An Anthemic Rock Single from The Things Of Youth

A new single from The Things of Youth just dropped, and this track is massive to me. It has such a unique sonic drive that incorporates elements of indie and even alternative rock to an extent, accompanied by a bright, poppy overcoat that makes things a bit colorful without losing any of its edge.

"Tooth for a Tooth" is a bit of a spirited and closed-fisted track lyrically, as you get the vibe that it's about someone who doesn't know when to stop and thinks that they're better than everyone else.

This, to me, is unbelievably relatable as it probably is for a lot of people who have been in similar situations. We all know that person or have experienced that situation before, and I find it super amusing that these guys put that sentiment into words so damn well.

The lyrics are so straightforward that you can sort of feel that emotion behind them. It's not exactly anger, but it's more of a spirited sense of self-worth.

Now, that's just what I got out of it. I think other people might take it differently but for me, the sentiment was loud and clear, and that's what spoke to me about the song lyrically. It has a certain empowerment behind it that expresses things in a bit of a fiery approach.

It's a message to that person. It's telling them to just back off because you're not better, and you should have a look in the mirror to see what you really are.

Now, again, this is just how I took it.

I do love that sentiment, and the way that they strung it all together in such a relative way, to the point where I actually connected with it a lot.

The music is awesome because again, it is like an indie rock song, but it's got a very unique drumbeat to it where the snare has this double hit, and it gives it a really interesting aesthetic.

The whole thing feels completely anthemic. 

I love the way the drums were tracked on this song, especially. They're not just writing your face. They're slightly distanced. The kick drums are alive and have a bit of reverb on them, so they're not flat at all. They feel like you're in the room with the band.

You get a lot of glimpses of the drum sound in different sections of the song when it exhales and goes back down to bass guitar, vocals, and drums alone; guitars fading out into the distance. 

The guitar work on this track is outstanding. They create this massive wall of presence and Melody, brightness, and a flowing sensation that is just massive.

When the verses are coming in, they let the chords sort of ring out, and it gives the song a sense of freedom. It feels freeing, which is something that you don't always get when you listen to music. You can pick up that open-ended sense of, not entitlement, but just freedom.

It's almost like the guitars are expressing the emotion revolved around not caring too much about what that person thinks.

The music feels like standing on top of a mountain.

The vocals are gorgeous here. I know it sounds strange to say for an indie rock song, but they just are. They're sort of graceful singing this addictive melody all the time and that melody gets stuck in your head for hours after the song has ended.

This is absolutely one of those songs you end up humming in your brain until you have to go listen to it again. It's the only way to satiate that.

It's just got this massive melodic vocal hook, and those are performed in a couple of tracks layered. I feel like it's even performed in octaves as well. Where two vocals are performing the same notes, but one of them is the low version and one of them is the higher-pitched version. So there are two octaves of those choruses being sung, which gives it a more powerful feel as well.

The way they tracked this was just super cool. It was produced unbelievably well. It's not overly done. It's just perfectly balanced to give them that closed-fisted and anthemic empowerment, letting that sentiment shine through without going over the top.

The aesthetic is just right.

There are all kinds of musical hooks here as well, including some lines that go beneath some of the bending guitars, and everything creates a big lush, full-bodied soundscape of rock.

To me, it's even cinematic.

There's a vastness in the song's underbelly that comes through the entire time, and I love how they let the song breathe the way it does.

You can hear what they're saying even though there are effects on the vocals. As I mentioned before, the song exhales back down during certain verses to focus more on those lyrics for bursting into huge choruses with melodic hooks again.

This is definitely a memorable and pretty impactful indie rock track that left a bit of a mark.

You should definitely check this out.

While you do that, you should read our interview with the band just below so you can get a sense of where the song came from and what might be coming up next for them.

Check it out.

Buzz Slayers: Let's talk about "Tooth for A Tooth!"! This song had a massive sonic presence and brought an onslaught of rock genres from garage to indie rock!! Where did this track come from?

If only I knew. Songwriting is funny like that. It just happens. In the beginning we were messing around with an old analog drum machine and Charlie started laying live drums over it. At times he would lock in with the machine or do fills over the beat. It sounded cool and the song just grew from there. At times you can still hear the drum machine in the mix. It has a nice organic analog drift. I added the guitars last and just focused on channeling Tom Petty and Mike Campbell from a shitty little combo amp and a Fender Telecaster. Those guitars were a lot of fun to summon.   

Buzz Slayers: I'm hearing a few different approaches to this record! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

During the making of this record I was listening to a lot of metal. Both hair and heavy. I was also listening to Mk.gee, Big Thief, PLOSIVS, Janet’s Rhythm Nation, and The Cure. 

Buzz Slayers: Did you record this at a home setup, or at a big studio?

Both. The drums and bass were tracked at Tiny Telephone in Oakland. By far the best studio in the bay area for drums. They also have a very talented staff of engineers. We worked with Danielle Goldsmith. She’s my all-time favorite engineer for live drums. I did most of the guitars, synths, and lead vocals at home. We also did a ton with my homie Adam Myatt at his studio in Oakland. Adam really helped bring this song to life during the mixing process. He’s got an incredible ear and excellent musicality. Thinking back on this song right now reminds me of how grateful I am to know so many talented musicians and studio experts.    

Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you as a band?

Pretty much just me sitting with an acoustic guitar and focusing on the organic songwriting craft. I still write a lot that way these days even though I’m playing with other folks in the band or on various recordings. I like to try and find the song in one instrument before adding layers or other instruments.  

Buzz Slayers: Are you performing live right now?

Yes. For me it’s all about playing live. I love the energy, the tension, the stakes, and the improvisation stemming from live shows. We like to keep the shows really loose too so you never know how it’s going to go. We have two shows in September in the bay area and more to come.  

Buzz Slayers: Now that this is out, what's next for you?

More live shows and a new EP dropping in September. The EP is called Rip The Gut and it includes Tooth for a Tooth and 5 other songs. Mostly heavy and upbeat cuts like the song Ambulance. I’m excited to share the song Ambulance. It’s manic!  

Buzz Slayers: Who's in your headphones right now?

Today I listened to Neil Young’s live “Fu##in’ Up” record. I’ve been really into live LPs these days. So much heart, spontaneity, and raw emotion can be felt with a good live record. Especially on vinyl. 

Buzz Slayers: What would you tell people they can expect on this release?

You can expect it was a ton of fun to make this record and we did our best. There was minimal comping or editing during the recording process, so if you are looking for perfection, you might not like it. But if you like it loud, dirty, and melodic, you’ve come to the right place. 

Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music? 

For me, there is no music without the fans. Although I’ve been in a bunch of bands and toured and recorded, I am a fan first and songwriter second.

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