Toadies - Play Rock Music

Remember this band?... It looked like the Toadies ruled air waves during the mid 90's, as soon as the relieve Rubberneck in 1994. One song off that album, "Possum Kingdom," has even achieved somewhat cult status in recent years with new generations. Every song on that album was great, and then they just disappeared. Interscope records put the kabosh on the follow-up album "Feeler," which finally saw the light of day in 2010.
One of the things that I always liked essentially the most concerning the Toadies was the dark undertones in their music. I have frequently heard the Toadies called "alt-rock," nonetheless they really defy most labels. Part grunge, part heavy drinking bar band, part west Texas/ZZ Top boogie, there's a lot to love about it band.
Well, the band from Fort Worth, Texas is back again. This time with .Music. The band has said in interviews they felt more freedom recording this record than another, that's great news for us, since the Toadies might be best when they're unbridled and doing the things they're doing best.
The album starts out with "Rattler's Revival," a great rockin' opener that forced me to be very optimistic about the remaining portion of the tracks. I was further rewarded with the next song, "Low." This is the best for the album, a loud guitar rocker that produces you would like to push the pedal down while your driving. This song has pumping guitar and rock steady drumming that goes back and forth from bass line only breaks, to dual guitar down strumming. Songs on the album like "Magic Bullet" and "Epic Castles" keep your tempo and up.
"Summer in the Strange" has that dark feel, and is about losing control/hold. Lots of whining guitar and rumbling bass lines throughout.
The closest you are free to "Possum Kingdom" with this release would have to be "Beside You." A creepy song which says even though "you don't really know me," that "I'll continually be closer than you know."
"Sunshine" is a twisted ballad, and another track that can you back to Rubberneck, this time around reminding me quite definitely of "I Burn." A slower tempo song with a rumbling bass line that builds into Vaden Todd Lewis's trademark singing/screaming. The whole song keeps building and pulling back, much like the New York Dolls classic "Frankenstein."
The song "Animals" is the one other classic sounding Toadies tune, about our primal human urge. It's another rocker that repeats "Tonight we're just two animals." Lots of tempo switches plus a booming chorus.
"Laments of an Good Man" can be a less serious song that is filled with jerky guitar and call and response versus. The chorus switches into a Rollins Band type slow, driving groove... "It's so faithfully to be a man, to become a good man."
Another style stick out is "We Burned the City Down." This track is really a dreaded Texas blues/boogie track, complete with slide guitar. The theme is really a nihilistic commentary current living, "no longer slaves to modern ways" we burned the city down...
The album ends while using slowest song (the only slow song... ) for the album, "The Appeal." At over six minutes, it is usually the longest about the album.  blog link  features some chorus effect guitar, along with a bluesy backbeat. But don't worry, there are several good build ups, nevertheless it never discusses the most notable just like the rest of the album. You almost require the rest once you get to this track.
At the finish from the day, it becomes an overall impressive release. .Music. would have easily been the follow up to Rubberneck during the 90's. I guess what I'm saying is niagra is often a Toadies album, a true one. Although it could be the 5th release, it's IMHO by far essentially the most vibrant and complete piece of work they've got released since their debut. It's nice to experience a good rock and roll album turn out, it looks like that seldom happens anymore.