King Tuff, the project spearheaded by Vermont-based musician Kyle Thomas, is gearing up for the release of his sixth full-length album, . Titled MOO, the album marks a deliberate return to the artist’s roots, both geographically and sonically. After a period spent in Los Angeles, Thomas relocated back to his home state and embraced a stripped-down recording process reminiscent of his early work.
The shift in approach is immediately apparent in the album’s lead singles. Following the release of “Twisted On A Train,” Thomas has now shared “Invisible Ink,” a power-pop track brimming with energy and a touch of classic rock swagger. The song showcases Thomas’s vocal delivery, which draws comparisons to Lou Reed and highlights the sheer enjoyment he’s finding in the creative process.
“Invisible Ink” is accompanied by a music video co-directed by Thomas and Sela. The grainy, black-and-white aesthetic adds to the song’s raw, unpolished feel. Notably, the video features backing band contributions from Chris Weisman and Ruth Garbus, former members of Thomas’s earlier band, Happy Birthday, adding a layer of nostalgic collaboration to the project.
The creation of MOO represents a conscious effort to recapture the immediacy and spontaneity that characterized Thomas’s debut. He utilized the same Tascam 388 tape machine he employed for his 2013 album, King Tuff Was Dead, and revisited his trusty Gibson SG guitar. This commitment to analog recording is central to the album’s overall sound and ethos.
In a statement, Thomas described the recording process for “Twisted On A Train” as a stark contrast to his recent experiences with digital production. He explained that while working on previous projects, he often found himself lost in the minutiae of waveform manipulation and vocal editing, a process that could take months. “Spending hours moving waveforms around like a zombie, comping vocals, second guessing, trying to make things sound not lifeless, trying to make anything sound good at all, took months,” he said. “But here on the tape it was so much more alive. More like painting or collaging. More like making actual music. Every move I made stuck like super glue. It was effortless. It was pure joy.”
The album’s tracklist reveals a diverse collection of songs, hinting at the breadth of Thomas’s musical interests. MOO will feature the following tracks:
- Twisted On A Train
- Stairway To Nowhere
- Invisible Ink
- Landline
- Crosseyed Critters
- Oil Change
- East of Ordinary
- Unglued
- Delusions
- Backroads
Beyond the music itself, Thomas has also created a unique companion piece for MOO: a physical newspaper titled The Daily Moo. Each copy of the album will include this newspaper, adding a tactile and unconventional element to the release.
MOO is being released through Thomas’s own MUP Records, in partnership with Thirty Tigers. This arrangement allows Thomas a greater degree of creative control and independence, aligning with the album’s overall spirit of self-reliance.
Following the album’s release, King Tuff will embark on a North American tour. Dates include performances in Brooklyn, NY () at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Kingston, NY () at Tubby’s, Philadelphia, PA () at Kung Fu Necktie, and Washington, D.C. Additional tour dates are expected to be announced.
King Tuff’s return with MOO signals a renewed focus on the core elements that initially defined his sound: raw energy, melodic songwriting, and a commitment to analog recording. The album represents not just a new collection of songs, but a deliberate artistic reset, driven by a desire to reconnect with the joy of making music. The project’s independent spirit, coupled with its nostalgic yet forward-looking sound, positions King Tuff as a compelling figure in the contemporary garage rock landscape.
