Toad The Wet Sprocket - All You Want

Toad The Wet Sprocket - All You Want
2011, Abe’s Records

Grunge was the buzz word of the 1990's, but great pop/rock music didn't disappear entirely from the airwaves.  Toad The Wet Sprocket was one of those bands keeping great songwriting alive while the rest of the country wore their angst on their collective sleeves.  With hits such as "Walk On The Ocean", "Fall Down", "Something's Always Wrong" and "Good Intentions", Toad The Wet Sprocket managed to quietly carve out a place for themselves on college and commercial airwaves throughout the US.  The band broke up in 1998, but performed together occasionally over the years.  In 2009, Toad The Wet Sprocket became an active project once again.  Unfortunately all of their song rights were recorded by the evil empire, also known as "The Labels".  The solution?  All You Want, a collection of updated recordings eleven of Toad The Wet Sprocket's finest songs.

Such recordings are often met with skepticism by fans, but offer some real opportunities for the artists to, A.) gain control of recordings of some of their songs, and,  2.) update familiar songs with their current vision for each.  All You Want accomplishes both objectives quiet well.  Toad The Wet Sprocket in 2011 has a more organic sound than you'll find on their classic albums Duclinea, Pale and Fear.  The songs haven't changed significant, but the pure pop sheen of the 1990's has been stripped away, leaving their wonderfully well-written songs with more of a live-band feel.  Glen Phillips' voice is as easy-going and as pleasant to listen to as always.  The bands' hits are as solid as ever, with the Americana-rock arrangement of "Brother" standing out in addition to the closer "I Will Not Take These Things For Granted".

All You Want allows Toad The Wet Sprocket (named from the Monty Python "Rock Notes" sketch) to make a living off their own material in licensing deals, but also shows a band working at or near the same level of artistry and finesse as they displayed during their mid-1990's heyday.  A new album of original material is in the works as well, but for now, All You Want is more than enough to keep long time fans happy, while appealing to a new generation of fans.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Toad The Wet Sprocket at http://www.toadthewetsprocket.com/ or www.myspace.com/toadthewetsprocket.  For the time being, All You Want is only available from www.toadthewetsprocket.com or at their live shows as a CD or Download.  A formal release to retail will occur in the Spring of 2012.

Research Turtles - Mankiller, Part 1 of 2

Research Turtles - Mankiller, Part 1 of 2
2011, Research Turtles

Louisiana quarter Research Turtles have seen their stock rise in the last two years, selling over 5,000 copies of their self-titled Indie debut while garnering RadioSix International's 2010 Song of the Year award for "Let's Get Carried Away".  Touring extensively on the US Gulf Coast and throughout the UK, Research Turtles have developed a rabid following while opening for acts such as Toad The Wet Sprocket, Candlebox and Sister Hazel.  On May 31, 2011, Research Turtles will release their new EP, Mankiller, Part 1 of 2. 

Mankiller opens with the atmospheric acoustic ballad snippet "Girl Like You".  This is a solid start to the EP, but at 1:13 could have been developed into a full song.  "You Are So" is solid rock n roll built on a I-IV-V blues progression.  There's a definite Brit Invasion feel here, fueled by the bright catchy melody and insidious backbeat.  "Bugs In A Jar" has more of a Coldplay-vibe; a solid radio sound that's perhaps a bit too formulaic for what these guys are capable of.  It should sell and spin well, but is not their best work.  "Mankiller" is catchy post-punk pop; reckless and fun.  This is the song crowds will clamor for in the live show.  Mankiller closes with the Figgs meet the Kinks sound of "Rhinestone Gal".  There is a dark energy here that's infectious; don't be surprised if this song is stuck in your head for a bit.

Mankiller, Part 1 of 2 finds Research Turtles bouncing about a bit stylistically, but offering up a diverse and satisfying overall performance.  Research Turtles take care of the commercial considerations while refusing to stand still.  It will be interesting to see if these guys ever fully settle into a sound, or continue to find their way from song to song along a stylistic high wire.  Either way, their creative process promises a bright future.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Research Turtles at www.researchturtles.com or www.myspace.com/researchturtles. Mankiller, Part 1 of 2 drops on May 31, 2011.  You can pre-order the CD from Research Turtles' webstore.  Expect wider availability upon release.

Emory Quinn – See You At The Next Light
2010, Emory Quinn

Back in the Fall of 2002, Clint Quinn Bracher and Nathan Emory Rigney started playing together while students at Texas A&M University.  An Open Mic appearance that year turned into a full-time job, with the band playing 120 gigs per year by 2007.  The then-duo began recording in their dorm room.  Along the way they picked up bassist/keyboardist Case Bell, and in 2008 added drummer Tony Rios.  Emory Quinn bases themselves out of San Antonio, Texas these days and continues to build a solid fan base.  Emory Quinn recently released their third studio album, See You At The Next Light.

See You At The Next Light opens with “Hand In Hand”, a solid blend of country, folk and rock tune about love, devotion and sticking together no matter what.  Vocalist Clint Bracher sounds like a cross between Glen Phillips (Toad The Wet Sprocket) and Tom Petty, and delivers a catchy, motivated melody line that takes on a life of its own.  “Moving On” is mildly catchy with a nice hook and solid vocal harmonies.  This is a summertime tune; a solid album track.  “Heart In Mind” sounds like something that might happen if John Mellencamp and Rob Thomas were to collaborate; having an understated pop sensibility that catches up on you and grows on you with successive listens.

“Finds Danger” is part love song and part outlaw tune.  The arrangement is solid if a little bland, reflecting the melancholy feel of the story-teller’s retrospective tale of love.  Nathan Rigney’s guitar work particularly stands out on this tune.  “Holes Through The Windows” is about as disturbing as songs get; the tale of a drunk, a song of murder and obsession that shifts focus just enough to leave right and wrong seriously in question.  “Tear Down The Walls” is a solid, straight-forward number that leaves vocal charisma at the coat check.  The Blue Rodeo-style arrangement and weeping pedal-steel guitar both add nicely to the sound however, and the overall effect is aurally pleasing.  “Be Here Now” recounts the cost of telling the truth and ponders what might have happened if he’d told a lie.  This rumination is accomplished in a comfortable Americana arrangement that owes a bit of its ancestry to Wilco. 

“When I Dream” finds Bracher sounding a bit disaffected on the vocal line, choosing an almost talk/sing style at times that seems very much at odds with the upbeat folk/rock/country arrangement yet somehow works nonetheless.  The keyboard work on this tune is a nice touch, cementing the band’s sound quite nicely in a crossover-ready style that could easily light up switchboards at both rock and country outlets.  “Calling Your Name” finds Bracher in a similar juxtaposition with the arrangement, although this time the result isn’t quite so enjoyable.  “Calling Your Name” drags in a monotonous style that will have some reaching for the skip button.  Emory Quinn closes with “Falling Down Again”, a catchy number with an almost Celtic/bluegrass feel that’s quietly infectious.  This is the best piece of songwriting on the album even if it is not the most commercial sound offered here.

Emory Quinn sure seems to be cooking up something good in San Antonio.  See You At The Next Light blends rock, country and folk with a subtle pop sensibility and casual story-telling style that works its way quietly into your brain.  Don’t be surprised if See You At The Next Light grows on you.  Emory Quinn has written the sort of album that opens to you slowly, but lasts a long time in your memory.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Emory Quinn at www.emoryquinn.com or www.myspace.com/emoryquinn.   See You At The Next Light is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.

J Minus - Devil Music

J Minus - Devil Music
2010, J Minus

Seattle quartet J Minus walks the wild edge of alternative music. Not Alternative understand, but an alternative to what we call Alternative. Formed in 2002, Dylan Fant, Trevor Wheetman, Chris Mongillo and Meyer Harrell work within the bounds of solid songwriting, dynamic harmonies and a refusal to tie themselves to one specific sound. You may hear flashes of bands such as Death Cab For Cutie, The Samples or Toad The Wet Sprocket in their sound, but J Minus takes these influences, mixes them with their own inherent talents and creates something new and unique. J Minus dropped their third album, Devil Music over the summer. It may be their best work to date.

Devil Music opens with "Congratulations, You Suck; a catchy tune that asks a troubling paramour to set him free rather than string him along. Buried in the emotional angst of the tune is a great pop arrangement that slowly unfurls as the song progresses. "When The Lights Go Out" is a song of reassurance written for a child who is afraid of the dark. Parents in particular will appreciate J Minus' effort here, a sweet and good-natured tune with an enjoyable melody. "Can I Count On You?" seeks assurance in a meandering pop arrangement. The song is very well written, featuring an off-center, needy protagonist in a needful quest.

J Minus explores dashed expectations on "Who We Were", looking at the hopes and dreams of children and the reality of their adulthood. It's a stark take on how negative thoughts and experiences impact or characters and personalities. Things get maudlin in the middle of Devil Music, with J Minus losing the energy that drove even the darker moments over the album's first few songs. "Swing Low" is the exception, a catchy rock tune with big harmonies in the chorus. This is a tune that sticks with you or recurs in your mind at odd times, and is a bright light in the middle of Devil Music. "While It Lasts" is a melancholic rumination on impermanence that features a solid melody but is a bit of a drag in emotion and energy. "Into The Dark" is tortured pop music that delves into a sense of failure and loss without clear boundaries; a singular effort that is both difficult and rewarding as a songwriter and as a listener. J Minus closes with "Episode 2", which opens in bland musical terms but turns into a vibrant pop song that counters J Minus' almost morose vocal style. It's a request to leap forward into the unknown of tomorrow, a fitting, yet bold end to the album.

J Minus intrigues with Devil Music, a collection that's unbalanced but which contains a few gems along the way. Fans of The Cure and The Smiths will find a lot to like here, but J Minus has enough pop sensibility to appeal to a wider constituency.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about J Minus at http://www.jminus.com/ or www.myspace.com/jminus.  Devil Music is available on CD through J Minus' webstore.  Digital copies are available via iTunes.