Search - Toshack Highway :: Toshack Highway

It's not swervedriver, but it's not a dissapointment either

C Cronin | England | 06/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album has more of an ambient twist than any of Franklin's previous work, but that shouldn't put you off. It is essentially chill-out music and very rarely gets heavy. But this album is well worth checking out as it attempts various musical styles with great success (most of the time). Buy this and you won't regret it."

Psychedelic Space Theme Music

Oliver Imkamp | San Francisco | 08/30/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a avid fan of Swervedriver I was pleased to hear singer-songwriter Adam Franklin exploring new areas in his sound on his solo debut under his new monikor, Toshack Highway. Psychedelic, textured, space rock is not out of place in Franklin's past catalog with Swervedriver. With Toshack Highway Franklin fine tunes his gift for writing melodic space sculptures that bloom. Needless to say there is more going on here that you first hear. With repeated listens the finely crafted layers emerge to create amazing soundscapes of various sounds and melodies all playing off one another. A highly recommended headphone disc for those of you that enjoy Swervedriver's softer moments. Surely to please those that truly understand the magical, musical complexities that Adam Franklin has created over the years. Like Swervedriver, Toshack Highway will no doubt be one of the most overlooked musical achievements of 2000."

Should be 3 and 1/2, but it's not allowed.

Fernando José Castor de Lima Filho | Recife, Pernambuco Brazil | 07/10/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The problem with this album is that most of the people that buys it expects to listen to a Swervedriver album released under some other name. This album DOES sound like The Swervies, but not the way one would expect it to. The singles of the 99th album have b-sides that could very well be in here. The songs in this Adam Franklin's side project are more electro/accoustic oriented. He did not work alone. He worked in cooperation with High Llamas main man Charlie Francis. That influence can be noted all over the album. Despite the differences with Swervedriver, this album has some very good songs (even if not all of them). My picks are "I Thought I Saw My Ship A-Coming", "Harlem", "Wurlitzer Waltzer" and "Valentine Number One". It's greatest defect is the lack of vocals. They're there, but not in all songs (in fact, probably only half the album has vocals not sampled). No guitar layers too. :("