Artist: Toad the Wet Sprocket
Album: Fear
Released: August 27, 1991
I like to browse the internet to find reviews and user comments for albums that I like (and occasionally, albums I don't, just for fun). When discussing Toad the Wet Sprocket, I think that one reviewer summed it up well: they are a band that no one gives you credit for liking. Though they featured some of the best songwriting from the big alternative phase of about 20 years ago, they are frequently either scoffed at or forgotten altogether today. It just doesn't make sense to me... unless some people think they have a funny name and can't get past that. I was excited to hear recently that they are working on their first studio album in fifteen years.
Anyway, before Fear, Toad the Wet Sprocket released two low-budget albums: Bread & Circus in 1989 and Pale in 1990. They had a few mildly successful singles from these two albums, but as a whole they were not very successful and are basically forgotten today. (They aren't even available on iTunes.) Fear was their big breakthrough, a more mature and polished sound than the jangle/college rock of their early days. Interestingly, it was released on the same day as Pearl Jam's Ten, yet their take on the exploding alternative rock phase was much different. While Pearl Jam achieved more widespread and longer-lasting success with their classic rock/grunge sound and raw social consciousness, Fear was more mature in sound and focused on the contemplative life, at times pondering the deeper questions of our existence.
Listeners will pick up on this right away: a commune with nature in "Walk on the Ocean", followed by a flashback to innocent childhood memories in "Is It For Me". Most of the album follows this same formula, though they show some anger in tackling the difficult issue of rape in "Hold Her Down". "All I Want" was the big hit from this album, a simple tune with lyrics that aren't complicated, yet the song is capable of evoking deep emotions. It's one of my favorite Toad songs and possibly my favorite on the album, though I actually prefer the alternate take that was used in the promotional video. Overall this is a solid album that doesn't have many standout songs. I will say that I really like "Nightingale Song"; I wish it were longer than it is, but maybe that's part of its charm.
As for the rest... "Walk on the Ocean" is really good, a calming way to start the album. I also find "Before You Were Born" to be catchy; though it does show a little anger, it also has a good rhythm and vocals. "Stories I Tell" provides some more intense rock that is absent from most of the rest of the album, along with some of the best vocals on the album. "Is It For Me" is actually similar in sound to "All I Want", which means it's solid but maybe not quite as good. "Butterflies" is an interesting song, putting somewhat of an '80s power rock spin on their '90s sound. "Hold Her Down", "Pray Your Gods", and "Something to Say" are all solid, though they are not the easiest to listen to, especially the first two because they express strong emotions. Listeners can get a little lost in tracks 7-9, which lack any real standout sound. "In My Ear" is probably my least favorite; it's ok, but seems uninspired and comes at a point when the album can be exhausting.
Of Toad's three major albums (Dulcinea and Coil being the others), this one by far takes the most listens to appreciate. While this can be an enjoyable album, it also is not very easy to get through. I've discussed how it deals with tough issues and deep emotions, and it comes at a crossroads in Toad's career: after their lighter earlier days and before producing more upbeat, catchier songs later on. I think this can be a great album if you're in the right mood; though if you're new to Toad the Wet Sprocket, besides "All I Want" you might be better off listening to Dulcinea first. The band still had some room for improvement after Fear, but the talent was certainly on display.
Track #, Name of Song, Duration, My Rating
1. Walk on the Ocean (3:01) - 9/10
2. Is It For Me (3:25) - 8/10
3. Butterflies (4:26) - 8/10
4. Nightingale Song (2:02) - 10/10
5. Hold Her Down (3:05) - 8/10
6. Pray Your Gods (5:02) - 8/10
7. Before You Were Born (3:44) - 9/10
8. Something to Say (4:01) - 8/10
9. In My Ear (3:08) - 7/10
10. All I Want (3:16) - 10/10
11. Stories I Tell (5:34) - 9/10
12. I Will Not Take These Things For Granted (5:46) - 8/10
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