Customer Reviews

Toy Matinee

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD is a work of art. I heard the unique beginning of the first track "Last Plane Out" for the first time in the early 90's while traveling down an escalator in one of the Washington D.C. Tyson Corner shopping malls. That moment began my love affair with this CD. It features great writing, great musicianship, and virtually perfect mixing. In fact, I sent a copy to the Richmond Virgina band I had once played with (some of my old Army Buddys) and they began using it in between sets and to help set the monitors and sound levels. If you are a rock or pop musician, you must experience this CD. If you enjoy well crafted music, whether you are a musician or not, you owe this CD a listen. For years I would find this CD in bargain bins (a sad comment on initial marketing I suppose) grab every copy I could, and send them to friends. Every single recipient has commented on the greatness of this effort. I'm glad to see it available now at CDnow. One of my top 5 CD/Albums of all time.

Masterfully crafted and cleverly written, the incredibly talented songwriter Kevin Gilbert brings us the debut album of TOY MATINEE. Due to the tragic and untimely death of Kevin Gilbert, modern music has lost a wonderful talent. His music was (and still is) a genre-bending class all in its own.

This album is loaded with a multitude of rich textures and sonic layering, it not only makes this album immediately likeable but continues to please again and again even after many subsequent listens. Each song is a musical experience with jolts of surprises, unexpected twists & turns, and wonderful musicianship from talented players (even Julian Lennon lends a hand at backing vocals on two tracks). Every track is very distinct and different from the rest, yet there is not one bad song on the album making this a 5-star CD not to be missed!

Careful, I have purchased 3 Toy Matinee CDs that were priced UNDER $20 and they are NOT CDs - they are the DVDs.

I have 3 DVDs that are useless to me other than sitting there and listen to the album in front of my computer or on my TV.

I did, however, found the CD at a pawn shop for $.99 but does not play two songs - the essential ones, too ["Jenny Ledge" and "Remember My Name"]

As far as my review ... this is quite possibly one of the greatest albums released in the 90's with some of the most perfected arrangments, lyrics and Kevin Gilbert [a great loss when he passed away] is one of my all-time favorite male vocalists.

Buyer beware! The CD listed herein is the DVD and it will be nearly impossible to find a good copy of the CD for under $30 because it is rare and quite sought after by many fans and collectors. But if you get the opportunity to listen to Toy Matinee [or the occasional rare Kevin Gilbert solo album] then you will be as impressed as the many out there who were fortunate.

Simply put, this is one of the best pop albums of all time. Kevin Gilbert, Patrick Leonard, Guy Pratt, Tim Pierce, and Brian MacLeod are basically a supergroup - but one that reached its potential. Bill Bottrell's production and mix are outstanding. There are so many wonderful lyrics, inside jokes, and clever details in each song, but even if one isn't into the minutiae, there are memorable melodies and superb playing. It's a shame there wasn't a true follow-up, but Kevin Gilbert's solo albums carried on in the same spirit with often inspiring results.

Although I would not go as far as saying this album is a "masterpiece" as some have implied, I think it comes close to that title. It has plenty of euphoric moments and showcases the writing talents of Kevin Gilbert and Patrick Leonard.
Let me say this right off the bat.

This release led me to the creative genius that is Kevin Gilbert. It has given me plenty of listening pleasure, and its impossible to put that into a monetary value. It hasn't left my leather CD case for over a year now.
I come back to it after a month or so and it sounds fresher and better than it did the listen before.

It was originally the song "The Ballad Of Jenny Ledge" that drew me in and got me hooked on all things Kevin Gilbert. I expect nothing different from you if you give his music a chance.

"Last Plane Out" seems like the perfect tune to start off an album, and "We Always Come Home" it's perfect ending. In between you have some wonderful songs that end up in your subconscious.
"Turn it on Salvador" (In honor of Mr. Dali) , "Things She Said" (w/ Julian Lennon on background vocals, the incredible "Remember my name",& and "There was a little boy" are among the highlights.

Some incredible chemistry going on throughout and it shows the promise of what could have been if this group of individuals had been able to see this through and continue on releasing albums. We've got some serious talent involved here on the playing and producing front, as well as plenty of inspiring moments, delightful melodies, and song structure.

I discovered Kevin Gilbert well after he had left this world.
Sometimes while listening to this great artist, I think to myself how much seminal music we all missed out on with his passing.
I'm happy we still have the music he made while still here on earth. He has inspired me, provoked me, challenged me, and instilled me with so many thoughts, emotions, and visuals like all great music should.

I wish it were so much easier and less expensive to listen to this great band/artist. I wish more material would be made available to the public to feed my appetite! RIP Kevin. You made some beautiful noise while you were here.

I totally agree with the other reviews - this is an outstanding masterpiece which just continues to become better and better everytime it's on the cd-player! Be sure to tjeck out Gilbert's stuff, such as The Shaming Of The True and Thud, and you will not be disappointed - I swear!!! If you can find the special edition Toy Matinée GET IT IMMEDIATELY - It's worth it!! - Prog On

A friend bought this for me years ago - like others here it was from the cut bin and going for $1 in the mid-90's, when Kevin was still alive. Every single song on this album is single-release-quality, start to finish. Get this music if you can.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Kevin Gilbert, please look up a good biography of him. He helped launch Sheryl Crow's career, and her music was probably more popular than his.

This is the most-played CD that I own. The music is great, the production quality flawless, the lyrics thoughtful and masterful.

Gilbert's untimely death leaves so many questions of what could have been.

I heard Last Plane Out on the radio when it was first released and bought the CD on the strength of that one track. I was amazed that it wasn't the only good track on the recording. Not only that, it wasn't even the best track on the recording. There isn't a bad song on this disc. Absolutely stellar work from people I had never heard of.

Years later I went to research the orgins of this recording because rarely does something this good disappear so fast. I was saddened to hear of the passing of the (apparent) principle architect, Kevin Gilbert. Well crafted music, great hooks, and exemplary production values are in abundance on this recording.

It is a very rare example of a once in a lifetime convergence of talent in the right place at the right time. I can't recommend it highly enough.

As a somewhat frightening side note, Last Plane Out was eerily premonitory or at least startlingly similar to predicaments that we now find ourselves in (as this review was written). It seems to apply to several current situations, at least 17 years after it was written.

I'd seen the cover of this album for years, used as a promotional in an audio engineering magazine advertisement for noise reduction systems. "What a silly looking album cover..", I thought. Years later, I happened to see a copy of this album at a studio where I was working. I slipped into an empty room and put it on. Halfway through the 1st cut, "Last Plane Out", I felt like quitting the business. The sound, the production, the vocals, the music, and the lyrics were like nothing I had ever heard. The beginning of "Things She Said" had the hair on my arms standing straight up. I don't think any single piece of music has ever moved me the way this song has. A few weeks later, I found this CD in a cut-out bin for $2. Sad testament to what happens to the real talent out there. Kevin did a solo album before he died called "Thud", a much 'darker' and revealing work, but in many ways more powerful than "Toy Matinee". From a production and engineering standpoint, "Toy" is as much a reference tool as "Aja".

I completely forgot about this group. Then a line popped in my head. My friend (who's now passed) had this album, so it has sentimental and artistic significance to me. Thanks