Band: The Parting Gifts
Release: 11/2010
Label: In The Red Records

1. “Keep Walkin” –  A-
2. “Bound To Let Me Down” – B+
3. “Strange Disposition” – B+
4. “My Mind’s Made Up” – B+
5. “Shine” – A-
6. “Born To Be Blue” – A
7. “Staring” – A
8. “Don’t Stop” – B+
9. “My Baby Tonight” – B
10. “Sleepy City” – A
11. “Don’t Hurt Me Now” – A-
12. “Hanna” – B+
13. “I Don’t Wanna Be Like This” – A
14. “Strychnine Dandelion” – A-
15. “This House Ain’t A Home” – A

Comments: Greg Cartwright is an accomplished musician from one of earth’s top mecca’s of garage rock: Memphis, Tennessee. Cartwright — known as Greg Oblivian when he was in The Oblivians — has a knack for crafting solid oldies pop songs. This collaboration reeks of roots rock: old country, rockabilly, trash rock, etc. The verses on “My Mind’s Made Up” are virtual rockabilly re-takes on the verses on The King Khan & BBQ Show’s “Too Much in Love”. Credit to Cartwright and Coco Hames of the Ettes for dating this thing. Take the lyrics on “Born To Be Blue” for instance: “It’s a lonely stand/When a girl loves two and she must choose. Please understand/I still love you, but he needs me, too.” Classic girl group stuff, which re-appears on “Sleepy City.” Fans of everything that I’ve mentioned (and more), please check this out. It’s one of the best records that In The Red has released this year.

Grade: A- (90)