Chicago-based rockers Smut release their fiery sophomore album Tomorrow Comes Crashing, on Bayonet Records, which perfectly captures the band’s raucous and well-honed live shows.
The follow-up to their 2022 debut album How the Light Felt, sees them joined by a new rhythm section Aidan O’Connor (drums), and John Steiner (bass), completing the original trio of singer and lyricist Tay Roebuck, guitarists Andie Min and Sam Ruschman.
‘Godhead’ starts off the album with a bang, with its driving guitars and animalistic drums. This along with ‘Spit’, their angriest song about the reality most musician’s face being in a band, give a much heavier rock-influenced sound to the band.
Major focal point is ‘Syd Sweeney’, also released as a single, using the aforementioned Hollywood actress’s trials and tribulations and taking a much deeper look at the challenges that women in the public eye so often face. Musically, the screams at the end amplify the frustration.
As Roebuck says:
Women in entertainment are exceptionally talented, smart and beautiful, because they have to be. Sometimes they want to explore sexuality and vulnerability in their work. Then the pitchforks come out, how dare they be amazing AND sexual? You can only be one or the other! Why is talent and hard work seemingly erased once you’ve seen a woman naked?
Lead single ‘Dead Air’ begins with crystal clear guitars, and a punchy bass offers a dream poppy grunge vibe reminiscent of The Cranberries, with a touch of Avril Lavigne. Roebuck’s forlorn vocals bring out the haunting sadness experienced at the end of a relationship.
‘Ghosts’ is another ethereal late 80s influenced pop song, with its hooky choruses and vocal adlibs. Latest single ‘Touch and Go’, inspired by MGMT‘s ‘Time to Pretend’ is a lyrical ode to the dreams every musician starts with, peppered with searing guitars.
The album closes with ‘Sunset Hymnal’, anthemic pop-rock perfection, with epic guitars and vocals complete with an ending awash with feedback.
Tomorrow Comes Crashing‘s vast dynamic range, featuring dreamy pop grunge, all-out rockers and introspective ballads are a real treat for the ears.
Stream Tomorrow Comes Crashing on Spotify.
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