The Criticals - 'High Life Clinic'


When you set sail on familiar waters, you best make sure you can float and The Criticals seem to have brought their battle ship. ‘High Life Clinic’ is the latest single from the Nashville based duo before their anticipated EP and they have come out fighting in this new track.

Lead vocalist Parker Forbes opens the track taunting the listener with a short poet-like verse. A nod, I feel, to one of their influences The Doors, or more specifically Jim Morrison. I feel like I’m getting ready for a knife fight in West Side Story, caught in that eerie melodic ‘stick on a fence’ percussion which I can only assume is either a call to arms or a warning for the fight that’s about to come. The Criticals want to fight – and they want you to know it.

From there on all hell breaks loose and the track erupts into garage rock glory, courtesy of Guitarist Cole Shugart, before Forbes croons his way through the verse like Julian Casablancas of The Strokes whilst channelling The Hives energy - something that they state is high on their priority list. When the chorus opens up you are instantly caught in the fray, or chaos, of the band in full indie dancefloor mode. The melody does feel very familiar but not so much that you aren’t left engrossed, nor does it neglect a great sing along moment.

The highlight is from the bridge onwards where we return to opening lyrics and those menacing sticks. This is written for the stage. The crowd chanting back, waiting on the point of their toes, clearing the floor for one last respite before the song explodes back into anarchy, dragging us along with it screaming the lyrics “I’ll take a Miller High Life…..”

It is easy to appreciate why The Criticals are gathering momentum when listening to ‘High Life Clinic’ and with their new EP expected in November it doesn’t look as though that momentum is slowing any time soon. I am sure I’m not the first person to say this, neither will I be the last, but it is difficult to be critical of The Criticals.  

Words of Gary Summers