A few months ago, alt-rock band Tough On Fridays put out their single called “Growing Pains”, which is a track much different from any of their previous material on their last album, A Fantastic Way To Kill Some Time, put out in 2020. “Growing Pains” is the band’s fourth track released this year, all of which have a new indie rock sound as opposed to their heavier, almost pop-rock sound on their first album. This most recent release is definitely Tough On Fridays’ softest song. Right before the release of this single, the band put out an EP the month before and it feels like their most authentic work. With an upcoming album called The Encore You Didn’t Ask For, this is a promising new direction Tough On Friday’s are taking.
When “Growing Pains” starts a somber, pretty guitar and lovely harmonies are what’s heard- a clear indicator of the new direction the trio decided to take. Then the song slowly esculates into a full band sound, but never leaving the gentleness in tone. As the title suggests, the feeling this song emits is also painful. As you listen, you can feel the pain, not only through the lyrics and vocals, but through the entire sound.
Although the song has a sonically tender feel, the lyrics do bring up a feeling of hope and change. This one song is like an entire story. The song begins with, “growing pains/ this feeling never seems to go away”, and turns into using that pain to make positive changes. “Growing Pains” is such a genuine and lovely song, and one I definitely recommend.
Written by Autumn Martin
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