The Tubs. (Credit: Robin Christian) The notion of masculinity has forever been coupled with rock. Whether it's aggressive males making aggressive music or non-aggressive guys trying to seem aggressive, the history of rock has been stained with misogynist lyrics, braggadocio, and hip thrusting. Even the term "power chor

The Tubs. (Credit: Robin Christian) The notion of masculinity has forever been coupled with rock. Whether it's aggressive males making aggressive music or non-aggressive guys trying to seem aggressive, the history of rock has been stained with misogynist lyrics, braggadocio, and hip thrusting. Even the term "power chords" feels combative. But not all men want to dominate. Sometimes beta males want to make music too, and Hard Life, the new album by the Tubs, features more mopey jangle rock from this ascendant Welsh collective. Hard Life is the Tubs' third album since their 2023 debut and the first since signing with Merge. Although their music sounds upbeat (think the jauntier side of Felt), the lyrics are anything but. On sophomore record Cotton Crown (2025), singer Owen Williams used the lyrics to work out his feelings on loss and grief. This time around, Williams describes the songs as "cuck rock."More from Spin: Update: Oasis Announces 2027 Stadium Tour Riley Green, Zach Top, Garth Brooks Lead Stagecoach ’27 Big Ears Bundles Genre-Blurring Acts For 2027 Bill With a voice like Richard Thompson's, Williams is an appealing and distinct vocalist. Formerly of Joanna Gruesome (along with bassist Max Warren), Williams often feels like a reluctant frontman. In concert, it's drummer Taylor Stewart who banters with the crowd. The members of the Tubs are also tongue-in-cheek about their formation. Mythical stories about meeting in anger management class and writing their first song while being trapped in a rainstorm proliferate around the internet.But after two records of introspective flagellation, Williams is ready to try something else on Hard Life, a title that swipes at the singer's woe-is-me persona. "I'm interested in the way sympathy and patience for someone suffering always runs out eventually," Williams said about the album. "How this can be a good and liberating thing as well as a sad and brutal thing."The new songs feel like a natural progression following Cotton Crown. They are even more instantly catchy and feel more polished, despite the quick turnaround between the two records. Williams seems aware that there is only so much sympathy fans can extend to a constantly mopey musician. Yes, Morrissey has made a career out of it, but the folks who hate the former Smiths singer are likely almost as many as those who adore him.Guest musicians also fill out the sound here, with Lan McArdle providing harmonies and Chris Haigh's fiddle adding immediacy. A stand-out track here is "Stoop to Me," which distills what works best on Hard Life. It feels like a good dose of light pub rock with Williams' catchy choruses, Haigh's dulcet fiddle, and Dan Lucas's Byrdsian lead guitar. This sort of formula also works on songs like "Now and Then" and "If You Don't Love Me."Unfortunately, one decision mars Hard Life. On multiple tracks, the Tubs decided to couple Williams' voice with a chirpy counterpart that sounds like Alvin and the Chipmunks. It is unclear why they double-tracked Williams' capable vocals with such an annoying sound, but this one decision threatens to derail the entire album. Perhaps because Hard Life is so strong elsewhere, this grating decision stands out even more. It's enough to foment an aggressive response in the listener to skip over the tracks where it occurs. To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.