Traitors to Grunge

21 years removed from the 90’s alternative of Rubberneck and “Possum Kingdom,” Toadies are releasing their bravest album yet. With only two new songs, it isn’t the songwriting that is being reinvented but rather the instrumentation. Heretics leaves behind the distorted fuzz and leans towards an unplugged sound of mandolin, acoustic guitar, banjo and electric piano. The initial impression is hard to swallow for anyone expecting the grunge the group was known for. One may fear homogenization, because the overall effect is certainly closer to pop on opener “In the Belly of a Whale.” Are Toadies evolving, or have they lost their edge?

“Tyler,” a not-so-subtle nod to the Pixies, is a freshly deconstructed take on the classically creepy track originally heard on Rubberneck. It serves as an effective means of showing us that Toadies still subscribe to the foundational sentiments of their earlier days. They aren’t cutting their roots; rather they are elaborating on their palettes. The effect is expansive and refreshing.

“Beside You,” feels bigger than ever with a tastefully descaled arrangement and crisp electric piano. ‘Queen of Scars’ showcases the melodic evolution of their composition, as it is carried by simple and repetitive motifs with brilliant structural placement, and you’ll wish it was longer than it is.

The re-imagining of Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” is lush and fittingly dramatized. The reframing of the upbeat disco track into an emotive ballad brings out the beauty in the lyrics and breathes a new experience into a classic song. “The Appeal” is a wrenching letter to vocalist Vaden Lewis’s father and it solidly establishes itself as the emotional centerpiece on Heretics. With Lewis confessing “I wish I could tell you / The way that I feel / I know that I failed you / So I make my appeal,” you can’t help but sink into the profound yearning of Lewis’s affect. “Jigsaw Girl” is equally heartbreaking. “Laid on my bed / A beautiful mess / My whole world / Jigsaw Girl / You gave me your hand / I don’t understand why you don’t want it back.”

One begins to realize that Toadies aren’t losing their edge; they are stripping back the noise and eeriness of their earlier recordings, showcasing the group’s excellent songwriting with barebones arrangements and fearless performances. The result is like listening to an entirely new band, and fans may struggle to adjust, but it is a thoroughly rewarding listen and shows that the band has matured and has more to offer than expected.