Garage-rock staple musician King Tuff (né Kyle Thomas) has shared the latest single off his forthcoming fifth record The Other, titled “Thru The Cracks.” Thomas’ previously released singles, “The Other,” “Psycho Star” and “Raindrop Blue,” (and now “Thru The Cracks”) will all be featured in the future album, set to release through Sub Pop Records on April 13.

“Thru The Cracks,” is a laid-back, almost stoner-like, track that features backing vocals by singer-songwriters Jenny Lewis and Greta Morgan of Springtime Carnivore. Thomas is lucky to have the assistance of Lewis, who adds luminous backing vocals and generally classes things up. The song is a warm, starry-eyed folk-rock strummer with a bit of T. Rex’s flower-child glam-rock in it.

But the easiness of the single should not take away from the depth of its overall message. “Thru The Cracks” is a powerful reflection on losing a friend to suicide, yet finding them throughout beautiful moments in life. This message is reflected in the single’s lyrics

“You know you had such a beautiful brain but no one understood you, you only saw one way to escape but I wish you didn’t have to.” The artist continues: “I still see it in the stillness in the breeze, sitting on the stoop down on Elliot street. Here one moment, gone in a flash. Cuz we all fall thru the cracks.”

Thomas himself wrote about the track.

About two years ago I lost a good friend to suicide. He loved the Beatles, Nirvana, Burroughs, bumming smokes, stealing his parents records and selling em to me… he was a complex character, a sweetheart with poor social skills, a musical genius with no outlet. He was pretty damn misunderstood in this world and struggled for a long, long time.

I had this song laying around for 7 years or so, but sadly it wasn’t until he was gone that it came into focus and I realized what it was all about. It’s one of my favorites I’ve ever written, and one of the truest. And it all comes back again to this thing, the Other. Maybe death is just a passageway to something else. Maybe in death we finally, once and for all, join the Other. I dunno, but I think Jeremiah is probably hanging out on the metaphysical stoop right now with none other than the Other itself.

Wherever you are bud, I’m singing to you

Check out the new single below.

Photo Credit: Marv Watson