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Album Review

Jan 15 2023

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts – Ballad Of A Misspent Youth 2022 Album Review

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts: Ballad Of A Misspent Youth Album 2022

Release Date

November 4, 2022

Music Recording Group LLC

Tracklisting

1.”Ballad of a Misspent Youth”

2. “Girl On The East Side of Town”

3. “Ain’t For the Faint”

4. “Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead”

5. “Shadow On The Street”

6. “Say Goodbye” – Favorite Track

7. “Lovesick City”

8. “Forgive But Won’t Forget”

Total Recommended / Favorite Tracks – 8 / 8

Total Background Tracks – 0 / 8

Total Skip Tracks – 0 / 8

https://open.spotify.com/album/1aAYSQu9gWYvvRHcHYZuKz?si=ZKsIYdMyTl-4ssD8xfLSZg
Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts – Ballad Of A Misspent Youth 2022 Album on Spotiify

Who is Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts – Ballad Of A Misspent Youth for?

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts 2022 Album, Ballad Of A Misspent Youth, is laser focused on the classic rock market, but not the typical influences, which makes it way more interesting.

Tuk Smith has always bled his influences combining the stylings of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Kiss, Thin Lizzy, Cheap Trick, T. Rex, Gary Glitter & AC/DC.

Members

Vocals / Guitars – Tuk Smith

Guitars – Ricky Dover Jr.

Bass – Shane Rickerson

Drums – Nigel Dupree

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts Band Photo

Where did Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts Originate from?

Tuk Smith came to rock n roll prominence with his original band, Biters, based out of Atlanta, GA.

Biters’ 2015 album, Electric Blood, released through Earache Records, garnered lots of attention in the rock n roll music industry. Notable accolades include Nikki Sixx, Danko Jones, Classic Rock Magazine, Alternative Press, Planet Rock and many others.

I was introduced to Biters with the track “Low Lives in Hi Definition” from 2015’s Electric Blood album. I quickly found myself listening to track after track. My favorite track is “Time to Bleed”. The opening track to Electric Blood is entitled “Restless Hearts”, which is a skip track for me and definitely would have not opened the album with it.

In 2017 the Biters released the sophomore album, The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be. I really dig the first half of this record, it’s like a more polished Electric Blood, especially “Stone Cold Love”. The rest of the album is good, but it’s basically filler tracks. The band was touring to support this release, the press was rolling in, but then the discography was pulled down & the Biters hit the pause button.

Tuk Smith basically stated in the Danko Jones podcast that the members decided to go an indefinite hiatus beginning in 2018. Tuk Smith then broke off, moved to Nashville, TN and founded Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts.

If you are interested in the Biters catalogue it is currently back up and streaming on all platforms.

Biters – Atlanta, GA
Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts Live

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts & Covid

On January 2020 Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts released the debut single, “What Kinda Love”. Tuk Smith’s credibility & the single landed the band a stadium tour with Def Leppard and Motley Crue. Then Covid 19 hit and everything was erased. The debut album, Lookin’ For Love, Ready For War, was to be released in late 2020, but was shelved.

“When the pandemic hit, it was like hitting the reset button on my music career”recalls Tuk, “everything got taken away…album campaign, stadium tour, record deal. The world was in lockdown, and the only way to escape was to throw myself into writing. My thoughts began exploring the past, and the inspiration for the songs just came in tidal waves.” – Tuk Smith

During the Covid Lockdown Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts released the EP Covers From The Quarantine through Better Noise Music. I was confirmed Tuk is the shit because he covered the Kiss song “Hard Luck Woman”, which is the reason why everyone should buy a twelve string guitar.

Then finally in November 2022 the debut album Ballad For A Misspent Youth was released.

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts Band Photo

Ballad Of A Misspent Youth – Album Review

This record had me so curious. The 2020 single, “What Kinda Love”, sounded like a more polished less gritty Biters using The Who & Queen as its soundtrack.

Tuk Smith is incredibly consistent with the songs he dishes out. It’s the AC/DC way of songwriting. Every song is good, they all sound the same and in this case Tuk basically polished up the Biters tracks and recycled them. Tuk loves Tom Petty, Thin Lizzy, “Surrender” & Gary Glitter so much!

Ballad Of A Misspent Youth is a jukebox of all your major key classic rock. It’s almost like a version of The Darkness without the falsetto vocals. I applaud Tuk Smith for focusing influences on the 70’s glam side, there are so many bands that try to imitate Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath and after awhile it gets played out or comes off as lame.

Tuk Smith has been successful and able to get away with rewriting very similar songs across two bands, but is it sustainable? If I were in Tuk’s ear I would be pushing him to write 99% up tempo slightly more aggressive tracks for the next record in order to make it relevant in the discography or get crazy with Pink Floyd / Rush inspired tracks.

If the same rewritten material comes out for now a fourth record I think the majority of the album will come off as filler tracks. At least make sure there are zero traces of Tom Petty, The Who, “Surrender” and Gary Glitter. Tuk is a solid songwriter and you’ll always at least get two killer tracks in whatever he does. I would love to hear the band jam out a bit maybe in a darker Sabbath tone.

The press surrounding Ballad Of A Misspent Youth is totally positive and deservedly so. Every song on this record is solid. Also the performance & production is stellar. I cannot make single negative comment other than Tuk is walking a tight rope with wearing his influences on his sleeve.

Ballad Of A Misspent Youth served its purpose. It has put rock n roll fans on notice that Tuk Smith will not just roll over and there is plenty of high quality music still in the tank. The follow up release is going to make or break Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts. The band either breaks and makes it their own or will forever be lumped in with retro vintage cruise lineups, which could fun, but probably under achieving.

Whatever Tuk Smith does I’m following.

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts Videos

Tour

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts Tour Dates

Let’s Talk Amigos!

Please hit us personally here at Vanzig Studios for any reason whatsoever using the Contact Form. If you’re curious where Carly and I come from then read over our bio.

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Written by Mickey Squeeze · Categorized: Reviews · Tagged: 2022, Album Review, Pop Genre, Rock Genre

Oct 20 2022

Sahara Hotnights “Love In Times of Low Expectations” Album Review 2022 – Sweden Pop Rock

Sahara Hotnights 2022 Album Cover Love In Times of Low Expectations Swedish Rock
Sahara Hotnights Love In Times Of Low Expectations 2022

Release Date

May 6, 2022

Universal Music AB

Tracklisting

1.”Reverie” -> Background Music

2. “Avalanche” -> Recommended

3. “Vertigo” -> Recommended

4. “Predictable” > Favorite Track

5. “Gemini” > Favorite Track

6. “Diving For Pearls” -> Recommended

7. “Heavy Load” – > Recommended

8. “Athena” -> Favorite Track

9. “Mind Games” -> Skip

10. “Leander” -> Background Music

Total Recommended / Favorite Tracks – 7 / 10

Total Background Tracks – 2 / 10

Total Skip Tracks – 1/ 10

Who is Sahara Hotnights, Love In Times Of Low Expectations for?

Sahara Hotnight’s, Love In Times Of Low Expectations, is for fans of mellow 80’s pop. The music that instantly pops into my head when I listen is Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time”, Talk Talk “It’s My Life”, Wham! “Last Christmas”, Goldfrapp “Rocket” and all the other music that’s 80’s tastic.

The Sahara Hotnights took ten years off and came back with an album that has some classic hotnights tones but for the most part is out of left field. Most people, I think, will either love it or hate it.

Members

Vocals – Maria Andersson

Guitars – Maria Andersson / Jennie Asplund

Bass – Joanna Asplund

Drums – Josephine Forsman

Sahara Hotnights Promo Band Photo Love Int Times of Low Expectations 2022
Sahara Hotnights – Robertsfors, Sweden

Why are the Sahara Hotnights Unique?

The Sahara Hotnights to this day actually have all original members since originating in 1991.

The Sahara Hotnights blew up in the late 90’s when there was this garage rock, rock n roll resurgence. The Swedish band, The Hives, exploded on Mtv along with The Donnas, Buckcherry & Monster Magnet. Soon to follow would be The Vines, The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand and many more.

Sahara Hotnights front woman, Maria Andersson, & The Hives frontman, Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, also could not resist each other’s charisma and were romantically involved for a time until moving their separate ways sometime 2006.

The Sahara Hotnights became part of my record collection with the 1999 major label debut of C’mon Lets Pretend. The late 90’s was a weird period for rock and this one of those bands that filled a void.

I can honestly say after the C’mon Lets Pretend album there were a few tracks on each album I dug but not an album as a whole. Although after listening to Love In Times Of Low Expectations I rediscovered the album What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing released in 2007.

What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing featured “Cheek to Cheek” & “Visit to Vienna”. What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing and Love In Times Of Low Expectations pair really well together and I think showcases the Sahara Hotnight’s best songwriting.

Sahara-Hotnights Color Band Photo
Sahara H, Nikki Brumen

Where Were the Sahara Hotnights for 10 Years?

There isn’t much information out there, but this is what I got.

Courtesy of Newsbeezer.com:

Singer and guitarist Maria Andersson Lundell has released a solo album and was assistant to Plura from Eldkvarn on the TV show Plura’s Kitchen. Bassist Johanna Asplund toured with Love Antell and became a project manager on television. Guitarist Jennie Asplund bought a farm in Skåne and started a furniture company. Drummer Josephine Forsman played with the band Casablanca and did music shows for Utbildningsradion before moving to Los Angeles where she works with LOUD, an international music school for young people.

Pro tip: Even if 10 years goes by with your bandmates, it’s never over until you all say it’s over. Keep in touch keep doors open this could be the year for new music.

Maria Andersson Live Stockholm Sweden Festival
Maria Andersson Live Stockholm, Sweden

Love In Times Of Low Expectations – Review

On first listen of debut single “Reverie” and the corresponding photo shoot I had very low expectations. I like many wanted to hear some distorted guitars and the see the band in leather jackets. Instead I got no guitars just mellow keyboards and oversized 80’s/90’s mom sitcom attire.

I assumed the Sahara Hotnights jumped the shark with this new crop of music until I heard the second single, “Gemini”. I have no idea why this was not the first single, but I guess it doesn’t matter since the rest of album sounds like alternate versions of these two songs.

Love In Times Of Low Expectations chose a tone & vibe and went whole hog. If you need a mellow album that sounds like Cyndi Lauper or something similar while your vibing out late at night then this is your album.

I was actually really surprised how many times I played this album skipping really only one track consistently, “Mind Games”. Hands down “Gemini”, “Predictable” & “Athena” carry this album. These three tracks are the “best of” what Love In Low Times Of Expectations offers. Other tracks like “Avalanche” & “Vertigo” have great hooks in them but do not come close as a whole to the three I just mentioned.

I have read reviews of this album where the consensus seems to be good but unsatisfied. What I really like about this record is that the Sahara Hotnights showcase great songwriting, attention to vocal melodies & music hooks.

The biggest negative I would have to say is the zero tempo change. The album sounds like one long song in the same key at the same slow tempo, even a slight key change in one of the choruses would add some nice color. When the banjo dropped on “Predictable” I was like fuck yeah, it elevated the hell out of the song without changing tempo.

I love the 80’s pop sound and the Sahara Hotnights paid serious homage to it. I also love thrash metal, Ryan Adams and the UK Subs. Honestly I am weirdly addicted to Love In Times Of Low Expectations, but definitely not the look.

Sahara Hotnights Videos

Tour

Sahara Hotnights Tour Dates

Let’s Talk Amigos!

Please hit us personally here at Vanzig Studios for any reason whatsoever using the Contact Form. If you’re curious where Carly and I come from then read over our bio.

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Written by Mickey Squeeze · Categorized: Reviews · Tagged: 2022, Album Review, Female Fronted, New Album Release, Pop Genre, Rock Genre

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