Toad the Wet Sprocket - P.S.: A Toad Retrospective

A CD of radio-worthy songs

As a DJ on Radiostarone, an internet radio station, I am always on the lookout for music. P.S.: A Toad Retrospective provides song after song after song of broadcast worthy material. June 27, 2007

P.S. -- This album is bloody brilliant.

Let me start this way: If I were marooned on the proverbial deserted island, and could only bring five albums with me, Toad's "P.S." would certainly make the list. Some albums are "instant classics", but this one is "instantly indispensible": once you've jammed to it a few times you can't imagine your music collection without it. And don't want to.

The outstanding features of TtWS, and what differentiates it from so many of its contemporaries, are the superb songwriting, emotionally honest vocals, and the wide emotional range of the songs. "Something's Always Wrong" is as sad-hearted and bleak a song as you can imagine; "Way Away" is beautifully written life-advice that comes off as profound rather than pretentious; "Walk on the Ocean" alternates between humor and melancholy while also offering pointed guidance about seizing the moment; "Jam" is stirring, powerful and replete with the brilliant, quirky lyrics that are this group's trademark ("Such a quiet din!"); and "Hold Her Down" is just all up your face and tough from first strum to last. Wow.

Since I keep mentioning the lyrics, it's only fair I give you a taste (from "Good Intentions"):

It's hard to rely on my good intentions
When my head's full of things that I can't mention
It seems I usually get things right but I can't understand what I did last night
And it's hard to rely on my own good senses
When I miss so much that requires attention
I have to laugh at myself at sometimes
And I can't see that I'm not blind
There's little relief
Give us reprieve
For all the things I've left behind
I'm positive that I'm not blind

I'm not afraid things won't get better
But it feels like this has gone on forever
You have to cry with your own blue tears
Have to laugh with your own good cheer
I can't be hard on you
'Cause you know I've been there too
Learned a lot of things from you
But life gives little relief
Give us reprieve

And when everyone is cold as ice
I clinch my fists and close my eyes
Imagining the world outside
But I can see that I'm not blind

"P.S." packs 16 songs, which include this band's better known hits ("Walk on the Ocean", "Fall Down", "Good Intentions" etc.) as well as some lesser-known gems and a couple of remixes. If you were going to introduce a newcomer to the group, you probably couldn't do better than to hand them "P.S.": they'll be surprised how many of the songs they already know.

Long and short: if you're a Toad fan, this album is a must-have, and if you're not, it will make you one in 56:30 flat.

June 13, 2007

Massive

This CD holds a treasure trove of massively nostalgic tracks. I think Toad were guilty for many of those great hits we heard on radio but never quite knew who sang them.

Of particular sepia-toned effect was the track 5 Good Intentions. February 19, 2007

super critic

I bought this one for the remix of "all i want" and there are some other remixes to the original that sound better than the original and there are some of the other songs besides the remixes that i had not heard before that i like too!!! September 2, 2006

This CD bring up good atmosphere.

I didn't know this band before, but than I heard "Fall down" at the radio, loved it and decided to give this band a try.
It was a pleasure to discover this band. Great songs, very melodic, cosy.
The fellow's at the local pub loved it as well.
September 1, 2006

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