Artist - Toast
Album - All In
Label - Pro Music Records
Reviewer - Robin Steeley
This is Virginia band Toast’s sophomore effort on the Pro Music Records brand. “All In” was produced by songwriter Gordon Price along with Billboard #1 producer Stacy Heydon who is also the former guitarist for David Bowie. Drummer Josh Houser formerly of Jerry Cantrell is a new addition to the band with this recording. The band is also in collaboration with famed conductor Robert Winston best known for mixing alternative rock with classical music and they were recently able to play Carnegie Hall and the United Nations.
That’s a lengthy list of accomplishments for this band, so I have to tell you that when the CD started playing it literally stopped me in my tracks. I have spent the last 12 hours writing reviews and almost all of them have been metal or hard rock. Now this is something different. Described as “an eclectic alt-rock band” they have a sound that doesn’t really fit into any of the present genres.
The music is self is very simple and straightforward, standard rock attire with an original flare blending it into progressive alternative rock. Heavy with blues influences and gentle songwriting the songs are easy to listen to and
Have a soulful feel to them, evident right away with opening track “Bird” which is a slow burning tune with a nostalgic quality to it. I also really enjoyed “Faded”, the bands first radio single, with its memorable chorus and my own favorite the funky and strange “Mr. Spider”.
This band isn’t making musical masterpieces but they are writing memorable rock tracks that sound to me like they will fit right in with the current radio climate. I will be interested to see what is in the future for Toast.
Tracklisting
1. Bird
2. Downtown
3. Somebody
4. Faded
5. Party Girl
6. Love Affair
7. Mr. Spider
8. Got to Me
9. Judgment Day
10. White Boy
11. On The Line
12. Sun On Me
