Customer Reviews

Our Last Album

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Toy Dolls are back with a brand new lineup, the cornerstone still being Olga on guitar. This album features Tom Goober on bass and Dave 'The Nut' on drums. The lads start off the album with a typical Toy Dolls welcome, similar to that of their first album, 'Dig That Groove Baby', which goes straight into 'The Death of Barry The Roofer With Vertigo', which is my favorite track on the album. From there Olga tells a tale of a cheatin' chick from China, who takes all his money and runs. From there, Davey's Days is a great track. Also brings me back to the aforementioned Toy Dolls debut and makes me think of 'Poor Davey'. Then the tale of Rodney and Emu, in 'No One Knew The Real Emu'. Really, it is a love song. Then Olga sings about the Slag Named Sharon From Whitley Bay, which is probably my favorite track to sing along to (besides She's So Modern. I haven't gotten there yet though.) Then there is another standout track in 'Jean's Been', Jean being the 'psychopathic copycat', as Olga refers to her, because 'Anywhere we've been she's been too you bet'. The next song, 'Rita's Innocent', is probably my least favorite on the album. It's still a great song, though. After Rita, Olga sings of the modern girl, in 'She's So Modern', my other favorite song on the album. This song is the story of varous women, and ways they are modern, in their actions/opinions whatever. After that, Olga speaks of the puff(gay) named Chenky who has taken a liking to Olga! But, Olga proclaims 'I'm not homophobic! right before the solo. After this, there is 'I Caught It From Camilla', which starts off with the music from the old movie, 'Jaws'. Then comes the outro, 'Our Last Outro', at the end of which Olga says, 'This is not really our last LP, is it?' and the lads proclaim 'NO!', which makes me think good things.
Then there's a few bonus tracks, the first being a kazoo-driven version of 'The Final Countdown'. Then there's 'Tony Talks Tripe', which I think is the only Toy Dolls song I've heard with a curse in it. Finally, there's a remake of 'Yul Brynner Is A Skinhead'. It's just a new recording, and if you've heard the song, you'll know it's going to be good. Olga did not disappoint. Finally, the album ends on 'Thank You Too', which is the guys just thanking everyone who's helped them out along the way(Believe me, there's probably a lot more than mentioned, as Olga's been around since '79!)

Olga does it again! He recruits a great lineup and produces a class album! I really do hope that they go for another album, and don't stop here, 'cos I think that this is the best Toy Dolls record since Absurd Ditties, or Idle Gossip. Really, there's not a bad track on here! A jod well done, lads!

"Our Last Album"??

Today we know that this isn't the case, since Olga is in full flight of mixing their new album. But this is nothing new, they even tell us this at the end of this record (during "Our Last Outro?".) This means that it isn't "last" as in "the end", but rather "last" as in "the latest". Nice one there, Olga! You almost had me worrying!

Anyway, this album is yet another good Toy Dolls album. Not decent, not great, just good. Simple as that.

I know a lot of fans are praising this album, and it is certainly their best effort since "Absurd-Ditties", but hear me out.

I love the first two songs, "The Death of Barry the Roofer with Vertigo" and "Cheatin' Chick from China". In fact, they are their best songs in over a decade and a Perfect way to start their "last" record. From there on, there are no bad songs. Every single tune is good... but not memorable. That's my only problem with this album. Only two songs are worth remembering, the others just disappear with the wind as soon as I've turned off my CD player.

"Davey's Days" is one of those songs where you have to like the Toy Dolls in order to like the song. It's quite childish and silly, and had it not been the Toy Dolls, I think I would have been wondering what the heck I was listening to. The Boomtown Rats cover "She's So Modern" on the other hand is well-made, and it was the perfect choice for the Toy Dolls to record a cover of.

Now don't get mad, I've already stated that all the songs are good, and this is still without a doubt one of their stronger efforts. But not counting "Barry the Roofer" and "Chick from China", is anything here as good as "Nellie the Elephant", "Modern Schools of Motoring", "I've Got Asthma", or even "Yul Brynner Was a Skinhead"? ...I don't think they are.

Still, this album shows that the Toy Dolls can still rock your socks off. In fact, it might even do its job a bit too well, since Olga never calms down or slows down the tempo throughout the album, which leaves you exhausted afterwards. But since this is a record from a band that has been playing for more than 20 years and where all the band members have passed their 40's, that's actually a good thing.

Check it out!

The Toy Dolls are back with a brand new lineup, the cornerstone still being Olga on guitar. This album features Tom Goober on bass and Dave 'The Nut' on drums. The lads start off the album with a typical Toy Dolls welcome, similar to that of their first album, 'Dig That Groove Baby', which goes straight into 'The Death of Barry The Roofer With Vertigo', which is my favorite track on the album. From there Olga tells a tale of a cheatin' chick from China, who takes all his money and runs. From there, Davey's Days is a great track. Also brings me back to the aforementioned Toy Dolls debut and makes me think of 'Poor Davey'. Then the tale of Rodney and Emu, in 'No One Knew The Real Emu'. Really, it is a love song. Then Olga sings about the Slag Named Sharon From Whitley Bay, which is probably my favorite track to sing along to (besides She's So Modern. I haven't gotten there yet though.) Then there is another standout track in 'Jean's Been', Jean being the 'psychopathic copycat', as Olga refers to her, because 'Anywhere we've been she's been too you bet'. The next song, 'Rita's Innocent', is probably my least favorite on the album. It's still a great song, though. After Rita, Olga sings of the modern girl, in 'She's So Modern', my other favorite song on the album. This song is the story of varous women, and ways they are modern, in their actions/opinions whatever. After that, Olga speaks of the puff(gay) named Chenky who has taken a liking to Olga! But, Olga proclaims 'I'm not homophobic! right before the solo. After this, there is 'I Caught It From Camilla', which starts off with the music from the old movie, 'Jaws'. Then comes the outro, 'Our Last Outro', at the end of which Olga says, 'This is not really our last LP, is it?' and the lads proclaim 'NO!', which makes me think good things.
Then there's a few bonus tracks, the first being a kazoo-driven version of 'The Final Countdown'. Then there's 'Tony Talks Tripe', which I think is the only Toy Dolls song I've heard with a curse in it. Finally, there's a remake of 'Yul Brynner Is A Skinhead'. It's just a new recording, and if you've heard the song, you'll know it's going to be good. Olga did not disappoint. Finally, the album ends on 'Thank You Too', which is the guys just thanking everyone who's helped them out along the way(Believe me, there's probably a lot more than mentioned, as Olga's been around since '79!)

Olga does it again! He recruits a great lineup and produces a class album! I really do hope that they go for another album, and don't stop here, 'cos I think that this is the best Toy Dolls record since Absurd Ditties, or Idle Gossip. Really, there's not a bad track on here! A jod well done, lads!