The Pretty Reckless: “Got So High”

AP Photo via Getty Images

For almost two months, The Pretty Reckless new album Death by Rock and Roll has been out. It’s a splendid album that combines all the elements that make rock music great.

The self-titled album track, “Death By Rock And Roll”, is a huge hit. But more than that, there isn’t a bad song on the most anticipated TPR release thanks to kick ass lead singer Taylor Momsen teasing a few of the songs on social media.

Whether you’ve heard the 12 song album on CD, vinyl or even in classic cassette thanks to Momsen creating an old school feel to it, it doesn’t disappoint. Of course, in today’s modernized world of technology with apps like Spotify, you can listen to the entire album on your Android or iPhone. I’m glad I have it saved.

One of my favorite songs is the very surreal, “Got So High.” A track that obviously addresses Momsen’s personal demons with substance abuse following the deaths of rock idol Chris Cornell and producer Kato Kwandwala over a year apart between April 2017 and May 2018. During that time, she struggled with the losses of the Soundgarden/Audioslave legend they toured with and then the sudden loss of close friend Kwandwala.

It’s only natural to feel depressed when you lose people you’re very close to. Thankfully, Momsen recovered from her personal demons and was determined to finish the album with band mates Ben Phillips, Jamie Perkins and Mark Damon. At 27, she’s a very driven person with a powerful voice that can be felt in how she delivers the lyrics in The Pretty Reckless’ songs.

There’s plenty of raw emotion in “Got So High.” Even though it’s only a 3:20 track, you can feel exactly how Momsen feels on every word. That’s how strong it is. The way it all comes together with an acoustic sound that blends well with a familiar melody from grunge past. It is eerily similar in sound to Mazzy Star when they had hit, “Fade Into You.” A comparison knowledgeable music observers recognized. That is sung by Hope Sandoval.

However, Momsen and her band are drawing on their challenging experiences. Cornell had one of the greatest voices in the music industry. It’s still hard to believe he’s been gone nearly four years after taking his own life following a performance in Detroit when TPR opened for him.

“That was the nail in the coffin for me. I threw my hands up in the air and kind of went ‘Yeah, I give up.’ I went down a very dark rabbit hole of depression and substance abuse and everything that comes with that.”

Taylor Momsen on the sudden loss of producer and close personal friend Kato Kwandwala. 😔 The lyrics are well delivered and it’s a song we can all identify with.

One, two, three

Turned out wasted, confused, complacent, I
Lost my center, suppose I meant to hide

I, I, I, I, I got so high
I, I, I, I got so high

Success showed somethin’, at the same time nothin’, I
Thought I got it, but it seems I’ve lost it, I

I, I, I, I got so high
I, I, I got so high

If I wanted to fly, I should have gone up in a plane
If I wanted to fly
I should have climbed up to the highest mountain top
Now I’ve lost my brain, but I’m insane, so

I, I, I, I, I got so high
I, I, I, I, I got so high
I, I, I, I, I got so high
I, I, I, I, I got so high

I was somethin’ but now I’m nothin’, I…

I like her candid honesty in the song where she references losing her brain.

“If I wanted to fly, I should have gone up in a plane. If I wanted to fly, I should have climbed up the highest mountain top.”

Pretty heavy stuff. Basically, Momsen is saying there are better ways to go than doing drugs. Or to get so high. It almost seems that she was at such a low point. I’m glad she got past it and worked even harder during the pandemic to put together a great rock album. On her Instagram, she released footage of the band shooting videos in NYC. There were plenty of cool moments caught on camera including that beautiful red gown she wore in hit song, “25.”

They had to do the shooting in one session due to COVID-19. Of course, everyone got tested and they wore masks when they had to. I can’t imagine what that was like. I’ve listened to interviews Momsen did from Maine where she was very vocal about mental health. She’s been front and center on the stigma attached to anxiety and depression. Something that hasn’t been covered enough over the past year.

It speaks to a level of maturity and growth that she’s having so much success this early into her career thar began after she left Gossip Girl. Momsen knew that it was music that captivated her. She was proven right.

The Pretty Reckless are a band to be reckoned with. With now a fourth successful album doing well, hopefully they’ll be able to tour soon. One can only hope.

A cool song from a good band that’s forgotten

The year was 2000. It was a different era for music. You still were coming off the great decade of the 90’s. One dominated by grunge and the Seattle movement with alternative rock groups like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Smashing Pumpkins and Alice In Chains.

The sound was unique. Definitely different from the heavy metal, classic rock and roll sound we were used to. There was a contrast. It was played differently and sang in a more pronounced way. Many songs often dealing with personal demons such as drug abuse, alcoholism, depression and even suicide. This was not your normal, “I wanna rock”, style we grew accustomed to. It had more depth.

If you didn’t listen to those aforementioned groups, perhaps you heard Trent Reznor of the even more sublime Nine Inch Nails scream at a feverish pitch during one of his mellow songs of self inflicted pain. All the hurt inside was real. It can still be felt when you listen to Pretty Hate Machine or Downward Spiral. It’s always been a theme with Trent. He’s a genius. I sound like a broken record.

Believe it or not, there were other great bands from that era who had their own unique styles. R.E.M. was outstanding and they could play almost anything and Michael Stipe would make it sound great. I still am a sucker for his Kurt Cobain tribute in the memorable 1994 album Monster, appropriately called, “Let Me In.” But this is the same artist who could sing about Andy Kaufman for “Man On The Moon.”

You had your California scene with more laid back punk rock with Green Day and Weezer. They played songs you could just rock out to. Listen to the entire Dookie album or Blue album. There always were the more mainstream sounding Red Hot Chili Peppers, who didn’t shy away from drug addiction issues. Particularly with heroin like in the big hit song, “Under The Bridge.” Or some others due to remembering first ever guitarist Hillel Slovak, who couldn’t kick his drug habit and tragically died in ’88 at age 26. A very gifted musician who was influenced by Jimi Hendrix.

The thing about that decade is there were different styles and it felt like there was room for a little bit of everything. I liked the British rock sound of Oasis and appreciated the awkwardness of Third Eye Blind, who could go from popular hits “Semi-Charmed Life”, to darker songs like “Slow Motion.” Stephan Jenkins is very talented. If you listen to their stuff, then you know.

It all brings me to another forgotten group I’ve always liked. Matchbox Twenty was more of a cool rock sound thanks to great lead singer Rob Thomas. They were different and that is good. Especially around the turn of the millennium. Remember all the crazy Y2K stuff? Exactly.

That scared the crap out of me and our friends. But it didn’t stop us from bringing in the new century by going clubbing and getting drunk. I can still recall the dancing and then the puking I did at a pit stop at a diner in the wee hours of the morning. Most of us have been there. It’s not pleasant. I have had moments where I was talking to God. He answered my prayers. I can look back at it and laugh. Haha.

Why Matchbox Twenty? Because their stuff was and still is damn good. Thomas has great vocals that he used while teaming with legendary guitarist and musician Santana when they collaborated for the big hit, “Smooth.” Santana also had a very successful track where he teamed with Michelle Branch for “The Game of Love.” He could do anything. I kinda wish Branch was still around, but she got married and settled down. She rocked.

What I love about Thomas is how good his voice is. It meshes perfectly with the drumming of Paul Doucette, guitar playing of Thomas and Kyle Cook, and the bass guitar of Brian Yale. There’s something about Rob’s vocals that completes the excellent sound of the band. The instruments are played well and his voice just carries throughout with so much passion and energy. It gives off a good vibe even when he’s singing about being in an abusive relationship like in 1998 hit “Push.” It’s so good. I still think that’s their best song although “3 A.M.”, and “If You’re Gone”, are right there along with several others.

This song rocks hard and the lyrics fit perfectly even if it’s a messed up song given the details. But somehow, Thomas makes it all work. The great singers can. Especially if you have the right supporting cast. The first time I heard them was coming home from my internship at Comcast Network driving back from Union, New Jersey. It was “3 A.M.” on the radio. I was hooked.

In the conventional sense, they’re not a traditional rock band that plays hard with everything loud and louder. It’s more of an alternative pop rock sound that works. Every band is different and distinct. If they were cardinal copies of each other, it would be boring. Blink 182 has a bit of pop rock to them too from the same era. But they’re different. A bit more fun and popular. Another late 90’s band that had mainstream success.

I am also preferential to, “If You’re Gone.” Between how it’s played and sung by Thomas along with the ultra cool black and white video that was shot in Los Angeles with awesome views, it’s a great song. It kind of makes you think about the past and where you once were and what you once did. Almost like a reminder of who you were.

Baby it’s time to come home

There’s an awful lot of breathing room

But I can hardly move

If you’re gone

Baby, you need to come home, come home

There’s a little bit of something me

In everything in you

It’s a love song where he feels empty thinking he’s lost her for good. It’s a superb song.

Good music has an appeal. That’s exactly what Matchbox Twenty has. Even two decades later, those big songs still sound fresh. The best ones never fade away. Here’s a bonus throwback from Mazzy Star. What a beautiful woman and magical voice.