A Really Nice Effort

When I first heard Glen Phillips he was with Toad the Wet Sprocket. I was immediately taken in by his excellent songwriting, in particular his incredibly deep and grammatically fascinating lyrics. Now that he is no longer with Toad the Wet Sprocket he has the creative flexibility that he wants. This is nothing like Toad however and fans of the band should beware. If you are looking for more of the Toad sound you should try Toad Guitarist, Todd Nichols band, Lapdog. There are some wonderful cuts on this CD. I was particularly fond of "Train Wreck" in which Glen's fabulous story telling ability has never been better. I think the highlight would have to be Fred Myers which is a unique and awesome description of a post apocalyptic life. Glen is simply awesome. Bravo!

Different than Toad, Not Worse

I also am a little surprised by some of the reactions from former Toad fans. I consider this to be one of the best CDs I own, though clearly the more mellow stylings of this CD are not for everyone.

If you are looking for the upbeat, harmony-laden, dense sound of Toad, you will probably not find it on this CD. Glen's trying with this album to tackle something I feel is much more difficult to achieve: an album of sincere, intelligent songs that are compelling even in their simplicity. I would say given some of the themes of this album that they are more compelling _because_ of their musical simplicity. Anyone can create an interesting melody by adding layer upon layer to the songs, but you really see Glen's talent in crafting compelling songs without the extraneous stuff. (Think of the term 'negative space' in other forms of art.) I really like the music that _is_ there, and don't miss the extra layers that would have been there if these were old Toad songs.

I believe the overwhelming majority of old Toad fans (and those interested in Glen for his own sake) will find something special in this CD. I would recommend for the people who like old Toad who don't like this album to look at Lapdog. Personally, I find Lapdog's music to be pleasent enough, but utterly lifeless. I consider it on par with the 'filler' on the Toad albums. Glen's solo album on the other hand reflects a depth both musically and lyrically that sparked my interest in Toad to begin with.

regards

Surprised by Disappointed Toad Fans

Wow....reading a few of these reviews, I'm a little upset. Toad split, Glen Phillips went solo, and you expect him to make a Toad album?

Not the case folks. Glen is Glen, and he's not going to create a Toad album to fit your fancy.

I found this debut to be a bold one, and while I agree that some of his other unreleased songs should have made this album (i.e., Easier), this is a fine collection of heartfelt brilliance that reveals things true to Glen. One thing I didn't like so much when I first bought the album was that it sounded so produced, and didn't sound like a Glen show, but I got over it quick when I realized that having a different version of Glen (mainly, Glen in studio) just means having another recording of a great collection of songs.

One thing about this album that is quite different from how Glen wrote when he was with Toad is a projection of a certain maturity and calmness that comes with age. Subject matter was far more serious during his Toad days, and in this debut album, it seems he is winding down all that angst carried around when younger and trying to find and fit molds. In this album Glen's lyrics portray more of an accepted happiness, less guilt, and it seems, a curious humor, something that was absent in Toad lyrics. It's nice to see this playfulness arise in Glen's solo work, and I look forward to more of it in the future.

If you want to revisit live Glen shows, get his Live At Largo cd that just recently came out. I look forward to Glen's new album, and of course, seeing him out here on the West Coast.