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
