Reviewed by Jack Derricourt
I’ve been meaning to review Tough Age’s newest release for a while now. The band played the back room of the Imperial Pub here in Toronto one of the first weekends I was in town, and they cracked the sky open with their energy. Amongst all the sweat in that tiny space, I realized that something quite special was occurring on stage. The four piece are both timeless and incredibly modern, assembling pieces from the vast landscape of guitar pop into crowd pleasing gems. Mint records must have seen a similar performance, as the high calibre label from Vancouver has recently released the group’s full length.
The band includes former members of West Coast bands Witch Baby and Korean Gut, both committed devotees of pop wonder, therefore Tough Age is no stranger to the simple back beat and the satisfying chug of chords — in fact, it’s their specialty. A lot of fuzz, a bit of glittery lead work, and some passionate choruses make Tough Age one of the most fun guitar bands to listen to. The rhythm work in every song is impeccable, greatly due to drummer Chris Martell’s incredibly hard-hitting style.
The record sounds appropriately straight ahead, and there aren’t any adverse effects to get in the way of the songs themselves. Every sound gets a bit dirtied by the production, and that’s just fine, mighty fine. “We’re Both to Blame” puts a booted foot in the pond of Smiths influence, driving the start of the record into secure territory. The stand out crooner is “The Heart of Juliet Jones,” a heartsick romp for all lovers and fighters — the highlight of the track being the lead melody in the middle eight, heavy with the suds of surf, but delicate in construction. The ultimate “crack a beer” number, “Open It Up,” has a hook capable of catching a great white, and is certainly the most riotous song on the record. The twilight zone of dynamic shifts between verses and choruses comes on strong for this one, as toms switch to cymbal hits and the world goes haywire.
At the top of the Tough Age bandcamp page, a banner reads, “Hope You Are Having a Wonderful Day.” The feeling that stems from listening to the new record comes over as something similar: a musical message of delight and inclusion, promoted by songs that keep it simple with words you can sing and dance to. The sentiment is greatly appreciated, and Tough Age are easy fun.
Rating: Proud Hoot (Really Good) +swoop
Top Tracks: “The Heart of Juliet Jones” ; “Open It Up” ; “Cocaine Vouchers”
