2008 Kirtland Records
And here we have it. The much-anticipated reunion of one of the most fiercely original and incessantly cool bands to ever walk the planet. I can’t believe I didn’t post this review months ago.
As you have ascertained from my other Toadies review, I just love this band. They have their own sound and style…their thang. And if you like their “thang” then you know you don’t have to hear their new CD before you buy it. You know you can count on them to deliver the goods. And deliver they do on (ironically) No Deliverance.
This is no mere reunion album. This is merely a follow-up album that rightfully belongs right next to their other two stellar studio releases and reaffirms their greatness. If you love Toadies already, you won’t be disappointed. If you’re new to them, give the CD time to sink in. Toadies are a band that are not always immediate in getting their hooks in you. Much of their song structures take twists and turns and are unorthodox…which I just love.
“So Long Lovey Eyes” kicks things off in rave-up energetic fashion as they always do with passion and precision, positioning itself as the perfect hybrid of “Mister Love” from Rubberneck and “Plane Crash” from Hell Below/Stars Above. Hooks just ooze their way into your conscience. I swear one of the best memories I have of Toadies (besides seeing them open for Bush) is Boomer, the music director at WTGE-FM at the time, looking at me upon hearing “Possum Kingdom” off the Rubberneck album and saying “Moose, I kinda like it but where’s the HOOK?” He wound up giving it a shot on our playlist and, well, it wound up becoming Toadies’ calling card.
That sums up Toadies to me. There’s something not quite orthodox about their songwriting where hooks don’t quite sound like what we’re used to. There’s more of a building process and, indeed, usually numerous hooks within the same song. This is conducive to creating albums that you can just put on and let play.
“Nothing to Cry About” is another of my faves and if you’ve never heard Toadies before, this is more of an orthodox song structure with great groove and hooks. “Song I Hate” continues their knack for taking a potentially sweet sounding song and injecting it with a little venom, while “I Am a Man of Stone” does a slow slam with the most towering of riffs while Todd Lewis sings every word with absolute conviction that’s off the charts.
“One More” is probably my second fave on this slab, with its slightly dissonant riff weaving magic over the simple groove of the song, but really every song on here is strong. The ones that don’t grab you right off the bat are the ones you will wake up humming to yourself tomorrow. You just can’t go wrong here.
Oh yeah…and “I Want Your Love” leaves no doubt that Todd Lewis wants your love. It’s a riot…and it was used in an episode of Sons of Anarchy.
Toadies win the day.
Again.
Rating: 4 out of 5