Toadies - Best Of: Live From Paradise

The Toadies are a textbook example of the record industry gone wrong. Their major label debut, Rubberneck, made them a semi-household name. So, with a platinum album under their arm, they were positioned to be the next big thing, right? Wrong! Interscope restructured, rejected the bands first attempt at a sophomore release, and then sat on their hands until finally releasing the bands second album, Hell Below/Stars Above, in May 2001. Mere months later, after touring relentlessly, the band broke up, due in no small part to the lack of support from the label. But alas, the phoenix rises from the ashes for one last flight! Live From Paradise was recorded one random night in Boston on the bands national tour and through a connection at independent label Aezra Records, the album now sees the light of day. The beauty of the album is in its similarity to the band. Recorded in only one night with no extra mixing, overdbubbing, or rerecording of any kind, the album is as raw and naked as they come. The album kicks off like a shot to the chest with “Plane Crash” and doesn’t skip a beat before a chorus-screaming crowd version of “I Come From The Water” spills onto the shore. With 18 tracks, nearly all of their two major releases are represented. “Paper Dress”, off the “Escape From L.A.” soundtrack provides a nice moment, as well as the two “new” tracks, “ATF”, and a cover of the Pixies “Where Is My Mind?” No doubt, the album packs a punch from beginning to end. The back-to-back-to-back combo of “Possum Kingdom”, “Dollskin” and “Tyler, may well go down as one of the best live album triple threats in recent memory. Interestingly, the album’s unique production may also be its downfall to attracting any major attention. As with any night’s performance, there are moments of missed notes, wrong tempos, and strained voices. With most live albums, this might all be fixed or redone in the studio or on the next night’s performance, but here they stand out “warts and all.” The Toadies were a full throttle band live, and this record captures that, errors here and there, but heart throughout. If you aren’t a fan, this album won’t change you around. But if you are, then a better live album you won’t soon find. [www.toadiesmusic.com]