A listen to the title cut of the new album from The Tubs, Hard Life, reveals just how far this London-by-way-of-Cardiff crew has come. While members did play in Joanna Gruesome, the sound now is far more robust and certainly a little less indie. But that's not a bad thing.
Owen Williams sounds like Richard Thompson, and his voice suits the title cut and the roaring "Who's Going to Love You Now?" very well. This stuff is rollicking, and a little bit pub rock. There's even a touch of folk rock to "Stoop to Me" which places this in the realm of The Pogues or The Waterboys, however fleetingly. "The Way It Goes" shows how that approach can work at a more modest tempo without losing anything, while "Didn't I Say?" is very lovely and lyrical indeed.
The Tubs have progressed over the course of a few releases. They've come far enough to no longer be considered a Joanna Gruesome spin-off band. And the energy that exists on every Tubs record is something to be cherished. The tunes on Hard Life are some of this band's best yet, and it's damn impossible to play any part of this record and not start tapping your foot and smiling. Highly, highly recommended.
Hard Life by The Tubs is out on Friday via Merge Records.
[Photo: Robin Christian]