah, Blah" lyrics. It must be noted that drummer Chad “Chavo” Amborn plays one great drum solo that makes this song stick.  Lastly, "School Revisited," is a simple exit like the White Stripes do on some of their minimalist numbers. A song about the passing of a father and not wanting to go to school.. Hit repeat for full enjoyment.

To hear a few songs or purchase the CD go to: www.citycanyons.com/theAlrights.  Another glimpse into the future can be heard on The Alrights Myspace page: www.myspace.com/thealrights.  Check out their hottest new song “All I Know Is Rock & Roll” and its “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” feel.