First of all, apologies from Low Budget Superhero to Rude Toys. It seems that our list of New England bands (the “MASSive Band List,” under Resources) is not only out of date, it erroneously listed Rude Toys as defunct. Their press kit arrived with a note saying “we’re not defunct!” They proved it by enclosing Feel No Guilt, a 13-song follow-up to 2004’s Cry Out.
Rude Toys are Tammy Schatz and Mike Myles on lead vocals and guitar respectively, CJ Cunningham on bass, and on drums the juicily-named Todd Cantalupo. Tammy and Mike write supremely confident songs, albeit in a changeable, eclectic style. The CD is a carnival ride — sunny, hook-filled and accessible when in pop mode, then easily swerving into a grittier, new-wave angst and even, at times, purely experimental. Let’s start with the pop. “Discount Lovers” for example — this is a sweet, catchy hit that Kelly Clarkson would have done well to include on her last record. That and several other tracks come very close to radio-ready, and thank god Tammy has a radio-ready voice. The girl can sing. She and Mike can also write great songs — Carrie Underwood would get a kick out of the swingy, soulful “Sixth Wave” with its awesome sixties girl-group sheen. With its vocal dynamics, insistent strings and lyrical prowess “Harm” will sit well with any Kate Bush fan. Then comes the harder “Pentad,” with a killer bass line that positively stomps. A very cool sample-laden rocker, “Pentad” puts me in mind of Massive Attack. “Kommunikation,” a seven-minute record closer, is so weird that it takes a turn towards the sonically-challenging world of Godspeed! You Black Emperor. Sinister ca-caws give way to resonant bell tolls, ocean waves and a symphony of small birdcalls. Boldly, the music (as in traditional instruments) doesn’t start in until the three-minute mark, and when it does it’s a big, organic, round-sounding wash of fat bass, drums backed against a choral wall of sound. Now, I’m quoted elsewhere as saying most ambient music sounds as interesting as a kitchen to me, but “Kommunikation” is something I’d play again. The final ten seconds of yodeling, footsteps and a door closing somehow works. I love it.
Funnily enough, “Kommunikation” sounds more like what I expected based on the band name. Maybe I was thinking of Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys and their dark, art-rock noise. To Rude Toys’ credit, finding “Kommunikation” on the same record with such delicious pop as “Sixth Wave” and “Discount Lovers” is a joy to me — some might argue that they just can’t decide what they want to sound like. But I say go for it, be as weird as you want, baby.
All told, a wonderfully eclectic release from a pair of splendid songwriters who’ve assembled a terrific band. I’ll be first in line to buy a Rude Toys “Do We Look Defunct To You?” T-shirt. (Lexi Kahn)
Links:
Official Site: http://www.rudetoys.com/
_________________M.O.R.E. REVIEWS___________________
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z