WATCH AND SHARE “MARIGOLD & GRAY” HERE
SUGAR AT THE GATE OUT NOW VIA ARBUTUS RECORDS
PURCHASE SUGAR AT THE GATE HERE
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES BEGIN SEP 6
“Their music is undeniably beautiful and, for all its subtleties, often immediately rewarding.” - Exclaim! 8/10
“What sets TOPS apart is their consistency—across three records, they've sharpened their clean hooks and clarified their aesthetic—making soft rock songs that sound good on repeat.” - Pitchfork
“...another genuine and sparkling gem to add to their crown.” - Sidewalk Hustle 8/10
“...refreshingly fussy overachievers.” - NOW 4/5
PHOTO CREDIT : Richmond Lam // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Today, TOPS are sharing the new video directed by Laura-Lynn Petrick for “Marigold & Gray” from their latest album, Sugar At The Gate. Along with today’s video, Line Of Best Fit has published an article from vocalist Jane Penny on why her band has remained a constant source of inspiration.
WATCH AND SHARE “MARIGOLD & GRAY” HERE
TOPS’s North American tour dates begin tomorrow and continue on through October with stops in Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto. Full tour dates can be found below.
PURCHASE SUGAR AT THE GATE HERE
WATCH AND SHARE “PETALS” HERE
WATCH AND SHARE “FURTHER” HERE
TOPS TOUR DATES
Sep 6 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room - TICKETS
Sep 7 - San Diego, CA - Casbah - TICKETS
Sep 8 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour - TICKETS
Sep 9 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall - TICKETS
Sep 11 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir - TICKETS
Sep 12 - Vancouver, BC - Imperial - TICKETS
Sep 13 - Seattle, WA - Barboza - TICKETS
Sep 15 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge - TICKETS
Sep 16 - Denver, CO - Larimer - TICKETS
Sep 18 - Kansas City, MO - The Record Bar - TICKETS
Sep 19 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry - TICKETS
Sep 20 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall - TICKETS
Sep 21 - Bloomington, IN - The Bishop - TICKETS
Sep 22 - Detroit, MI - Marble Bar - TICKETS
Sep 23 - Columbus, OH - Ace Of Cups - TICKETS
Sep 25 - Washington, DC - DC9 - TICKETS
Sep 26 - Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery - TICKETS
Sep 27 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's - TICKETS
Sep 29 - New York, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg - TICKETS
Sep 30 - Boston, MA - Great Scott - TICKETS
Oct 2 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club - TICKETS
Oct 13 - Montreal, QC - Le National - TICKETS
Oct 26 - Paris, FR - Badaboum - TICKETS
Oct 28 - Bilbao, ES - Bilbao Exhibition Center - TICKETS
Nov 1 - Madrid, ES - Moby Dick - TICKETS
Nov 3 - Porto, PT - Maus Hábitos - TICKETS
Nov 4 - Lisbon, PT - Lux Fragil - TICKETS
Nov 7 - Vevey, CH - Rocking Chair - TICKETS
Nov 8 - Basel, CH - Kaserne - TICKETS
Nov 9 - Vienna, AT - RHIZ
Nov 11 - Berlin, DE - Urban Spress - TICKETS
Nov 14 - Rotterdam, NL - Rotown - TICKETS
Nov 16 - Ramsgate, GB - Ramsgate Music Hall - TICKETS
Nov 17 - London, GB - The Garage - TICKETS
Nov 18 - Manchester, GB - The Deaf Institute - TICKETS
Nov 19 - Glasgow, GB - Broadcast - TICKETS
Nov 21 - Dublin, IL - Whelans - TICKETS
Nov 23 - Amiens, FR - La Lune des Pirates - TICKETS
Nov 24 - Lyon, FR - Le Sonic - TICKETS
Nov 27 - Cologne, DE - King Georg - TICKETS
Nov 28 - Heidelberg, DE - Karlstorbahnhof - TICKETS
Nov 30 - Copenhagen, DK - Huset Kbh - TICKETS
Dec 1 - Stockholm, SE - Brooklyn Bar Debaser - TICKETS
MORE ABOUT TOPS:
For Sugar At The Gate, their third and most ambitious album to date, TOPS peaced out to LA. They lived and recorded at "Glamdale," a mini-mansion and former brothel located in the Jewel City, Glendale, CA. The unassuming record unfolds slowly, taking time to reveal itself. Like nearly everything TOPS does, multiple meanings overlap with the album's title referring to orgasm, but also to carrot chasing, gatekeeping, and the social contract.
Vocalist-songwriter Jane Penny, at this point one of the most distinctive vocalists of her generation, took time during the recording learning how to drive in the Forest Lawn Cemetery parking lot. "Living in LA was living out a teenage fantasy, living with your band and practicing in the garage. It was also the first time we've ever had that much space to make music. I took the experience of living LA as a challenge to make music that I know is real to me, in the sense of it feeling true and containing true feelings, but also recordings of great songs, the real thing."
Jane Penny and David Carriere (guitarist-songwriter) contributed to the album's lyrics as much separately as together. Both their perspectives are heartfelt, with Penny's sometimes cryptic lyrics betraying something of her unconscious.
Layers of sarcasm and sincerity seem to enfold the group like flower petals. Irrepressible jokers in conversation, their album's vinyl download codes come folded up inside drug baggies. TOPS' flawless musicianship and profound grasp of pop fundamentals are the surest sign that at the core, it's all as real as it sounds.
All of TOPS recordings have been produced by the band, who have self recorded the majority of their work to date. Riley Fleck's distinct and controlled drumming style is key to the arrangements on Sugar At The Gate. A sensitivity in his playing and strong sense of discretion is a distinguishing feature of TOPS' sound. Sugar At The Gate released on June 2nd 2017, worldwide on Arbutus Records.