Just eight tracks in total but an immense collection nonetheless, The Encore You Didn’t Ask For highlights the most comfortably genuine version of Tough On Fridays we’ve perhaps ever seen.
Tough On Fridays
Growing Pains hits with a Cranberries-esque haunting vocal presence, and progresses with emo-rock verses that build beautifully towards the lingering question; ‘am I bitter, or just feeling better?’
Despite their clear energy & presence online, there’s a certain introverted quietness to their writing & delivery. This is perhaps what reaches out more notably to the many who are feeling so lost & unsure right now.
Fresh, cool and intriguing, I’d be interested to see what Tough On Fridays can do if they only gave themselves a longer run-time on a track…
Storming through the speakers with nothing so much as an introduction or a moment of quiet, Open My Mind is a brilliantly upbeat and deeply thoughtful pop-rock song – one that subtly leans towards punk-pop with its fast-paced power-chords and the often grunge-soaked nature of the leading melody.
You get a notable sense of identity from the sound, and the voice seems inherently connected to the lyrics, so the whole thing just works in the way that you’d hope your favourite band’s music to – each time you return to it.
Tough On Fridays have an unexpectedly beautiful sound that creates a vast arena of contrast around you between the thick, distorted energy of the instrumentation & the gentler, expressive feel of the leading voice.