Powerfully charged rock n roll
02/16/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Marking the Figgs' bittersweet return to the indie labels, Couldn't Get High is an emotionally chaotic album. The swan song of departing guitarist Guy Lyons, the album ironically shows Lyons coming into his own as a songwriter. Normally contributing only a few tracks, Lyons wrote four of Couldn't Get High's strongest songs, including the opening track "Said Enough," the blistering "If That's What You Want" and the passionate "Always a Breakdown." This album shows all of the cynicism you would expect from an enormously talented band that has been dropped from a big label, but, somewhat miraculously, the Figgs have lost none of their energy and enthusiasm for playing rock n' roll. And drummer Pete Hayes' songwriting debut, "The Bar", is alone worth the price of admission."