Name: Home for Orphans
Brand: Reigning Sound

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

MRG698LP

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "MRG698LP"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2020-06-26

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

673855069814

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "673855069814"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

Reigning Sound

Genre US

Garage / Surf / Trash

Label US

Merge Records

Reigning Sound is an American garage punk band that was originally based out of Memphis, Tennessee and is now located in Asheville, North Carolina. Known for their raw and energetic sound, they have gained a loyal following over the years.
In June 2022, the band announced that they were splitting up, marking the end of an era for their fans. Despite this news, Reigning Sound's impact on the music scene will not be forgotten.
If you enjoy *The Dirtbombs*, *The Gories*, or *Oblivians*, then Reigning Sound's music is sure to resonate with you. Their unique blend of garage rock and punk influences sets them apart from other bands in the genre.

When Reigning Sound’s Greg Cartwright assembled the tracklist for 2005’s Home for Orphans compilation LP, he was mining from a moody pool of outtakes and rarities cut at various locations across his hometown of Memphis.

The year prior, his band unveiled its manically raucous Too Much Guitar! LP, but left behind on the cutting-room floor were slow and sullen alternate takes of Funny Thing and If You Can’t Give Me Everything. Along with those Cartwright originals, Home for Orphans also contains two tracks from Reigning Sound’s 2001 debut, the hard-to-find Two Sides to Every Man 7-inch: Pretty Girl and Without You (a Gene Clark cover). One other cover tune also appears, a fuzzy live take of The Breakers’ Don’t Send Me No Flowers, I Ain’t Dead Yet, an angsty 1965 Memphis garage classic.

Opening the aptly titled Home for Orphans is Find Me Now, a lonelyhearted gem that was omitted from the original Too Much Guitar! roster. Another similar “orphan” included here is What Could I Do?, a shining example of Cartwright’s ability to tastefully and poetically lay down heartbreaking ballads. Of course, having his original Memphis lineup on these sessions only deepens the dynamic range of sounds. With bassist Jeremy Scott, drummer Greg Roberson, and organist Alex Greene on board, Home for Orphans presents the band’s classic sonic blueprint.

From there, Medication Blues #1, Carol, and If Christmas Can’t Bring You Home only strengthen this essential collection. It’s varied but cohesive, a song-crafting skill Cartwright perfected back in his early days with The Compulsive Gamblers and The Oblivians.

In hindsight, this was perhaps a stopgap, transitional record. It was issued during Cartwright’s big move from Memphis to his current residence in Asheville, and it plays like a beautiful farewell to the city that so heavily inspired him.

Home for Orphans

Music US