King Tuff’s latest album, Smalltown Stardust, smoothly blends the garage rock instincts of Kyle Thomas with 1970’s psychedelic pop-rock. It’s a feel-good album, lyrically thought provoking and ready to be deeply dissected. On the other hand, listeners can just enjoyed Smalltown Stardust for its comforting vibe.
There’s a clear pattern throughout the album. The 11-track-work plays with symbolism, utilizing nature’s beauty to portray emotion. Smalltown Stardust is a departure from any of the band’s past work. But King Tuff clearly used their 2018 album The Other to springboard into this new direction. The rhythms are more relaxed. The aggression is pulled back, essentially non-existent. It’s an earthy album, intimate as it steps forward with arms wide open.
The album’s tone is perfectly set by the opening track “Love Letters To Plant.” The song is maybe the album’s most literal, bypassing symbolism and simply stating “I just want to dance/ And write love letters to plants.” Its ambience is airy and relaxing, a perfect opener to Smalltown Stardust.
“How I Love,” the album’s second track, oozes 1970’s psychedelic rock. One of the album’s smoothest songs, you can’t help but move your hips when Thomas drops an active and croons “it’s a little bit lonesome.”
“Portrait Of God” is another standout, opening with a borderline country twang before transitioning into a bouncy, spiritual melody. The album’s title track “Smalltown Stardust” confidently teeters between King Tuff’s garage band tendencies and the psychedelic, earthly sound prevalent throughout the album.
“Pebbles In A Stream” is an underrated, slowdown moment on Smalltown Stardust. It lets the guitar wonder, with Thomas’s vocals taking center stage. It personifies the album perfectly by utilizing nature to symbolize complex, human emotions. “Tell Me” follows as an up-tempo, standout track on the album. An undeniable high point of Smalltown Stardust occurs when the song strips off the instrumentals as Thomas sings “I can’t keep my love from you.”
A couple other songs to note: “The Bandits Of Blue Sky” is a funky track that casually transitions from garage rock to psychedelic perfection. “The Wheel” is an atmospheric closer to the album, exploding with colors and emotions.
Check out the full album here and on all streaming platforms.
