Search - Toenut :: Two in the Pinata

A must-have for alternative music lovers

Marc Kloszewski | Indiana, PA United States | 11/25/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I don't really like to label a group's sound by comparing them to other groups, but I saw an unusually apt description on a website recently for Toenut: "A cross between the B-52's and Sonic Youth." And I thought, yeah! B-52s's for playfulness, and Sonic Youth for their melodic exploration and virtuosity. Though, this band should be referenced itself to other groups, they're that good. Their songs abound with elastic melodic leaps, propulsive herky-jerky rhythms, and the high elfin voice of Katie Walters, whose addition to the songs truly put them over the top inspiration-wise. You have to admire how tight this band is, too--they move as one beast, with much assistance from their drummer, whose name escapes me (Colin?); he truly has an incredible energy, leashed just to the point for making each song so tightly wound. In a perfect world, wonderfully realized songs like "Test Anxiety" and "Giant Steps" would be the natural singles. "Complaints" is a terrificly listenable exercise in control, a minimalistic mantra ever so gradually speeding up and adding instruments, with Katie adding her voice at the end. "Debug Me", "Inverted Flatspin" and especially "Mr. Cockly Puppance, Esq." (which is really whacked-out; Katie is in the stratosphere, and non-sympathetic ears may flee the room) are the ravers. "The Song We Wrote Yesterday" is another mantra, with a beautiful, simply written repeated vocal that I would quote if I knew I would do it right--but, you just have to hear it. Wonderful closer to the CD. This was one of my absolute favorites that I bought last year. It's endlessly original and fun. Now go get it!"