High On Stress definitely has had their share of crushes. Thankfully for us, their admiration is more an infatuation than an obsession and “Moonlight Girls” is nothing more than a sweet love song to the bands they admire.

High On Stress has created one of the most impeccably produced local albums in recent memory. This is no doubt attributed to the expertise of bass player/local producer Jon Tranberry (Valet, Accident Clearinghouse, the Plastic Constellations). Their finely crafted alt country absolutely sparkles under his guidance, with the end result being an album standing up to numerous listens.

Guitarist/singer Nick Leet exhibits an uncanny ability to take an average pop song and infuse it with enough gritty honesty to keep things captivating. Album standout “Cash Machine” boasts an irresistible chorus leaving listeners with no other choice but to sing along. If “Minot” was recorded on a four-track, it could easily have been a dorm room standard in 1997. “Postcard That Breathes” could easily have been an outtake from Wilco’s “A.M.,” and it’s only a matter of time before album opener, the Jay Farrar-esque, “You have Conversations with Jesus,” is in heavy rotation on The Current.

Sure it’s derivative and at times, it’s generic. It’s also one of best albums to come out of the local scene in quite a while. In this case, lack of innovation does not mean lack of quality. Even the worst songs are tolerable and the best songs will stay in your head for weeks. Here’s hoping that High On Stress can keep their hormones under control and keep writing memorable tributes to the artists who have inspired them. MS

www.highonstressband.com