Tuff Talk have been one of my favorite recent discoveries. Their left-of-the-dial power pop tunes are right up my wheelhouse. Unfortunately, the band currently is on a hiatus due to life demands. But I’m happy to report that two thirds of Tuff Talk – Ben Muha (drums, vocals) and Wes Isbell (bass), have started a new band together with guitarist Ron Stohr (Swaggerlies) and singer Jenn Miller.
Today, we can check the first fruits of labor from this quartet. And the pair of songs, recorded with Aaron Schroeder at Pierced Ears Recordings, evoke the same level of enthusiasm as when I first heard Tuff Talk, even though Small Yards do thing a bit differently. The band operates on a broader sonic spectrum, which they self-describe as “an aesthetic that rides the waves between power pop, garage rock, psychedelia, and post punk.”
From the opening drumbeat of Weekdays, it is clear that Small Yards’ music is all about boosting your mood. The band’s inherent charm is evident in their high-energy, upbeat melodies, but the communal spirit conveyed by the vocal harmonies is particularly infectious. The way Muha and Miller share vocals is also a major strength of second track Call Of The Wild.
Small Yards are off to a great start, and according to Muha we should anticipate lots more Small Yards material this year. Siked!
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