King Tuff

Those still waiting for the next Nirvana should have stopped holding their breath 10 years ago. It’ll never happen. But there was a magical tickle in my belly after hearing King Tuff for the first time. The band’s self-titled sophomore release combines underground sensibilities with something more universal: On one hand, King Tuff is weird enough to remain obscured in the shadows, on the other, the band’s candied production and pop hooks could easily nudge them toward the light. Kyle Thomas (who also fronts the band Witch with Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis on drums) is the voice here, one that manages to be throaty and nasally all at once, at times sharing an uncanny resemblance to The Apples in Stereo’s Robert Schneider (“Keep On Movin’” could easily pass for a lost Apples track). Opener “Anthem” is a spotless song that gives a nod to all things guitar rock, 1973-1993, without merely aping. King Tuff is an early contender for the best rock album of the year. Sure, it won’t change music, but it will take you back to the days when the anticipation of a release date still meant something, and spending an entire summer with a new record was considered normal. Rock ’n’ roll should always feel this good.