Toad The Wet Sprocket Album: “Dulcinea”

Having been with Toad since their debut (Bread and Circus), through their demise, I believe this is Toad at the apex of their career-- both musically and commercially. To put things in perspective, when I saw them for this tour, Hootie and the Blowfish-- who eventually way surpassed Toad in popularity before fading into oblivion-- opened for Toad. This CD was in HEAVY rotation in my players for years. It is full of the best of what Toad has to offer-- heartfelt, gentle (but sometimes edgy), superb harmonies, melodies, and it is also the tightest they have sounded.

There is no filler on this CD. Each song is distinctive and immediately pleasing to the ear, from the first listen to the thousandth. What I have always been a fan of with Toad was the acoustic base, with Glenn's mellow and reassuring lead vocals, and Todd's ringing lead guitar, and the rest of the band's superb harmony. This CD has it all, and even a great song sung by Todd (Inside).

There are a few heart-tugging numbers-- Crowing and Windmills are great, soft, sweet songs. And Something's Always Wrong is a classic.

Overall, you can't beat this CD for pure listenability. If you are only going to own one Toad CD, this is the one, and it would certainly be a super desert island companion-- it never fades or gets old. I can't believe its been 10 years since this CD came out, because I still listen to it.

One of my all time favorite albums. "Something's Always Wrong" still brings me to tear, great harmony, great musicianship, still incredible to this day and doesn't feel dated. I think this along with Counting Crows "August and Everything After" could battle for my favorite album of the earlt 90's. Don't sleep on this album or Toad.

If you are reading this review, then you likely already own Dulcinea. It is the type of album that makes you go back 10 years after you bought it and write a review!!

To me, it is Toad's best album and represents the height of their efforts. I have found all Toad albums to have extremely good songs. However, this album is the most consistently good. It is rich, melodic and really defines everything that made Toad great!

I have been listening to this album ever since it was released and have become more and more convinced that it is one of the best "alternative" albums of the 90's. Admittedly, I have listened to it so many times that it is no longer good day-to-day music. However, every couple of months I slap it back into the CD player and wonder why I can't find anything quite as satisfying.

If you don't love this album, then you don't love Toad!! If you don't have this album, buy it and learn why Toad the Wet Sprocket was a much more solid band than their entertaining (but not necessarily "good for the long run") name implies.

I have four Toad CDs -- "P.S. (A Toad Retrospective)," "Pale," "In Light Syrup," and "Fear." And then there's "Dulcinea," which blows all the others out of the water. Keep in mind this: I haven't gotten a chance to listen to "Pale" yet, so imagine I'm reviewing this album with no knowledge of how good (or bad) "Pale" is. With that said, on to the review.

"Dulcinea" has some of the greatest Toad songs ever. Many of which didn't make it onto their Greatest Hits album ("P.S."), and should have. 'Fly From Heaven' is an absolutely beautiful song, with meaningful lyrics and great use of the electric guitar. 'Something's Always Wrong' DID make it onto their greatest hits CD, and for good reason. Melodic vocals and serious instrumentals make a great song. 'Windmills' is perhaps the best work on the album, and a fair competetor for Toad's best song, versus 'P.S.' and 'Whatever I Fear.' 'Crowing' is also a nice treat, as is 'Inside' and 'Woodburning.' The few slipups I feel they had were the songs 'Stupid' and 'Nanci.' Other than that, "Dulcinea" is a flawless album by one of the coolest, most unique bands that it's ever been my pleasure to listen to.

In restropect I find this to be one of the most powerful and compelling albums that Toad released. It's been ten years since the release of this album and six years since the band has broken up. But during all that time this album still has a special place in my heart.

When comparing it to the other album releases it has a definate middle child feel. Being the fourth album out of seven, it shows the expanding growth of their music compared to the first three albums. This album was definately not a continuation of the "Fear" album. The "Fear" album had encompassed so many different feelings and colors that it did not have a true single idenity. Dulcinea is a more refined approach. During the first two albums "Bread and Circus" and "Pale" I certainly found examples of growing pains with the music. But "Dulcinea" has overcome those trials. From the beginning of the album there is clear focus on the refined sound and musical approach. To me, Toad the Wet Sproket has always had two or more different emotions working on each the albums and the same is found on "Dulcinea".

From the beginning the album there are forceful, defiant anthems, then songs moving into emotional regret, tunes about the trivial expiriences in everday life, and music commenting on ideas of the rebirth of the soul. The third song "Somethings always wrong" is particurally powerful. Not only is it a poetic description of every day life but it potrays the insecurities and the conflicts in emotional relationships. This song seems to actually be a prophetic threat to the future of a certain love interest. This is much more evolved attempt at discussing emotional inadaquicies than in any of the previous albums.

The eighth song "Nancy" is a return to the carefree trials of happiness. The band always been known to flip flop emotions, like the turn of a coin, this is no different. Acoustic guitar light drums, and tip-toeing bass give the feel that no matter what happens -it's going to be an adventure.

The lyrics of Dulcinea are more adult oriented than the previous albums. The thoughts are more centered, the situations expierienced aren't always resolved with happy endings. The thoughts of choosing how to feel in a certain situation permeate this album, compared to the resigned defeats of the past albums.

Toad the Wet Sprocket has always been a band that speaks the truth when it comes to real life. I'm not saying that it has a lack of imagination, but it is true to the society that we live in. It allows the listener to join in the emotions of real life drama, the disapointments, the struggle to find love and happiness, the laughable situations, and the rare occurances when we are at peace with ourselves. I find it to be one of the sources in which you can reflect with you own personal expieriences and sometimes draw a conclusion, even if it's not to our liking. Ranging from somewhat heavy guitars and fast paced tempos, to slow meandering bass lines that seem like the chains of despair will eventually win out. Toad the Wet Sprocket's music commentates on most areas of human life.

Many other bands like the Gin Blossoms and Match Box 20 have a somewhat similar musical feel but they lack a certain natural charisma of humility. If your looking for another Toad album that combines musical inspiration and travelling emotions I would reccomend the "Fear" album. If you wish to expierience music that is not about the "money or fame" I would strongly suggest that you take a chance on Toad the Wet Sprocket.