In Light Syrup

Toad The Wet Sprocket | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 8, 2011)
• Original Release Date: October 31, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Columbia
• ASIN: B000002BD4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MiniDisc  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,644 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

TOAD the WET SPROCKET

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Underrated gem!, December 9, 1999

By 

"roadtripper" (Vancouver Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Light Syrup (Audio CD)

Toad the Wet Sprocket had a sound all their own--similarities to Gin Blossoms and early REM, perhaps, but much better, in my opinion.

What's surprising is that this is a collection of B-sides and other normally forgettable tracks. These songs are great!

"Good Intentions" you might recognize from the show Friends, but the song "All Right" is truly astounding! Slow and haunting, with subtle and cerebral lyrics...truly a masterpiece. Along with the catchy "Brother" (from So I Married an Axe Murderer), "Little Heaven", and "All in All", the whimsical rears its head in the hilarious "Janitor" and "Hobbit on the Rocks".

There are depths here worth mining. Lately I've found subtle beauty in the guitar rhythms of "Are We Afraid" and "So Alive".

Even with this relatively unsuccessful commercial release, the talent of this band is evident. Listen to this CD and see what made the breakup of Toad the Wet Sprocket such a sad event for many.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It just grows on you, July 31, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Hawaii, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Light Syrup (Audio CD)

Most honestly 3.5 stars if I could...

When I bought this CD, I have to admit upon first listening I thought "Oh man, I just wasted 12 bucks..." But after another listen or two, I completely ditched those feelings.

This is a pretty good CD afterall. Toad the Wet Sprocket has become one of my favorite all time bands. The lead vocals are just too good to reject... the sound just grows on you.

There are a few weak songs.... most notably in my opinion #5 (are we afraid), #11 (hope), and #12 (all she said). These are relatively slow songs, and two of them were apparently just experiments of Toad.

Just about all the rest of the songs are very listenable and enjoyable, sometimes depending on your mood. I especially like the catchy hit, #3(Good Intentions), and a song they call "the silliest thing we've ever recorded" #4(Hobbit on the Rocks). The lyics and beat of Hobbit may be a little quirky, but this band can make even what they would call "silly"....sound like real serious musical work.

This is definitely not as good as "Dulcinea" perhaps Toad's best album. But if you like any of Toad's music(Before "Coil"), you'll probably like "In Light Syrup" after giving it a fair chance. This is such a cliche, but it's too bad this band broke up..... and they ended on what I'd call a low note with "Coil". Looking forward to hearing Glen Phillip's solo album though....

I'd really recommend their past CDs, "Dulcinea," "Fear," "Pale," and the 5 track single "Acoustic Dance Party" is great also.

Just one fan's take..

David

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "B-side" album that's better than most "A-side" ones, September 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: In Light Syrup (Audio CD)

One of the things that never ceases to amaze me about this album is how great it is. It lacks a little cohesiveness because the songs come from different stages in Toad the Wet Sprocket's career, but the songs are still wonderful.

"All She Said" is better than all except maybe two of the songs on "Pale," the album it was dropped from. It's fascinating how it builds from a cappela to full band through the first verse, and it never lets up after that. "Hope" is one of the most ethereal Toad songs, and Todd Nichols' vocals are perfect for it. "Janitor" and "Chicken" are quirky but fun. "Are We Afraid" and "All Right" are great songs along Toad's signature vein of mellow, minimalist melodies. "So Alive" is about as close to a guitar riff as Toad ever gets, and "Little Heaven" has great overlapping vocals. "Brother" should be required listening for anyone with fraternal siblings, and its music carries the lyrics effortlessly. "Good Intentions" explores the dichotomy of inner and outer being, and how it causes people to relate to each other. "All in All" exhibits stellar drumwork from Randy Guss, along with exquisite countermelody between Glen Phillips and Nichols. My favorite, though, is "Hobbit on the Rocks," a delightful, offbeat, catchy ditty about "an old Virginian vibraphone," "a man who thinks he's Al Capone," and, of course, a "hobbit on the rocks." Must be heard to be believed!