The Rotten Apples don’t want to be your goody-two-shoes girl group; the Seattle four-some instead wants, as Sleater-Kinney might say, to be your Joey Ramone. Nodding to the raucous speed of the brothers Ramone, mixed with early Blondie’s attitude and a dash of angular post-punk, the supercharged Real Tuff has snarling guitar riffs, shrieking vocals, and tough-as-nails melody. Highlighted by vocalist Dejha’s nicotine-raw rasp, “F.W.A.K.” features jerky, Elastica-like start-stops, “Road Rage” is buzz-sawing punk, and the hollering “Love Career” highlights fist-pumping drums and a punchy garage-rock attack. Yet Tuff isn’t all fast and furious. Waterfalling harmonies highlight “My House,” and “Heart Candy” takes Psychedelic Furs guitar swirl and throws in the synth sense of Missing Persons. Indeed, when the Apples pay tribute to MP on an apt cover of “Noticeable One” (“I am one of the noticeable ones, notice me!”), its commanding chorus has never been so easy to oblige – Tuff is simple, pure rock. (Annie Zaleski)