On the track "Heaven or London" from the Tubs’ third album, frontman Owen Williams offers a blunt and self-deprecating self-assessment, calling himself "the singer of a rip-off band" and joking about "wanking himself into an early grave." The Tubs have recently become a critical darling, with their previous album, Cotton Crown, frequently appearing on best-of-2025 lists. Surprisingly, they've found favor among traditional rock critics and even received a profile in The New Yorker, which described them as a "British jangle-rock band, with a cheeky dirtbag edge." Their success is largely due to their independent, unorthodox approach to music, avoiding current trends and sticking to a more organic, raw sound. The Tubs' sound is a mix of distorted electric guitars clashing with bright, trebly acoustic or 12-string guitars, evoking the gritty energy and wistful melodies of bands like Hüsker Dü or the Replacements during their more melodic, post-hardcore phase. Their music also nods to the jangly, introspective style of early REM and the Go-Betweens, with violin lines that recall the work of Amanda Brown. Williams’s voice, often compared to folk-rock icon Richard Thompson, fits into a broader tradition of indie rock that predates the Madchester scene of the late 1980s. Despite their critical acclaim, Williams is not entirely content with the band’s success. On the track "If You Don’t Love Me," he hints at frustration with the touring life and his bandmates, even threatening to quit. On "The Way It Goes," he expresses discomfort with returning to the U.S., criticizing American journalists for their claims about sobriety. Williams’s songwriting often blends personal, diary-like reflections with self-deprecating humor, sometimes portraying himself as unlikable for comedic effect. While some tracks on Hard Life are deeply heartfelt, others are written from the perspective of a character that highlights Williams’s flaws, adding layers of irony and complexity to the album. The album also includes a reimagined version of a 1982 Prince outtake from the Super Deluxe Edition of 1999, given a new life with chiming, jangly guitars. Though the Tubs' sound is rooted in tradition, they add unexpected twists, like sped-up backing vocals. While some of their acclaim might stem from nostalgia, Hard Life is also praised for its musical craftsmanship. This week, another artist, Alexis, listened to "Criticise" by Moses Boyd featuring Amber-Simone, a track described as a powerful piece of 21st-century soul with a deeply emotive vocal performance from Amber-Simone.