Although they only recorded one full-length record and a smattering of singles, {|Tuff Darts|} were a vital part of a thriving New York City community that featured {|Blondie|}, {|the Ramones|}, {|Talking Heads|} and {|Television|} as its elder state... Read more

Although they only recorded one full-length record and a smattering of singles, {|Tuff Darts|} were a vital part of a thriving New York City community that featured {|Blondie|}, {|the Ramones|}, {|Talking Heads|} and {|Television|} as its elder statesmen. So it's with a bit of a surprise that more acknowledgement of the group's importance has been underwhelming. Fusing a little bit of {|new wave|}, {|power pop|} sensibilities and a {|rockabilly|} snarl, the group works its way through 13 storming numbers, taking very few pauses in between for regrouping. The songs are ferocious, and while not as comical as {|the Ramones|}, share equal footing with that band's brutal intensity. Above all, though, there's no denying that the band's output has held up over the years, and in some cases best many contemporary {|punk|} bands' albums today. ~ Rob Theakston Less