Behind the Lens

MUSIC
There’s more where that came
from. “Psst, Teenagers, Take Off Your
Clo” imagines a cruel modern world
where love is a selfie away. It’s over and
done with so fast that Toledo can’t be
bothered to spell out the word “clothes”
in the title. Heartache gets spelled via a
vintage candy-coated organ on “Maude
Gone” while “Something Soon” takes an
is-this-as-good-as-it-gets panic attack
and gives it the album’s most ambitious
arrangement. Verses rattle with the slow,
steady hum of electronics while choruses
go for broke with multi-layered vocals and
guitar riffs built for jumping up and down
on the bed. Philosophers, artists, and
religious texts appear in the lyrics, but
they still serve the mantra of breaking up
boredom—be it on the rough and scratchy
“Times to Die” or scatterbrained “Los
Borrachos (I Don’t Have Any Hope Left,
But the Weather Is Nice),” which ruptures
the energy with a vampy bass and
junkyard rhythm.
Toledo’s punky attitude remains
intact even on slower songs. Any
accompaniment is built for minimum
fuss. Still, they hint Toledo’s future work
will involve more ornate orchestrations.
Check “Oh! Starving” and its wistful
backing harmonies and cheery synths,
or the aforementioned “Los Borrachos”
with its knee-jerk changes in direction. It
comes complete with Toledo’s advice to
fellow wallowers.
“Get out of your head for a while,” he
sings, adding, “jump into mine.” It may
not work as well as therapy, but it carries
a better tune. —Todd Martens
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LISTEN
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46 TONE AUDIO NO.75
November 2015 47