Review Summary: The Guest Stars debut album "The High Life" is an extremely catchy rock record that manages to provide variety while maintaining a signature sound. It is extremely polished yet retains an underground rawness.
The Guest Stars are an underground power pop band from Lansing, MI. "The High Life" is their first full length album. The album cover has drug paraphernalia on it. This band does not care about presenting a wholesome image and they are instantly likable. I'm not saying the Guest Stars are perfect, but the songs are so good it's hard to care about things like perfection.
"The High Life" starts off how a record called the "The High Life" should. With a song called "Going To Jail" that advises the listener to check the glove compartment before borrowing a friend's car because they might have different drugs then you. It's a poppy, mid tempo rocker that uses it's lighthearted hooks to mask the more serious topic of losing a friend to drunk driving.
The band keeps the rock going with the second track "Cement Shoes" but really shows what their capable of with "Jackie O". Guitarists Joe Barshaw, and Roy Kirby trade off lead vocal duties throughout the record but they really shine when they sing together. The harmonies in the chorus of this song are proof.
"Careful" sounds like a Paul Westerberg song being covered by the Old 97's, while "On Your Side" sounds like something Brand New wrote for "Deja Entendu".
Overall the Guest Stars debut album "The High Life" is an extremely catchy rock record that manages to provide variety while maintaining a signature sound. It is extremely polished yet retains an underground rawness. I can see this band being very big.
