First Unitarian Church, Oct. 2 - King Tuff (Preview)

Jumping from freak-folk outfit Feathers, to J Mascis side-project Witch, Kyle Thomas has been at refining his methods for some time.

But even before Feathers, Thomas penned his very early career as King Tuff, releasing hardly known CD-R's in the mid-2000s. Those DIY efforts, along with a ton of luck, eventually became Thomas' debut LP Was Dead in 2008.

What came from it was a shining example of garage punk mixed with Thomas' propensity for T. Rex-era glam rock. Not a posthumous anecdote for the lack of glam appeal today, rather, Was Dead melded Thomas' bubbling folk inspirations into a sugary portrayal of garage glory. The method climbed to a bigger realm last year with Thomas' self-titled release, showing his ability for bigger and more grand efforts. In between the album's charming, subdued takes, Thomas exposed his frenetic side with the likes of "Anthem" and "Bad Thing," two undeniable joy-rides that split between '70s nirvana and modern punk thrill.

Thomas' style should fit dubiously well alongside Jacuzzi Boys and Wavves, which will be headlining tonight's show at Philadelphia's First Unitarian Church. Tickets are still available here, courtesy of R5, beginning at 8 p.m.

Stream: Garage Swim (ft. Bass Drum of Death, Thee Oh Sees, King Tuff, and more)

Usually fans of electronic-oriented and rap-heavy mixes, Williams Street Records (the Adult Swim imprint) have fully released the wonderfully stacked Garage Swim mixtape. The 15-track record is loaded with familiars, including Thee Oh Sees, King Tuff, Bass Drum of Death, Black Lips, King Khan, and plenty more worth your time. And as a usual Williams Street bonus, the whole thing is available for free.

For now, stream the whole mix below.

Burger Records to reissue King Tuff's 'Was Dead'

Another label that should be catching your attention is California's Burger Records. The former home of King Tuff (who has since moved on to Sub Pop) is reissuing his 2008 LP Was Dead, which will go on sale later tonight. 100 vinyl prints of the first edition will be signed by the band and include Burger Records authenticity cards.

Color vinyl's will be distributed as well. Check out the details over at the Burger Records' website and stream "Sun Medallion" from the album below.

Bears And Bullets Albums Of The Year (#25-11)

Now that the Honorable Mentions are out of the way, here's the official Bears and Bullets Top Albums of 2012 list (part one):

New King Tuff - Screaming Skull

Sub Pop has released an early stream of King Tuff's upcoming Screaming Skull 7" A-Side. You can check it out below, grab a pre-order, and see him when he comes to Philadelphia October 22 to Johnny Brenda's.

Stream King Tuff's new album

Next Tuesday, May 29, West coast garage glam rocker King Tuff is set to release his self-titled LP via Sub Pop; a lush, furious record of quick tempo smashes that should get its fair play through the summer months. You can stream the entire album below before its release.

New King Tuff - Bad Thing

In his move over to Sub Pop, King Tuff has released "Bad Thing," the catchy first single from his upcoming sophomore LP, which is due out May 29. Listen to the single below and just click+add your email for a free download. It's worth it.