Tubs, The "Dead Meat" Silver or Black LP or CD (2023)

Details: The Tubs, "Dead Meat," LP or CD (2023, Trouble In Mind Records). Limited silver vinyl, black vinyl, and CD, in stock. New stock, sealed. Owen Williams of Ex-Void and Sniffany and the Nits (ex-Joanna Gruesome, and others). The Tubs originally signed to Prefect Records label (UK), and now, signed to Trouble In Mind (US).

Description: "The long-awaited full-length from London's The Tubs does not disappoint. Nine tracks of fiery, ecstatic, and glammy guitar pop that merges strident guitar jangle with Fairport-infused electric folk and a fair share of attitude and panache. Destined to never leave your turntable."

"...formed in 2018 from the ashes of beloved UK post-punk band Joanna Gruesome by former members Owen 'O' Williams and George 'GN' Nicholls. By incorporating elements of post-punk, traditional British folk, and guitar jangle seasoned by nonchalant Cleaners From Venus-influenced pop hooks and contemporary antipodean indie bands (Twerps/Goon Sax, et al).

“Dead Meat” is resplendent in hi-fidelity strum & thrum, incorporating fleeting elements of post-punk and indie jangle, but the group’s penchant for trad British folk & Canterbury folk-rock takes a noticeable, caffeinated step forward. Echoes of Fairport Convention’s decidedly English chime cross swords with singer Owen Williams’ lyrics directing Bryan Ferry’s “thinking man’s libertine” persona into a more dolorous outlook. Many songs (like “Round The Bend” and “Duped”) soar with an urgent strum under Williams’ acerbic lyrics, recalling a younger fiery Richard Thompson. They languish in an aching, bitter resignation (of both the situations described & the protagonist’s place in it), particularly near the album’s second half. Others like the previously released “I Don’t Know How It Works”, “Two Person Love” and “Illusion” (re-presented here as “Illusion Pt. II” and all rerecorded from their original 7-inch versions) up the urgency, implying that the journey for the person described in each tune is not over & may be even more desperate than before. The band has never been tighter & more dynamic, often imperceptibly ratcheting up the tension, an extra guitar strum overdubbed, a barely audible organ/synth cranking under a chorus or bridge, or unexpected backups from current Ex-Vöid (and ex-Joanna Gruesome) vocalist Lan McArdle. The Tubs are poised to take over your stereo - there’s no point in resisting."

Grade: M (new stock)

TRACK LISTING SIDE A:

A1. Illusion Pt. II
A2. Two Person Love
A3. I Don't Know How It Works
A4. Dead Meat
A5. Sniveller

TRACK LISTING SIDE B:

B1. Duped
B2. That's Fine
B3. Round The Bend
B4. Wretched Lie

CD TRACK LISTING:

1. Illusion Pt. II
2. Two Person Love
3. I Don't Know How It Works
4. Dead Meat
5. Sniveller
6. Duped
7. That's Fine
8. Round The Bend
9. Wretched Lie