A decade ago, Tough Age (Vancouver) released their self-titled debut LP. This week, they released their 5th full length Waiting Here. If you compare both records, it sounds like two seperate bands. Whereas Tough Age started out as an exciting mix of a garage and indie rock band, present day they sound more like indie pop royalty from Down Under. Yet somehow, it’s entirely possible to like both sides of Tough Age.
Waiting Here is bursting with melody, casually strummed guitars and upbeat drumming. It’s probably my favorite Tough Age record yet. A couple of listens in, it feels like their most consistent record in terms of style and song quality. Songs like Give It A Day, Hideaway, and Paradise By Another Name are guitar pop heaven and pure ear candy. Punks playing pop music, it’s a concept that is hard to beat!
To top things off, Tough Age close with Waiting Here, a delightfully ramshackle tune fueled by an organ – it’s an obvious nod to the Clean and a perfect closer to a great record. Waiting Here is out now through We Are Time and Bobo Integral.