Search - Toadies :: Hell Below Stars Above

The best band that almost no one knows

ifutureman | NJ | 12/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Toadies were one of the great mysteries of modern rock music. How could such an incredible band have been almost completely overlooked by the media, and in turn the general public? I still consider this the best CD of 2001, yet not one of the big three music mags (Rolling Stone, Spin, or Alternative Press) ever reviewed it, or even MENTIONED that it had been released. I got into a nasty email fight with A.P. publisher Jason Pettigrew after sending a furious letter lambasting them for having Limp Bizkit on the cover while totally ignoring the Toadies.



The general public's loss, however, is the discerning listener's gain. From start to finish, this album rocks, rolls, and occasionally relaxes. Fans of straight ahead guitar driven rock with rip-roaring vocals, sterling guitars and tight-as-a-drum rhythms will not want to miss this. And just as with Rubberneck, Todd Lewis manages to craft one great hook after another - along with more clever lyrics. "Heel" for example; the lyrics about training a dog are delivered in such a way as to almost suggest a much more sinister subject matter. Meanwhile, "Pressed Against The Sky" shows that even a kickin' rock band can play a ballad with conviction.



Sadly, the total neglect suffered by this outstanding quartet led them to call it quits shortly after this album was released. In fact, they broke up three days before I was going to see them in St. Louis, and I am still bitter. But at least we have two great albums and one very good EP ... and "Hell Below" is the best of the bunch.



And although I have yet to read a THING about it in any music rag, Todd has a new band called the Burden Brothers, and they are great. Very similar to Toadies really. Get their debut album "Buried In Your Black Heart" now!!! Close your eyes and you could easily convince yourself it's more great Toadies music!



WHY WHY WHY! WHY does the music biz ignore Todd, aka Vaden, Lewis' incredible talent? Not only is he a songwriter par excellence, he has the best friggin' voice in rock and roll as far as i am concerned. He's perfected the art of screaming in tune."

Rock was back in action.. why didn't anyone notice?!?!

Daniel Connor | Minneapolis, MN United States | 08/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...These are my words on the band: These days, rock comes with a bit of a stigma. It's a stigma that's not particularly deserving. Bands like Limp Bizkit, Korn, Slipknot and Linkin Park have paved the way for countless imitators trying to fit rock music into a different groove. Some bands add hip hop grooves, turntables, rapping... others tune their guitars way down and turn way up. There's nothing inherantly wrong with that... but it seems ever since the grunge scene left, nobody on the radio has been playing good old fashioned straight ahead rock, aside from a couple standouts here and there. Where has the passion gone? Must rock be lost on pop culture? NO!This is where the Toadies came in. Their sound was modern yet vintage... aggressive yet passionate. Nobody can scream-sing like Todd Lewis. The tonality of his voice fit right into the groove his guitar paved in the musical landscape... it was rough and ready to rumble but he NEVER turned hardcore on us. Clark, the other guitarist, had a gift of making bizarre lead harmonizations that weren't what you'd expect, but work none the less (in an odd almost Primus sort of way). They both were talented in their roles. Lisa, the bassist, was a ball of fire. She rocked up on stage, wagging back and forth, and never let the beat drop for a second. She wasn't out in front, spitting on the audience, but she definately was the centerpiece of the band. Mark's drumming was incredible. His beats exuded the punk energy we've come to enjoy from modern music, but he's got a style of his own. They were rock... pure, unadulterated rock. Amen.From the first slam of Plane Crash, you know this album is ready to tear you to shreds. The groove of The Toadies is undeniable. Each song on HB/SA moves forward with intensity and overflows with energy. The guitar sounds from Todd and Clark's setups are thick and juicy. It's everything a rock guitar could be... and the whole album is wonderfully mixed and mastered. Every instrument is clear and distinct. I love it. Push the Hand, their single from the album, is truly a good tune. But, I don't think it's the best one of the bunch... it bounces very nicely on the offbeats. Little Sin grooves in a steady 5/4... an odd time, for sure... but they pull it off very, very well. Motivational is a perfect example of the "off" harmonization that the band throws into the mix. The chord progression just keeps moving and doesn't stop... it's hard to tell where a musical phrase stops or starts. It's genius. Heel is just a whirling vortex of flame. It's all about intensity. It's probably the hardest song on the album... Todd's screaming is delicious. You'll Come Down is a solid rock tune... not filler, for sure. The slower tune, Pressed Against the Sky, builds in wonderful crecendo. What We Have We Steal just starts rockin' and won't stop. Jigsaw girl is the songwriting champ of the album, well versed and melodic, it evens the album out a bit. The riffs of Sweetness can't be ignored. They're infectious. The punky titular track is an odd one that breaks into a gospel jam. But, the most amazing track is definitely Dollskin. Like Tyler before it, the slow jam resonates in beautiful polish.I loved this band... and this album will never die in my cd player and my heart. They inspired both me and my band (...) to no end and we will...with the tee shirts we bought and the cds we'll pump on our way to work in the morning. God bless the Toadies."

A Great Release, Years in the Making

Daniel Connor | 02/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Back sometime in '94, the Toadies released their major-label debut in Rubberneck. Their most popular single continues to get heavy rotation on radio stations nation-wide (Possum Kingdom)... unfortunately, even most people who have heard that song have no idea what band sings it.HB/SA will hopefully change this for the better. Like Rubberneck before it, it will take a few listens to get used to this album. Soon after, it will have you hooked. Todd's lyrics have matured, and the new Toadies lead guitarist, Clark, churns riffs and burns out solos unheard of in Rubberneck. I am a guitarist of about 5 or 6 years, and this album presents many challenges to me, even after many listens and attempts at transcribing the tunes.Radio friendly tunes such as "What We Have We Steal" and "You'll Come Down" will reel you in, while "Push the Hand" and "Sweetness" have that raw Toadies angst that can only be fully appreciated at one of their live shows. Old Toadies fans will be happy that this is basically the same band, but the music is much more well-rounded than their debut.If I could give this album a 10 I would. Don't pay attention to any reviews from people who just bought the album. Listen to the ones who have heard it quite a few times already. I'm sure they will agree, this is going to be one of the surprise hits of 2001."