ALBUM REVIEW: King Tuff – Smalltown Stardust

Sub Pop

Released: 27.01.23

This latest album sees King Tuff in a very different space to his previous records. From the opening moments of Letters To Plants there’s a paradigmatic shift, its orchestral feel compounded by the subdued How I Love which follows it. Glimpses of the old emerge on Portrait Of God and Rock River, which show off his more familiar style.

This is a thoughtful record, wrapped in joy. There’s a heartfelt nature to the songs, particularly title track Smalltown Stardust, where King Tuff’s passion exudes from the record. Closing out with The Wheel, it’s back to where it started with an orchestral feel that provides the undercurrent for some exquisite lyrics. This is an excellent but very different offering from King Tuff.