The Tossers... what could I possibly say to describe this band? Ok, lemme try here... creative, upbeat, drunken, amazingly-talented... the list goes on. And everything on that list is what I like in my music.
The Tossers' latest album, Agony, lasts around 48 minutes. At 17 tracks, the album is pretty stacked with content. I'm glad to see this, really. Too many bands are releasing albums with 10 or so songs, and last around a half an hour.
When you toss (horrid pun intended) Agony into your player, you are greeted by a signature "Drunken Irish" singing voice backed by all the standard Celtic instruments, plus guitar and drums. For the most part on this album the playing is fast and furious. It really does make you want to hit your nearest pub and fill up on Guinness, then dance around with every lass in view. Which is kind of fitting, seeing how most songs here are about either pubs, alcohol, or more pubs.
Never Enough, Pub and Culture, Did it All for You, Not Forgotten... there are too many great tracks to count. Nearly every single song here is a classic, in my point of view. You don't get music like this everyday! It is unique, and therefore really pulls you in.
Unfortunately, there are a few duds here and there. Shade, for instance, is a slow song that doesn't seem to ever get anywhere. We hear about a guy who needs to change himself. Do we find out if he does? No. Shade is almost two minutes of complete bore. And even more confusingly, Did it All for You, one of the fastest tracks on Agony plays right after. It really pulls away from the immersion of the album, and the enjoyment it brings.
Political Scum is another rather boring song. There really isn't any excitment or urgency that makes me listen, here. It feels like one of those songs that is just there so you can walk away and grab a snack or something.
Not Forgotten, on the other hand, is a really heart-wrenching song. Starting off slow and meandering, and feeling a bit like Shade, it doesn't seem like it will be anything. But then, the pace picks up, the sense of urgency hightens, and the song really starts to tug at your heart. The lyrics are beautiful, and the song really almost sounds like a lullaby. It just works wonderfully.
Claddagh, a song I hope you don't expect me to be able to pronounce, is another wonderful, slower song. The song is quite litterally the best song on the album. Slow? Yes. Meaningful? Yes. Beautifully played? Hell yes. With songs like this, The Tossers will soon be a name that everyone knows, near and far.
So, Agony seems like a bit of a mixed bag at this point, I would expect. Let me just tell you right out, it is worth a purchase. Only a few of the 17 songs are disapointing, and the others more than make up for it. Certain songs flow extremely well with each other. It is just a really fun, different sort of album. I say that you deserve to give The Tossers a try. Head over to their Myspace to check out at least one song. One song, and I'll bet you buy the cd.
"Agony" is on sale March 20, 2007 from Victory.
