Hard Luck
Round Hill, 2019
8/10
Royal Teeth made quite a dent in the indie-pop scene when their debut album landed in 2013, and now 6 years later this follow up LP shows us a more muscular, mature and energetic vision of their pop prowess.
“Never Gonna Quit” starts the listen with bright, melodic sounds where the music is as animated as the vocals, and “Show You What I Can Do” follows with buzzing electro-pop where Tunde Olaniran offers his inimitable pipes on a hip-hop influenced track.
Elsewhere, “It’s Just The Start” recruits a soulful start with processed vocals on a club friendly anthem, while “The Best” will certainly get your body moving with its frisky pace and strong, unrelenting beat.
Near the end, “Unbreakable” quivers with a playful feeling as busy and loud instrumentation infiltrates the album highlight, and “Arrival” ends the listen as robust as it started, where melodic vocals from both genders collide on radiant pop fun.
The last few years have had their ups and downs for Royal Teeth, but here the band sound invigorated, focused and prepared for the best work of their careers. If you weren’t previously a fan of this New Orleans outfit, you will be after a few spins of Hard Luck.
Travels well with: Fitz & The Tantrums- Fits & The Tantrums;The Dig-Moonlight Baby/Afternoon With Caroline