MSU's State News
3/14/01
Toadies much anticipated new album worth long wait
5 Stars (out of 5)
After an excruciating and painful seven year absence of The Toadies, fans can breathe a sign of relief as their new record “Hell Below/Stars Above” is finally here.
The Fort Worth foursome has sharpened its already fierce instrumental attack while revealing new layers of intimacy and insight into vocalist/guitarist Todd Lewis’ personally charged lyrics.
Each song resonates with the same energy and complex artistry that their platinum-selling major label debut, “Rubberneck,” did in 1994.
“You’ll Come Down” flows along the same mood as the haunting rock anthem “Possum Kingdom” from “Rubberneck,” while “Push the Hand” condones the same innocent, yet hip, swinging mood as “Backslider,” also from “Rubberneck.”
Mark Reznicek’s drumming has improved slightly, seemingly adding more fills and a smoother, more concise backbone to the band, while the simple, yet defining strums of Clark Vogeler’s guitar remains perfectly signature of the band’s sound.
“Pressed Against the Sky” and the dreary and long-winded “Doll Skin” expose a surprisingly subtle melodic sensibility side of the band, while unfortunately, the guitar riff of “What We Have We Steal” sounds like something from rock has-beens Collective Soul.
Bleeding with the same unexpected stops, totally screwed-up time signatures and guitar advances that seem too simple, The Toadies prove they haven’t grown up just yet, while at the same time indicating they’ve simply gotten better at what they do.
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