The Toadies - Hell Below/Stars Above
I hate comeback albums! It seems every time a major artist runs out of money, they come running back to the studio looking for a quick and easy second helping. The result is usually reheated, reworked songs we've heard a thousand times.
And then there are the Toadies. In 1994 their only full-length album "Rubberneck" was released and eventually went platinum. It was fresh, hard-hitting, and original. Then we heard nothing.
Fast-forward to the year 2001, just the right time for a comeback album, when "Hell Below / Stars Above" is quietly released on the Interscope label. However, there is just one surprise. Press play on "Hell Below / Stars Above" and the levy breaks. Seven years of bent up decibels come flooding into your ears. Bold, vivacious vocals and buzzing guitar riffs hit the ground running. That's right, a comeback album that's actually good!
This album is surprisingly solid, with songs that are intricate and meticulous. Not what you would expect from one of those crazy hard rock bands. The first half of the album quickly makes up for lost time as they rip through six mind jarring songs. And just when the screaming and heavy guitars start to wear a little thin on your ears, they mix it up. The Toadies settle down a little bit and take a well-deserved break from the non-stop hard rock.
Religious themes stemming from Lewis's strict Christian upbringing become more apparent during this portion. However, these aren't your typical pious songs. Some are downright disturbing. "We're creeping into your living room / we're crowding into your bed / we're taking you all back to school / we're bringing you our dead" he eerily proclaims on the opening track "Plane Crash." Oh yes, the Toadies are back and they've got something to say.
Ironically, my only criticism of this album is also one of the highlights. Todd Lewis's voice is incredibly dynamic, but should be taken in small doses. Those screams become a little too much to take near the end of the record.
If there is just one thing "Hell Below / Stars Above" is letting us know, it's that the Toadies are real. Many bands will use a comeback album to scrape together some retirement cash, but for the Toadies it looks to be just the beginning - again.
by Andy Roberts
Featured in the Linfield Review in April 2001
| April 09, 2001 by carobert | 1 comment |
Your Comments / Additions
Unfortunately, it was the begining of the end - again for the Toadies. They tragically broke up just months after I wrote this article.