King Tuff - "The Other"

King Tuff, aka  Kyle Thomas has been at it for years now bringing a certain Psychedelic edge to the modern Garage Rock sound.  The first time I heard King Tuff was on the 2008 "Was Dead" project.  While at first, I was a little iffy on some of these tunes, I couldn't help but return multiple times to it. Kyle brought in a very modern Garage sound comparable to the likes of Ty Segall or Black Lips.  But on this project, King Tuff, more importantly, had a major and I mean MAJOR Sunshine Pop feel.  Tracks like "Ruthie Ruthie", "Kind of Guy" and "So Desperate" weren't just wild and upbeat, but they were also endearing and had plenty of good vibes. And yes, I'm well aware that tracks like "Sun Medallion" and "Freak When I'm Dead" were practically caricatures of current Psychedelic Rock.   To be honest, though, I really couldn't resist.  Kyle returned in 2012 with "King Tuff", a much less Psychedelic album on all fronts.  No, Kyle, this time around was intent on blaring Garage Rock and anthemic Power Pop.  And for the most part, yea this worked for him.  Tracks like "Stranger" and "Bad Thing" were easily some of the best tracks King Tuff had ever come out with.  And while I did sort of miss the Sunshine feel of the previous album, and tracks like "Alone & Stoned" were a little much, I was still really loving what King Tuff was putting out.  But all bets were off with 2014's "Black Moon Spell".  This album was absolutely all over the place, from some of his best-written songs to date like "Headbanger" and "Rainbow's Run", to some of his absolutely worst to date like "I Love You Ugly".   Sadly, I feel like too much of this album was average at best.  But at the very least there were also some of King Tuff's most outlandish tracks yet, like "Demon From Hell" or the batshit insane "Black Holes In Stereo".  So I don't know about you, but I wasn't THAT hyped for this project.  Honestly, I thought this was going to be an average project at best.  But the truth is, the singles dropped from this have been some of the most incredible and mind-boggling King Tuff tracks yet.  He's always had Psych Rock roots and presented himself with a Hippie lifestyle.  But this is a totally different album, and I can't wait to chat about it.

  This album starts out with the very enchanting and whimsical “The Other”.  But of all the tracks here, I honestly feel like this is one of the biggest misses.  This track just drags along so long and doesn’t any positive vibes in sight.  The thing is, I get that the majority of this album is much darker and much more realistic than some of Kyle’s early recordings.  But some of the later tracks here are at least fun and well produced.  This is just a cosmic dumpster fire, one that goes on for over 6 minutes and doesn’t have anything remotely compelling going on.  It just comes off as some seriously underwhelming ramblings.  Even lyric-wise, what was Kyle thinking about this. However, the sunny and legitimately Psychedelic vibes on “Raindrop Blue” on the other hand are really likable.  Like, there is a STRONG groove here, and Kyler for the first time seems to be diving headfirst into the sort of Classic Rock sound.  Now, yes, this is radically different than the early, low-fi days of King Tuff.  But I personally LOVE hearing Kyle with a full band and this stunning production.  Not to mention, some of these lyrics are easily some Kyle’s most compelling and human. This track works great overall.  The very breezy, over-the-top feel to this album continues with “Thru the Cracks”.  And I mean, this is seriously over the top.  Like, Kyle has worked with a Psychedelic sound for years, but this was ripped kicking and screaming out of the sunny 70’s.  However, he continues to back that up with genuinely great songwriting and a real appreciation for this sound.  Not to mention, he just sounds so damn dynamic as a frontman and capable of a whole lot more than he has in the past.  Not to mention, the genuine cinematic feel to this is worth a listen as it is.  By now, if you’re not really into a lot of the throwback, 70’s Psychedelic Rock sounds of this album, you may just want to turn around.  It’s not going anywhere, and it’s just getting more and more soulful by the minute.  You have to give credit to Kyle too because this doesn’t really even come off as awkward.  Now, for some, this is just going to be a sickeningly sweet Rock jam.  And trust me, I get that.  But I sort of really dig just how sunny these tracks are on the surface, matched with just how depressing and dark Kyle’s lyrics are deep down.  Plus, these backing vocals are actually brilliant. 

    The very sunny, positive bars roll on with “Infinite Mile”, this time with a very bluesy and moody twist.  King Tuff remains the star here, in control of all of these very whimsical instrumentals.  This one is solid, it’s not nearly as catchy and as gigantic as some of the other tunes here,  However, the determination and Kyle’s dedication to the sound is commendable to no extent.  But I do have to say, it’s moments like this that I totally get why some people aren’t nearly as into Kyle’s songwriting on this album.  Now, I’m not nearly as head over heels for the bluesier and more twisted performance on “Birds of Paradise”.  Even if this track is loaded with horns and woozy synths, which I would usually go nuts for.  I just feel like King Tuff is playing it safe with this one.  The production is still crisp, and if you’re a nostalgia fanatic, get on this album immediately.  But the much more dreary and bluesy tone to this just isn’t nearly as interesting to me.  Once again, King Tuff goes for a much drearier tune with “Circuits in the Sand”.  But this time, I swear this one is just so freakin’ out there and bizarre that it works unbelievably well.  Sure, King Tuff once again comes off a little preachy, even rambling at times.  But still, this track turns out amazing.  So it’s not like King Tuff can’t write a slower tune, cause this is just as memorable.  Not to mention, the sort of storytelling lyrics are totally compelling here, even if King Tuff is going for seemingly cheap pops and nostalgia kicks.  And just when you think things can’t get even slower, groovier, and funkier, “Ultraviolet” snakes its way in.  I don’t know, I do enjoy this one for the most part.  Mostly because Kyle’s performance is so freakish and strange.  I do like the woozy guitars and the slick atmosphere.  But tracks like this are too safe for my liking.  They have the production and the sound down to a science, but is there anything genuinely wild with tracks like this?  Plus could you imagine if King Tuff actually tied these tracks together with a central theme?  It is still listenable though, cause thankfully Kyle can still write a catchy tune.

 

  Up next is “Neverending Sunshine”, and you have to give it to King Tuff for staying consistent.  This is just as funky and spacey but has some seriously fresh new elements as well.  Like, come on, those soulful synths are actually really awesome.  Not to mention, his very bluesy performance seems to fit it perfectly.  But the very sinister underbelly of this album continues to be very much a factor.  Even if it’s for a few short moments, there is certainly an element to this track that comes off as very dark.  I think that Kyle is certainly onto something with this album.  This may not be perfect, but he’s going down a very interesting path.  But Kyle can’t keep it up sadly with “No Man’s Land”, the finale.  Like, I see what he’s going for, it’s obvious.  But in times like this, it’s quite frankly a little too much.  Just like Kyle started off on this album, there is certainly a lot of the same elements.  And sadly, none of them are good.  Once again, we see King Tuff going for more of a storytelling vibe.  Which on paper, should work wonders for this sort of album.  But he ends up rambling about absolutely nothing, to the point where I almost have to fast forward a little.  Then we the instrumental, which is just so incredibly boring and hazy.  This isn’t riveting, this isn’t new and exciting, this is dated on arrival.  I get that Kyle wants so much to encompass the 70’s Psych Rock sound, but here, we see the dangers of that.  This track and just how safe it is, makes other modern Psych artists sound like the damn Beatles compared to this.  

Rating:  7.3/10

Give A Listen To: "Raindrop Blue", "Thru The Cracks", "Psycho Star",  “Neverending Sunshine”

Genre: Psychedelic Rock

Overall Thoughts:  King Tuff on "The Other" steps away from his Merry Prankster of Garage Rock persona, and for the first time really surrounds himself with a band that can keep up with his wild personality.  But this album is radically different than the cheery, sort of Pop-oriented Garage Rock that we first heard years ago.  No, here King Tuff dives headfirst into the sounds of 70's Psych Rock, which is both a fantastic thing and a questionable thing.  At times, he sounds right at home, like he's been doing this for years.  Not only that, but between the backing vocals and squeaky clean production, there's some seriously great stuff happening.  But at the same time, there are more than a few moments here where I quite frankly miss the King Tuff of old.  The lyrics here at times aren't up to snuff, and don't get me started on just how boring and rambling King Tuff comes off at times.  I think Kyle is on to to something with these  new sounds, and can really come off with something wild if he gets some of the kinks ironed out.