Come writers and critics Who prophesize with your pen...


Toys That Kill
Shanked!
Recess Records
If you can keep an album in your cd player for over a week without changing it, you know its affected you. This is perhaps the best TTK album yet. Its a bit more pop melodic than Control The Sun but still encompasses the remarkable charm held in all their pervious albums. I enjoy both vocals by Todd and Shawn equally and appreciate the way they mix things up. Their lyrics are clever and catchy and joyfully repetitive at times. The Energy in "Bomb Sniffin' Dogs" conveys the fun childlike vibe you expect from TTK while "Widows On Welfare" is a great swing-back to songs from Control The Sun. Its difficult to pick a favorite but "Bill Buckner", "They Tied Up All Our Lace" and "Liar's Hook" are a few that temp me with vivid wordplay and hair tossing melodies. -CL socalmonthly.com

TOYS THAT KILL- "Shanked!"
In the late '80's, FYP started out playing fast, juvenile hardcore, gradually morphing into playing fast,sloppy pop. The bands benchmark release, 1993's Dance My Dunce, was a breath of fresh air. With spastic classics like "Vacation Bible School", 2000 AD, and "Fuck You and a Half", FYP brought a juvenile sense of kiddy power into their sound. Singing about important themes like school lunches and ding-dong ditching, FYP were the pinnacle of youthful pop aggresion. Toys That Kill evolved from the ashes of FYP (FYP named its swan song album "Toys That Kill" in 2000). spawning the new band the same way the band ALL grew off from the Descendents. FYP's "Toys That Kill" album was a perfect appetizer for the first proper Toys That Kill album, 2001's melodic lo-fi punk masterpiece, "The Citizen Abortion". 2003's "Control The Sun" is just as strapping, and now the band returns with what is possibly their strongest release to date, "Shanked!"
Also available on CD for listeners who prefer their raw punk diluted digitally, Shanked! is one of the finest albums of the new millenium. Toys That Kill manages to mix their juvenile sensibility with post-punk complexity to creat songs that both fans of simple raw punk and fans of innovative mature punk can worship. The lyrics are as tounge-in-cheek as ever, but also contain tinges of sorrow and politics that begin to creep in on their previous albums. Standout tracks include "Bomb Sniffin' Dogs" (Bomb sniffin' dongs at my door/My rabbits foot was their hors d'oeuvre), "They Tied Up All Our Lace" (And when the hearts are bumpin' and you still feel nothin/Just act real cool cause they do that shit on reality TV), and "31 Year Old Daydream" (The rain came down as i started this song/A song where i wanted to say all thats wrong/ About backstabbers and boring scenes/ But i'm a 31 year old daydream).
The recording captures the band's live sound tremendously, not an easy task given the tenuous fine line Toys That Kill straddles between acuity and sloppiness. The temptation to record a band like Toys That Kill with super-clean production values and add distortion post production must weigh heavy on their engineers, but the production here sounds like much of it was done live. Many of the garage-rock bands of today rely on effects to achieve a lo-fi sound, but Toys That Kill's production seems to focus on making the records sounds as authentically like the band's live show as possible.
Having seen Toys That Kill perform three times (once on each coast and once in the Midwest), I must note that they are simply amazing live. FYP were always too sloppy for comfort at their concerts, oftentimes so off that their fans couldn't even tell what songs they were playing. Unlike FYP, Toys That Kill is one of the best live bands of our time, delivering the goods consistently, whether it's at a show in their hometown or on the road. Shanked! is as fine an introduction to Toys That Kill as any. Let's hope their next three albums are essential as the initial trilogy. PUNK PLANET/ Art Ettinger

TOYS THAT KILL- "Shanked!"
Toys That Kill are the reason I want to write about music. Where the punk rock landscape is littered with generic, fashion-conscious pap, Toys That Kill are everything that's good about punk rock: distinctive, aggressive, energetic, melodic, fun and smart. While "Shanked!" isn't decidedly different from their past efforts, it's ripe enough with hooks and novel song writing to render it interesting.
Formed in the wake of the demise and comprising several members of F.Y.P., Toys That Kill picked up where F.Y.P. left off. While Toys The Kill don't exhibit the snotty hardcore flair F.Y.P. did in their early days. Instead they're more similar to the noisy-pop punk on their latter records, specifically and appropriately, F.Y.P's swan song "Toys That Kill". Comparisons to the Replacements and Dillinger Four are just.
Considering the breadth of F.Y.P. and Toys That Kill's sizeable body of timeless works, it's difficult to make statements about the relative value of "Shanked!". It'd be naive to call it their best work to date, but there is some value to this claim. "Bomb Sniffing Dogs", "They Tied Up All Our Lace" and "Katzenscheibe Uber Alles" are some of their most accessible and memorable songs.
This emphasis on melody is not at the expense energy, which F.Y.P. possessed in abundance. There is a jangly, staccato element to Toys That Kill, maybe similar to Midwestern punk bands like the Modern Machines and Grabass Charlestons.
Four Thumbs Up! http://wreckedkids.blogspot.com


TOYS THAT KILL-"Shanked!"
Toys That Kill's music is simply spellbinding, catchy and well produced. Always. This new album is no exception. I must admit that other than the debut every time I get a new album it takes me a few listens to tune into their wavelength...but once I do, it's there forever. It's like getting hurt bad and getting prescribed 800mg Ibuprofen and being told you have to take two pills a couple times a day. The first time you open the bottle those two huge pills don't seem to go down your throat so easy...but once they do, you feel oh sooo good. Be warned, you listen to this album stoned, drunk, wasted off something else or simply high on life it'll become your best friend by track three. Now when's that rumored split with D4 going to materialize?Mr. Z/RAZORCAKE


Toys That Kill
"Shanked!"
(Recess)
Ahh FYP. Seriously, how awesome were lyrics like "I'd live fast if it was fun, am I old enough to die young?"? All hail the return of Toys That Kill, a fantastic mix of the piss and vinegar of FYP along with some semi-Weakerthans guitar work and kitschy choruses. Killer tracks include the hammering "Bill Buckner" and the good timey "They Caught Us All" (probably the track with the most FYP skeletons in its closet) both of which feature perfectly frazzled vocals and tongue in cheek lyrics as well as distorted guitars and breakneck drums. There's a lot to like on "Shanked!" and TTK follow their impressive pedigree with a very worthy offering. Get it!
Brian Greenaway / Modern Fix


Toys That Kill- "Shanked!"LP
A little bit more rock than Control the Sun, Shanked! Nonetheless backs up my feeling that TOYS THAT KILL is one of the best bands going today. Shanked! Is another wonderful piece of music that can be compared to OFF WITH THEIR HEADS, DILLINGER 4, or THE THUMBS. Yup what we have here is a power punk masterpiece. Worth owning on multiple formats and"Bomb Sniffing Dogs" is a candidate for song of the year. Great! (MRR)


Toys That Kill-"Shanked!" (Recess Records)
Toys That Kill have always been one of my top favorite bands since I first heard the band F.Y.P. It comes as no surprise that on their new album Shanked, the band brings to the table unconventional punk the way it should sound. Fans of cats should love this album. While fans of indie-punk, DIY-punk and what not should also love this album. Shanked will drop on May 9th 2006. Some of the outstanding tracks: "Run Away", "Safe & Warm", "Mr. Hubbard's Dead", "Sound Check World", "31 Year Old Day Dream." Now some of us will not know what Toys That Kill are singing about because it ranges from anything to everything in a round about way that is not subtle. But we like it that way. Toys That Kill rock and there's no way I will ever change my mind about that.
..f6..b0 (Rockstarforhire.com)


Toys That Kill- "Dont Take My Clone" 7"
Okay, somehow my previous review for this lovely record never made it in, but let me say if you haven't picked it up by now you are a loser. In fact you should have every TOYS THAT KILL release because they are one of the best bands going today. Playing melodic punk that is edgy, yet loaded with hooks, it is a wonder to me why this band isn't huge. Of course, I think the MINUTEMEN should be huge too, so maybe people just hate SAN PEDRO. Buy this record. (JF) MRR

Toys that Kill SHANKED CD
I have always tried to keep a open mind about how PUNK has changed over the years, but this teeny bopper bullshit has got to go. Why settle for the MTV/radio friendly crap when true PUNK lives beneath the surface like it always has. (Toys That Kill) have been under the radar producing numerous albums and tons of great hits that has me scratching my head wandering why this band hasn't crossed into the mainstream. Probably cause they own thier own label and salute the majors with a middle finger in the air. But this band has deffinitly got what it takes to be above the radar.
When I first started lisening to this new CD I immediatly thought it was to much like their last effort (CONTROL the SUN) but further digging into this I found I was wrong. Some songs has the same structure style, but I wasn't looking deep enough to find that this new material was better than expected. A little less political than (Control the SUN) but equally just as good. The tracks that stand out the most started around track 11 (Liars Hook) 14 (The Worms Inside) 15 (Sound check World) that has a SEAWEED flavor to it, and 17 (31 year old Daydream) that finishes the album nicely. New songs from veterans of the modern PUNK world has got me excited again on how being independent can still make it's mark in this world. SHANKED is the new anthem to today's PUNK-ROCK'n ROLL. And I'm sure it wont be the last. Check it out! Dave Fishwick/The Nues Subjex

Toys that Kill SHANKED CD
I'm sure that I'm late to the game on these guys but the new Toys That Kill album, Shanked!, is awesome. Poppy, snotty punk rock that is completely rooted in the classics without sounding like clones or simple revivalists. The opening track "Bomb Sniffin' Dogs" is addictive like cocaine. Full of raw energy but with enough restraint and rhythm that it makes you want to shake your ass like one of those silly iPod commercials. Punknews.org

Toys That Kill - Shanked!
From Ryan Cooper,
Your Guide to Punk Music.
The Latest Incarnation of F.Y.P.
Toys That Kill is an interesting band. Formed from the ashes of the influential West Coast Punk band F.Y.P. (whose last album was named Toys That Kill) and fronted by former F.Y.P. frontman/current head of Recess Records Todd Congelliere, Toys That Kill represented a desire to break away from F.Y.P., to create a new band with a new sound. On Shanked! they are proving that it was good choice. F.Y.P. was an amazing band, but Toys That Kill allows them to continue to explore fresh sounds.
Simply Stated, This Is Great Punk Rock
Taking its name from the way that Congelliere's cat Boris attacks without warning, Shanked! tears through punk tune after punk tune, each better than the last. From the moment the album opens with "Bomb Sniffin' Dogs" you're hit with pure three-chord joy, fast but not too aggressive, hooked but not too poppy, that doesn't let up until the end.
Lyrically, the songs stay fun, too, even when the songs are darker, which happens more than a few times. On "Run Away", Congelliere sings "We're all rotting, clotting cysts, just sitting ducks, so much for the National Trust", mentions passingly on "They Caught Us All" that "I sang my song but I still feel pain", and on "31 Year Old Daydream", seems to bemoan getting older as he sings "I'll forget the words I'm supposed to sing, Cos I'm a 31 year old daydream." Yet, these darker tracks on the album all have a great feel to them, like they mean what they say, but they don't really mean it.
The band seems most focused on making it fun. Perhaps best-defined on "Bill Buckner", Congelliere sings "I'm not sure why I'm here or where is here, but I'm loving every minute of it." This could easily be the band's mantra.
Even as Toys That Kill have continued to progress and mature musically on Shanked!, the album has a classic feel. It's hard to believe this is a new album, yet I can't put my finger on why. It's not stale at all, but it simply sounds like it should be about ten years older. Perhaps part of it is Congelliere's familiar voice reminding me of F.Y.P., but I think it also stems from a desire for this album to be older. Toys That Kill have a sound that will influence many punk bands to come, and I wish that they already had.

Bent Outta Shape
Stray Dog Town (Recess)
by Stevo/Lollipop Magazine
According to Recess Records, Bent Outta Shape is the "2005 equivalent of The Clash." There's only one conclusion I can draw from this statement: Todd from Recess has been kidnapped and we're supposed to decipher his odd band comparisons to reveal clues to his whereabouts and the kidnappers' identities.
I love the '76-'77 London neighborhood, but if we have to do a band comparison thing, I'm going to have to steer us toward Minneapolis circa '82-'84 before arriving at our final destination at the tail end of 2005. Bent Outta Shape take the best of the unrepentant early '80s-era Replacements and get it good and liquored up with the modern, hard-working, heartfelt, damn near poetic, memorable, currently basement-bound scene flourishing today. No boilersuits or Pearl Harbor backdrops behind a bunch of English cats jumping around giving you the business about the Sandinistas and the dole queue, just a bunch of unassuming dudes swimming in booze, singing songs that you could've written about your own life, heartbreak, that time you dated a girl from Kissimmee, and your dissatisfaction with lethargic hipsters walking around like they built your town when all they did was buy a black Members Only jacket a size or two too small.
I have this whole diatribe worked out about this premonition I have about bands like Bent Outta Shape and a host of others, signaling the start of the next wave of amazing honest music I can actually identify with. But Todd from Recess is out there, somewhere, and we don't have much time before the kidnappers start sending fingers to prove how serious they are. If you ever want to see Toys That Kill again, we have to crack his code. Paul Simonon is behind this, I just know it. Lollipop Magazine

BENT OUTTA SHAPE- Stray Dog Town LP
Hell fucking yeah! From the get-go this record sounds like a heartfelt, gritty, tuneful punk classic in the vein of STIFF LITTLE FINGERS, REPLACEMENTS, and oddly enough, GRABBASS CHARLESTONS. This record finds BENT OUTTA SHAPE more musically advanced, catchier, and probably drunker than ever. Perhaps it's the addition of our East Bay homeboy Naters on second guitar and his prodigious layers of noodly guitar lines, or maybe it's the vaguely country (lonely, drinkin', travelin', tryin' to forget) feeling-the key ingredient in the better REPLACEMENTS and (sorry, but) ROLLING STONES songs= that make this LP rule. It's so good, it's like the Can-Cun burrito of punk vinyl. - MRR / PC

SWING DING AMIGOS - The Mongolita Chronicles {Wronghole/Rock 'n' Roll Purgatory} Shit! The 7" above promised a lot… but surely not this much frenetic, fuzzed-to-fuck chaos!! This features 22-tracks that fly past in under 24 minutes and throttle the listener with the ferocity of a rampaging serial killer hitting his 21st victim. Think of the crazed melodic genius of TOYS THAT KILL being intravenously injected into FLESHIES while laced with the snotty Punk attack of SAFETY PINS and playing that is sooo hard it would give ARTICLES OF FAITH a run for their money. THEN, put it in a liquidiser, play through a fuzz box and you'll have an idea of the wild noise created here. It does get a bit TOO crazed at times - such as the vocals on 'Hey Genie' and 'Tuba'. 'Gargamel' steals the DEAD BOYS' 'Sonic Reducer' riff and doesn't even try to hide it while 'Mochate Momia' and 'Tyrant In The Tanga' both slay. Great, fucked-up Punk scuz Rock. Good Charlotte fans be afraid - be very, very afraid!Scanner Zine

SWING DING AMIGOS - Kings Of Culo
Holy shit! This record rocks. Take a dash of Rocket From The Crypt, a dose of TOYS THAT KILL, a bit of high energy VICTIMS FAMILY minus the funkiness, and then just add a child in need of Ritalin and you have the SWING DING AMIGOS. Fast , tight, and furious, this band is a meth heads wet dream. Even if you dont do speed i'm sure you will find something you like on this record. If you cant find something you like on Kings of Culo i aint gonna call you soulless, but you probably are no fun at a party. A definite top ten LP consideration, and i mean for my year end list. MRR / JF

SWING DING AMIGOS - Kings Of Culo {Recess}
Already, another 14-track hard-hitter follows the release above! It's an album similar, and just as impressive as that above but maybe a tad more focussed, bringing to mind an early ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT vibe; certainly in terms of all-out rockin' action. It's still a wild ride as the likes of 'Voltron' and 'Tiger Skin'  and the pummelling, insistent 'Sweet Pill' prove. I can't think of another band doing this wigged-out, wired, frenetic, fun and furious Garage Punk with such startling efficiency as the mighty SWING DING AMIGOS. Use that as your reference and ignore this band at your peril!-Scanner Zine


SWING DING AMIGOS / CIVIC MINDED FIVE - Split {Recess} Recess has a habit of releasing scuzzy, under-produced, noxious and ultimately fantastic 7"s. SWING DING AMIGOS hail from Arizona and churn out a snotty and crazed Punk Rock with a serious blues beat; cranking the guitars, twisting the arrangements and spitting the lyrics.CM5 crawl outta the gutters of Las Vegas to lay down a sleazy, chaotic and discordant thrash noise that's not for the faint-hearted or the dour-faced Emo boy. Each band offers a couple of tracks, both bands compliment each other and both bands would probably gob in the face of Good Charlotte. Now, ain't THAT a recommendation??!!

MODERN MACHINES - Taco Blessing
Blasting outta Milwaukee come this 4-piece sounding not only as if they are from prime-time Minneapolis, but sounding like the perfect welding of 'Flip Your Wig' HUSKER DU and pre-'Let It Be' era REPLACEMENTS. Yep, this is intense, barroom Punk Rock with vocals spat out in the best of Bob Mould tradition under which a ragged, loose and thrilling 'MATS rock 'n' roll pulse beats with enough energy to pacify a hyperactive 5-yr-old. Lyrically it embodies the 'MATS also with opener 'Zero Kid' and 'Tail Lights' (which could also be the band's very own 'Hardly Getting Over It') being album highlights. Neat garagey production, cool cover artwork; all in all, a corker. My only complaint is that it's way too short at only 8 songs - but hell - what a ripping 8 songs! Scanner Zine

 


RIVETHEAD: The Cheap Wine of Youth: 12" EP
This issue's* cover band, and this bad boy is part of the reason. I'll admit it right here, I love pop punk, from Stiff Little Fingers and the Buzzcocks to Love Songs for the Retarded-era Queers and I celebrate a good portion of the Screeching Weasel catalog, but I have to concede that I was hearing few worthy torchbearers or upgrades in the 2000s. (Joe King, what's the title of your next song? "Fuck fuck cunt fuck fuck fuck?" The well is dry. Go fish.) Rivethead not only have the irresistible melodies and the smart-as-a-baton-across-the-mouth lyrics while not taking themselves too seriously, they've got an ace in the hole. They sound relevant, like they're actually struggling and fucking up in the world at large, not just complaining that Wednesday's deli tray wasn't supposed to have olives with pimentos or such minutia-laden crap a lot of pop punk has bottomed out in. I've had a head start on this EP. The band gave me a burn of it about six months ago and it's been on constant play ever since. Recommendations don't come any higher from me. (Thumbs up to Recess, too, for pressing this on the more expensive, often overlooked, but clearly superior 12" 45 format.) Todd Taylor/razorcake magazine * Razorcake#19

RIVETHEAD: City Sounds Number Five: 7"
At first, Rivethead sounds like a band that plays pop punk along the same lines as mid-nineties Lookout Records bands. The singer has the raw, smoked-too-many-cigarettes voice that's not unlike Ben Weasel's, and the melodies aren?t too far away from Green Day. I listened to this once, and figured that I wouldn't listen to it any more. Something compelled me to give it another chance, and the second time I heard these songs, I started singing along. Not to the lyrics. Just mumbling similar sounds without noticing that I was doing it. Then, I started listening to this on a daily basis. I can't say why. There's just something more to this. It's too rough to be generic pop punk. It?s too honest to be generic anything. On repeated listens, a more complex array of influences start showing their faces. I hear bits of The Strike here, a taste of the Arrivals there, and an aspiration of Dillinger Four hanging in the air over it all. It?s good stuff. -Sean Carswell razorcake magazine (Tracks House)

TOYS THAT KILL- CONTROL THE SUN CD
There sure aint nothing like TOYS THAT KILL. The inventiveness and individuality of their song-crafting is unmatched. The way they present and deliver themselves, not only through their music, but also their imagery is amazing. I will never forget the first time I heard them that was some important shit. I really loved their split with the FLESHIES and this is awesome. This is what matters in these days or wishy washy bullshit that goes nowhere. This is the direction I'm facing. WWW.NOFRONTTEETH.CO.UK

Toys That Kill - Control the Sun CD
Im not afraid to admit that I was scared to hear Control the Sun, TTKs second full-length record. I thought that after making a great debut album, they might have trouble following it up. I was wrong, cause this record rocks. I cant help but sing along to most of the songs, and thats a very good thing. You can just tell that these guys are really into what theyre doing. The energy grabs you and pulls you in. While there are some humorous lyrics and this is by no means depressing or boring music, theres some kind of underlying seriousness or sadness in a lot of the songs. I think this record shows that Toys That Kill have found their nicheand its a nice niche. RATE:A Nothing to do zine

Toys That Kill - Flys CDEP
What kind of music does Toys That Kill play? Its tough to describe. Toys That Kill have their own sound, but its high-energy punky rock music. Thats the best I can do, so I hope its somewhat accurate. Anyway, this EP has four songs: 3 originals and a cover of I Am the Fly by Wire. I absolutely love (early) Wire, so I was scared to hear a cover of one of their best-known songs. Fortunately, TTK pull it off very well. They dont screw it up by totally rearranging it and making it their own, and I respect them for that. The three originals are also good. My favorite is Brain Attracts Flies. If youre a TTK fan, you need this EP. RATE:A Nothing to do zine

TOYS THAT KILL - "Control the Sun" LP
It's impossible to talk about TOYS THAT KILL without mentioning FYP. To avoid dragging it out and becoming tedious like so many other bands have become before them, FYP were deconstructed and Sent to the great band graveyard in the sky, only to be mutated and resurrected as TOYS THAT KILL, all without losing a beat. More mature and introspective, yet maintaining the goofy humor and dropping only a little of their spastic energy, I think I even prefer this band to its forerunner, and that's no easy task. Keeping things fresh is the hardest job for any long-running band, and Control the Sun manages to do this, continuing where The Citizen Abortion continued where FYP left off. The mangled playground songs and biting wit are still there, and have become mixed with a more cynical social commentary, all played to the same infectious tunes and solid punk rock that won't quit til it moves your ass. I've always found something almost tragic under all the bile and calamitous angst of FYP and TOYS THAT KILL, and this is evident on this record. Todd and Sean are superb songwriters-this may be the most underrated outfit in punk rock today. The album is rounded off with the trademark Recess artwork and great packaging, making this as essential as anything that has come before it. Buy! MRR (AD)

Toys That Kill Control the Sun (Recess) by Ewan Wadharmi
Yes, yes, yes No, not yes, but hell yeah! Snotty, retro-punk that feels good when you strap it on like a holster. There's a smartass melodic bend and catchy phrasing that barely runs ahead of steamroller bass lines. Old school fans of The Adicts will be sold right away. Or if you're new to the game, The Briefs work nicely. Of the two vocalists, the preferable one dances decrepit through "White Lies" and "Runnin The Front." Singer Two starts to sound like a monosyllabic Dave Grohl spewing bile on "No One," but rages nicely when the catchy but confoundingly unlisted title track kicks in. With lyrics like "They labeled you like defective wheels/they labeled Ronstadt a silicon crystal/that makes sense to me," Toys That Kill put a defensively humorous spin on suicide, procreation, and murder with marvelous, fragmented thoughts. They adopt a Catholic stance on birth-control for pets, just to be difficult. Cleverness extends to the newspaper liner notes embellished with true (?) stories and hilarious blatant fabrications. Lollipop Magazine

TOYS THAT KILL - Control The Sun (Recess)
This bands previous album was - and still is - one of the best debut albums of the last five years or more. Could this follow-up maintain the high standards already set? Well, initially, no. It came on as 15 tracks, over half of which sounded unfinished, lacking in focus and appearing as very dim shadows of tunes on the debut. Four plays in however and those unfinished songs proved to have nothing more than added depth. Yep, TTK are still an exciting, effervescent catherine wheel of a band, full of sharp ideas, unexpected twists and writhing, caustic melody. Tracks like Illegitimate and The White Lies contain those stunning barbed-wire melodic vocal lines that were a trait of the debut while No One and the title track bring in a new, dangerous pounding feel that adds weight to an already potent sound. Production is again raw without being messy; having clarity and power without sonic compromise. Its packed in a neat digipack with a newsprint lyric fold-out that brings to mind the old Fuck Facts papers that came with DEAD KENNEDYS/BIAFRA records, which contributes to another winner from Todd and the guys down in San Pedro. Scanner Zine

TOYS THAT KILL - Flys (Recess)
TOYS THAT KILL continueits rather unnervingtrait of releasing another blazing slab of noxious Punk Rock soon afterits last. Why unnerving? Well, it's a band that does itwith such adequate and apparent ease! So many bands attempt this rough, melodic Garage Punk and sound like an exact replica of a million others - not sohere. TTK soundalive, fresh, slightly trippy on this release and oh-so essential. This is a 4-track EP that kicks off with 'Brain Attracts Flies' thatopens with a discordantguitar riff - one that TELEVISION inits heyday would've killed for -before exploding into a hypnotic, mid-paced powder-keg. Two equally raucous originals follow plus a frantic, pulsating rip through WIRE's 'I Am The Fly'. Never an easy band to cover, but TTK twist it yet retain the original's structure and make it a worthy cover. An incredible band indeed - seek and buy, not destroy Scanner Zine

TOYS THAT KILL : flys 7"
At this point it's hard not being a cheerleader for Toys That Kill. They've more than proved themselves with every release, having cracked an unsuspecting part of my brain like an egg. They now seem to have set up a pup tent in where ever the fuck music gets impressed in my gray matter, reserved just for them. Theyre wildly catchy. but in a way that's as odd as it's now comforting. It's like they're super secret fisherman re-inventing a hook, hunched over a microscope, tying the line with an intricate knot so it wont break and it's almost impossible to untie. But that probably does you little good. What's odd is how, at different times, I hear completely different influences, and those influences all seem like distant echoes instead of forever being the shadow of previous bands. Theyve got the Mediterranean ethereal feel of Savage Republic, but via the revving of a Buzzcocks motor. They cover Wire, but in the way I'd think Turbonegro would approach it. They could be called pop punk and you'd be right. but you'd be more wrong. See? Not much of a help. Get Control The Sun, The Citizen Abortion, and their split with the Fleshies if you don't already, then supplement your diet with this in a hurry, since its a limited release. Four songs. -Todd/ razorcake magazine (Asian Man)

Toys that Kill Flys Asian Man Records
Toys that Kill are one of those bands I've been meaning to check out forever. After hearing them recommended strongly by lots of people and seeing them play a solid opening set for Dillinger Four a while back I was definitely intrigued, but for some reason or another I just couldn't get over the fact that this band contained ex-members of F.Y.P, a band whom I never really liked at all. However, with a promo copy of thier latest EP, Flys, sitting on my desk I couldn't really avoid hearing Toys that Kill's recorded work any longer. Unfortunately, though, now I'm kicking myself for not getting into this band earlier. The disc starts out with "Brain Attracts Flies," a sub-two-minute scorcher that leaves me absolutely pleading for more. This is definitely balls-to-the-wall punk rock, but it's played so uniquely that I'm hard pressed to make any band comparisons. Productionwise and in terms of the rawness of the performance, "Brain Attracts Flies" has a lot in common with amped-up garage acts like the Hives and the White Stripes, but the riff is so quirky and the song has so much dub-like space that neither of those groups ever would have written a song like it. The only band I can really think to compare this to is Neon King Kong, and since there are probably about six of you out there who actually heard NKK's two blink-and-you-missed-em singles, that comparison ain't worth the hair on your mommy's back. On the balance of this short but sweet four-song EP you get a more conventional pop punk song (the exuberant "Brave Kids Jump"), a very true to the original cover (Wire's "I Am the Fly," in keeping with the record's theme) and another take on Hives-esque garage rock ("Blake St. Valentine") that's a little more straightforward and hence a little less interesting than the first song (though the Crimpshrine-isms in the chorus are a pretty cool touch). While none of these tracks equal the thrill delivered by the title track they round out the disc quite nicely and certainly don't even come close to disappointing. I imagine that the vinyl version of this EP makes for a damn-near classic release, but unfortunately I'm stuck with the CD version, which can't help but feel a little skimpy at only twelve short minutes. Any way you slice it, though, these are four excellent tracks, and if you haven't heard Toys that Kill yet this EP will serve as the perfect introduction to one of the only groups out there besides the Arrivals playing diverse, original but still downright vicious pop punk.Deep Fry Bonanza

Toys That Kill Flys / 4 Songs / 2004 Asian Man Records / http://www.toysthatkill.com / / http://www.asianmanrecords.com / Released 23 February 2004 / Reviewed 20March 2004
Another strong album from an Asian Man band, but this time, we notice a more-experimental-than-punk band in Toys That Kill. The disc is one big rising action to the magnum opus of Toys That Kill, that song being the orgasmic 'Blake St. Valentine". Starting out with a screeching guitar solo into a complete stop, 'Brain Attracts Flies", the first cut off of the album, has the snotty delivery of a Johnny Reotten with a more AC/DC like sequencing of the guitar and drums. The same general formula is present with 'Brave Kids Jump", although the track sounds more like a Descendents B-side than a Sex Pistols track. With guitars that sound similar to The Living End in the aforementioned 'Brave Kids Jump", Toys That Kill really show their ability to cut tracks that are immediately recognizable and are attractive to all individuals, regardless of whether they listen to punk music or not. The crunchier 'I Am The Fly" really puts a different spin to the band, further showcasing their fluidity in the various genres of popular music; the aforementioned track is heavy on the Neil Young influence. While 'I Am The Fly" is awash with distortion, the track is still the most raw of any that are on the disc, with the back-up vocals on the track breaking out of the general sound at the end of the track. Lyrically, Toys That Kill hearken back to the tradition of storytelling bands, such as Rancid, especially on 'Blake St. Valentine." The track has a message and interesting subject matter, as evidenced in 'he learned to scramble the bastards signal/but like an elephant thru a preschool dream/they questioned with a tank and the FCC/he answered with a straw and a napkin/and screamed 'you aint invited anyways." While the disc is lucky to clock in slightly over 12 minutes, the four tracks can spin on and on without anyone getting tired at the 5th or 6th go around. Toys That Kill is a band that is rare in their appreciation for rock and roll music and their incorporation of that love into a straight-forward punk vein. Everything on 'Flys" is simple in a period of over-produced music and the withdrawal from the mix in the creation of mediocre albums. 'Flys" is an EP that is Spartan, at some times being nothing more than a set of drums and a slightly-distorted guitar, and it is really what popular music needs in this period of image over musical substance.
Rating: 7.8/10 Top Track : 'Blake St. Valentine"-James McQuiston Editor, NeuFutur and InterStitial Magazines

Toys That Kill Flys
When the San Pedro, CA, punk collective F.Y.P fell apart in 1999, what rose from the ashes was Toys That Kill, a band named after the last F.Y.P album. Toys That Kill released two full-length albums on their own Recess label before joining the Asian Man label and releasing this limited-edition four-track EP. It's a complete hoot, starting with the good-humored gross-out title track (which sounds strangely like a cross between early Hsker D and the Cramps) and continuing through the headlong rush of "Brave Kids Jump," an affectionately rendered Wire cover, and a long but briskly tuneful singalong called "Blake St. Valentine." Good-humored without being goofy, skillful without being virtuosic, and respectful of the past without being derivative, Toys That Kill have a great future ahead of them if they can hold it together. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide

Toys That Kill Flys
Featuring x-members FYP, Toys That Kill are a time warp to the late 70's time vault of punk. Sometimes when bands bill themselves as capturing the classic punk sound, they think this gives them license to not be creative. TTK are not among this group. Thick, rough guitars, fast paced drums and engaging in your face vocals are the backbone for "Flys." It's a short fix, only 4 songs, but I'm sure there's more to come. I like what I hear. Nate/decapolis.com

Toys That Kill "Flys" (CDEP) Label: Asian Man released in 2004
The Toys That Kill emerged on the California scene in 2001, barely a day after the end of Todd Congelliere's previous band, F.Y.P. In one of those tragic rock & roll stories, Congelliere and Sean Cole changed their name following the death of F.Y.P.'s bassist. In a similar fashion to the Descendents, who morphed into All based upon an album title, the former F.Y.P. members adopted their moniker based upon their final album,"Toys That Kill" The addition of Denis Fleps on drums and Casey Ferrara on bass rounded out Congelliere and Cole's singer/guitarist lineup and Toys That Kill was able to breathe new life while continuing to hone in on the F.Y.P. sound. So where does a band go after surviving tragedy, selling several albums on their own label (Recess Records), and perfecting the art of punk rock ranting? It would seem that a move to Asian Man Records and a limited edition, four-song EP wouldn't be out of the picture. Flys captures many tried and true facets of old school punk rock. Indeed, elements of the Cramps, the Sex Pistols, the Buzzcocks, and early Husker Du become readily apparent in the mix. Additionally, more modern bands such as Mog Stunt Team or The Black Halos might be cited as occasionally similar in form. The vocals are particularly sneer laden, fitting in quite well over the buzzsaw guitars. Indeed, "Flys" is by means the fastest punk release one will ever hear, but that fits in well with the old school influences. "Brain Attracts Flies" starts the album off with snotty energy. "Brave Kids Jump" stands out on the album for its pure garage rock energy. Toys That Kill even cover the Wire song, "I Am The Fly" further demonstrating their adherence to old, British punk rock. At a moment in time where punk seems to be moving into ever-glossier directions, one must applaud Asian Man Records and Toys That Kill for providing some much needed nostalgia. Hopefully they can prove to be a point of departure for those willing to check out older bands like Wire. 30 Music / Matt Roegge

Toys That Kill The new EP from Toys That Kill is out on Asian Man and the new four tracks from this San Pedro band are just classic punk sound: buzz saw guitars, hook filled choruses, great tempo changes and those snot filled vocal stylings fans love so much. The four songs are really just so few, but tracks like "Brain Attracts Flies" and "Brave Kids Jump" are sure to become classics among fans. If you enjoy bands like Dillinger Four, and in general, sincere punk rock, Toys That Kill is your new favorite band, for granted. http://www.truepunk.com

Flys EP by Toys That Kill (3/15/2004 11:01:28 AM) Thought I had given up on my album reviews, eh? Well so did I. Then I got bored. Surprise sur-fucking-prise. ANYWAY, today's selection is the new EP from Toys That Kill that I've been looking for for like a month. The title of this mega rad EP is called Flys, if you didn't catch that already. 2 unreleased songs from the Citizen Abortion sessions (Brave Kids Jump, Blake St. Valentine), 2 from the Control The Sun sessions (I Am The Fly, Brain Attracts Flies). So, nothing truly NEW in the real sense of the word, but hey, it kicks ass anyway. For the majority of you who actually will take the time to read this, you probably know me well enough that you've either already heard Toys That Kill, or you will hear them eventually. But hey, lets pretend that people actually read my reviews and that they dont know what Toys That Kill sounds like. Well, with a fucking dirty yet awesome punk rock, almost indie sound, its kind of hard to put ones finger on TTK's actual 'sound'. However, I recommend this for fans of The Lawrence Arms, Dillinger Four, and the Misfits. I'd say my favorite song off 'Flys' would have to be Brave Kids Jump. So, in conclusion, don't download this EP, seeing as its only 4 songs. Its good and Vintage Vinyl is selling it for $2. Go buy it you cheap fuck. STLPUNK.COM / GooniesNvrSayDie's Journal

Toys That Kill - Flys Asian Man Records - 2004
Even though Toys That Kill have successfully released two full lengths by themselves, this EP from Asian Man Records was my first dose of this San Pedro group, which formed from the ashes of FYP. In a nutshell, their music sounds like an updated and revamped version of a more "classic" punk sound. Within these four tracks, you'll hear abrupt tempo changes, metallic and chunky guitars, and anthemic choruses. Musically, each song has a life of its own. While each track has an underlying sense of aggression, Toys That Kill isn't afraid to slow things down when necessary, like on "I Am the Fly", which is arguably the best track on the EP. While the lead singer has a very distinctive voice, at times he also sounds slightly like Beck and Blue Meanies' frontman Billy Spunke. Overall, this is a very impressive EP. It features four tracks from a band that given the right exposure could be huge. If you're sick of the generic assembly line of Hot Topic mall punk bands to come out recently, definitely give Toys That Kill a listen. They're innovative, original, and just plain great. You won't get bored with this band. Dane Jackson / Punknews.org

Toys That Kill "Control the Sun" CD 14/43:34
This doozy of a record is the second full-length from Todd and Sean (ex-FYP). TTK is punchier than FYP; it's as if the manic spirit of FYP has been tempered with patience. They don't need to just blaze through 14 two-minute songs, now they take the time to shift down into mid-tempo and get the Rock On. Anthemic, subtle, and all-together an enjoyable romp that only improves with repetition. One of the best punk records of the year, hands down! Jesse Shredding Paper Magazine

Toys That Kill Control The Sun CD (Recess)
Beholden to postpunk with a decent helping of the more interesting aspects of the Clash, Toys That Kill punch out wonderfully melodic pop tunes with enough crunch to mercilessly shake the ass of their most robotic enemies. Despite the hair band name, the San Pedro band reminds me of nineties Midwest acts like Thomas Jefferson Slave Apts. (Margaret Griffis / Scram Magazine )

Razorcake Mag's Top 2003!
Toys That Kill: Control the Sun. On the first several listens, I wasn't as happy with this as their obviously a blister-on-your-ass first full length, The Citizen Abortion. It takes balls to not only change your name from FYP because your headspace is different, it takes huger nuts to not paint yourself into a musical corner after such a kickass debut. As I said with the Riverboat Gamblers, I see how this band uses the past (this time the Beatles) and stretches that taffy so much that your average listener would think I'm fuckin' high, but it's true. TTK are not only quietly shape shifting the possibilities and diameters for pop and punk, they've made a record that is slower, weirder, and more hypnotizing than their first. (Todd Taylor)

Fleshies / Toys That Kill split: What a perfect match. The Cows-meets-AC/DC voltage of the Fleshies mere millimeters away from TTK's Cheap Trick-with-its-guitars-in-a-socket ditty has harmonized whistling, an infectious chorus, and guitars that could hypnotize cobras. (Todd Taylor)

Toys That Kill, Control the Sun. The only way that I can think of to describe this record would be "kind of like the Beatles, but good." It's essentially pop music warped by untold amounts of bong hits and filtered through the who-gives-a-shit punk rock filter in a way that rocks countless house parties across the nation. It'll creep up on you and make you wet your pants. (As a side note, Toys That Kill and Fleshies have a split 7" out on Geykido Comet Records. It slays the competition.) (Not Josh)

Toys That Kill: "Control the Sun"
Ok, since I strayed into the land of hip-hop last week...I felt it was important to get back to my real roots! So, I decided to review the new one from Toys that Kill. And, this is a new one for Debbie; I'm at a fucking loss for words. Not because I have nothing to say, not because I'm struggling to fill up a page. It's quite the opposite. I'm so fucking overwhelmed with how amazing this album is that I'm simply flustered and having a hard time putting it down on the page. Toys that Kill are most of the band F.Y.P. who were punk rock mainstays, and always a favorite band of mine. Todd Congelliere fronts the vocals for most of the songs. He has a unique sing-songy style I've always really dug. I really can't compare his voice or singing style to any other singer, and that's about the highest compliment I think I could bestow upon a singer. His style is for the most part is laid back and melodic, but when he howls, he FUCKING HOWLS. He can scream well, and we just don't have enough screaming going on today. In general, I mean, I think each and every one of you should take the time today to scream at some point. It doesn't really matter what you scream at or to whom. Just make some fucking noise!! But back to the band, Todd is also a former pro-skater. (Not surprisingly) the band is from So-Cal. More specifically, San Pedro...a town known for being home to the punk band The Minuteman. Also, Mr. Charles Bukowski is buried in San Pedro in the same graveyard as former Minuteman front man D. Boone. Aside from his skating career and F.Y.P. his first band, Todd runs his own record label. Recess Records has been very successful and has released music by Blag Dahlia (front man and singer for the legendary punk rock band, The Dwarves). F.Y.P began to break apart with the suicide of their bassist Joe Ciauri (R.I.P). But these are some dudes that are dedicated to music and thus Toys That Kill was born. This is their second full-length record. Sean Cole sings a couple of songs on this album. In F.Y.P. he played drums, however in TTK, he plays guitar and sings. Also, the whole album has incredible backing vocals. This band is poppy without being wimpy. They are catchy without being cheesy or gimmicky. They are aggressive with a sense of humor. I have changed my mind about forty times as to which song on the album is my favorite. At this particular moment in time, it's "All Dog's Are He's and All Cats Are She's". Fuck, again, I don't even know what to say. I feel fucking lucky that I heard this album and I cannot stop listening to it. This album is fucking fucking fucking incredible, and is THE best new release I've heard this year. And the lyrics, the lyrics are always surprisingly political, comical, and melancholy at the same time. Throw in the fact that these guys are D.I.Y. to the core, especially with running their own record label, and I'd say that we have the poster band for Punk Rock. I could go on and on. But I will just say this. Buy this fucking record! It will blow your fucking mind. If it doesn't, write me, and I will have you killed immediately as you obviously have no taste whatsoever and I don't think we need you in the gene pool. There are a couple of places you can go to order this CD and read more about both Toys That Kill and F.Y.P. http://www.toysthatkill.com/toys%20pages/front.html is Toys official website. Also, check out Recess Records for their other releases, as well as many other kick-ass bands: http://www.recessrecords.com/pages/mailorder.html Damn, it's refreshing to hear a punk band that is still putting out the good stuff. Until next week, Stop, Rock, and Roll. Off the Charts: Punk's Not Dead - NOTE: Want to have your band reviewed? Got any comments or questions about this review? E-mail me at veryverymetal13@aol.com BABEL MAGAZINE by Debbie (TNT) Kirk

Toys That Kill: Control the Sun
Well the second album from the two remaining members of FYP's new band is finally out. After ten years of FYP the Sean and Todd hooked up with two new guys and started the whacked out, snotty, pop punk band Toys That Kill and released their debut album, The Citizen Abortion in 2001. The Citizen Abortion has been in the regular rotation of my listening since the day I bought it and is probably in my top 5 favourite albums. So, does Control the Sun stack up? Hell YES! This album is a lot more thought out than it's predisessor. Control the Sun is more consistant in song style and agression as compared to The Citizen Abortion (althought that's part of TCA's charm). Mind you all the snarl, snot, hooks and over all strangness are still there leaving you with one quality cutting edge album in a genre of stagnet (but still great!) genre. Ontop of the fantastic music coming from this album, the layout of the case and liner notes are pretty cool too. The case the paper type frequently used by Hellcat records releases and is all white covered with the twisted and original art by sean and todd that has graced the cases and jackets of every FYP album in existance and will never cease to amaze me. The liner notes are on newsprint and layed out to be like a newspaper. A comedic mock news story is printed above the lyrics to each song. There's even a photo of a cat being felatiated. Which is sickly hilarious. Toys that Kill are probably one of the most under-rated punk bands in North America and Control the Sun will continue their reign as one of my favourites. Indecline.net

Toys that Kill | Control the Sun (recess records) This second album is a follow up to the bands debut the Citizen Abortion which kicked some raw ass. they put on a great live show, so i went and saw em and nabbed a copy of the new disc, available in a digipack or picture disc lp. so the new album is rocktastic again. to me though, it seems like a follow up to the last album, in regards to the fact that they stood true to thier formulas and sound, but didnt venture too far outside the box the created for themselves. there is no new ground covered, it sounds similar to the last cd, be it drum beats, vocal melodies, guitar patterns. but that doesnt mean this is a bad record. its got crazy gems like 'control the sun', 'the white lies', 'moonlight=ghetto bird', 'something on this earth', and my fav for the time being is 'bleeplines'. its raw off beat rock music, with duel vox, screaming solos, heavy cymbals and toms, tight bass, and a nice mix of todd and seans vocals. so check this cd out, get thier first disc too, and by all means see them live. Album watch

Fleshies/Toys That Kill split 7 inch
Two of my favorite bands; Oakland's Fleshies and Toys That Kill combine for a couple of massively great punk rock tunes on this limited picture disc split. Both bands take the standard pop punk thing and speed up the melody to the point of no return; the Fleshies brand of lo-fi punk on this rages with so much energy that youll shake your booty all over the living room, while Toys That Kill stick to a slightly more standard yet rocking formula that Todd has been mining since his FYP days. This is a limited edition picture disc release, so get it now or regret it later. Steve Shredding Paper Magazine

Fleshies / Toys That Kill split
Arnold Schwarzenegger is now the governor of California. ha ha ha? Fuck you, Fleshies are from California. That almost single-handedly redeems the entire state. Along with Toys That Kill, they currently play some of the best catchy, frantic, slop punk anywhere, as proven on this split. Call it pop punk if you must (and be wrong while missing totally the point too), but both bands have far more in common with The Germs than Blink-182. Each band contributes one snotty new classic on this picture disc. There are only 500 copies, so jump on this now or commit suicide later. (RR) Punk Planet, Issue #59, January/February 2004

Toys That Kill-Control the Sun
Toys That Kill are proof positive that it's possible to remain active in a scene notorious for its high turnover rate, especially as the age increases. Spawned from the ashes of Nineties grade school-oriented punkers F.Y.P., Toys That Kill build upon the ideas originally created by F.Y.P. and apply their experience and maturity to create a handful of upbeat punk rock. Age has certainly mellowed the kids from F.Y.P., as Toys That Kill opt for a more melodic and harmonious musical approach, rather than the chalk-dust clappery that made F.Y.P. so grating and infectious. Dillenger Four come to mind hardly a minute into the first track, with the mid-paced, modern punk sound of "Runnin' the Front" blasting into an anthemic chorus without sparing a moment. Each track seems to blaze by, each instrument sounding energized and alive. Even on disc, Toys That Kill's energy is contagious .Lyrically, the group are as sharp as ever, changing the aim of their ire from the pledge of allegiance to "political cowboys" and the doldrums of contemporary American life. Allusions to politics and first-world greed are frequent on Control the Sun, yet never fall into the realm of predictable rhetoric. Backed with catchy, poppy punk rhythms, it makes for an excellent showcase of punk rock rich in relevancy, urgency and sophistication.(Matt Kosloff) SKYSCRAPER MAGAZINE


Toys That Kill-Control the Sun
More famous for featuring former members of FYP, Toys That Kill should overshadow said band now. Their sophmore effort is a sonic blast of pop and punk sensibilities. Todd and the gang along with Sweatbox studios have a created 15 new singalong songs. (EA) PUNK PLANET

Toys That Kill-Control the Sun (Recess Records)
My friend Todd at Recess said he would send me a copy of the new Toys That Kill album. Well he finally did and boy what a treat it was kids. Remember F.Y.P.? Well Toys That Kill are nothing like them. The best part of this album was the packaging because the booklet that comes with the CD is not a booklet but a mini-sized newspaper titled AssAss the Nation I guess we can say the album is political but overall it is creative, funky and fun. More then just pure garage rock this album tends to have a more mature sound to it with intelligent lyric writing and up beat energetic music to back it up. Go out pick the album up and enjoy some jolt. My favorite song on this album is Just one Jump its so touching and oh so great, YUMMY! www.rockstarsforhire.com

TOYS THAT KILL control the sun (Recess)
My 12-year-old nephew saw this disc on my shelf and remarked at how surprised he was to see me listening to something good! All I can say is "good on ya, bud, you're starting to develop a little taste on your own." 'Cause this is pretty tasty modern punk rock-not just another dull set of recycled riffs, but a band that comes with lots of novel sounding tunes. They mainly achieve this by simple tricks like shifting tempos from song to song and by playing standard chord progressions with unexpected rhythms, giving it a feel that merges post punk with Marshall-stack roar. Tracks like "The White Lies" or the smashing "Illegitimate" are just the highlights on a really solid CD. THE BIG TAKEOVER. www.bigtakeover.com

TOYS THAT KILL "Control The Sun" CD
One of the best releases of this issue. This is a band that just keeps getting better. Still snotty and punk, but with a broader range and fertile imaginations. Deft playing, tight arrangements and really good songwriting. A very big sounding record. Highly recommended. (JC) AMP MAGAZINE

Toys That Kill - Control the Sun (CD, Recess, Rock)
Toys That Kill is/are a great rock band. The band's gutsy intensity is captivating and intense. Rather than splattering out nothing more than a loud blur (which is very common in the world of rock bands)...these four gentlemen are intent on presenting intelligent material that just happens to rock like holy hell. Recorded at the Sweatbox in Austin, Texas, Control the Sun is an impressive and fun album. Toys That Kill possess an addictive energy that is exciting, slightly unorthodox, and at times very funny. The drummer is as tight as Samantha's barnhole...the guitars thick and heavy...the bass gripping and unrelenting...and the vocals delivered with just the right amount of youthful spirit. This band doesn't rely on gimmicks because they don't need to. Garage rockers like "Runnin the Front," "Blanket," "Illegitimate" (an absolutely killer cut), "Puppies With Rifles," and "No One" are bound to please virtually anyone who comes into contact with them. Looking for a real rock and roll band? Toys That Kill are...IT. (Rating: 5++)BABYSUE http://www.babysue.com/LMNOP-Reviews-July-03.html

TOYS THAT KILL / FLESHIES split pic disk
Toys That Kill. What can i say? What band, with Control The Sun, their second LP, can get slower and stranger, but better? What band has the big, sweaty balls to double scoop their originality and still want to pile more on? I mean, it's punk, but it's like how the Minutemen and The Big Boys were punk: a reinterpretation of the original meaning, so it remains vital and keeps the ears from getting lazy without it being a complete what-the-fuck?-athon. The guys pull one out of the vaults (looking at the date of recording and all) from The Cilizen Abortion sessions, and it's a smoker. "Angels with Dirty Contracts" starts with a recorded fight. has synchronized whistling, and all the stakes that cordon off their distinctive style. Fleshies: the dirty underwear, microphone lariat brigade continues with a mid-paced crooner, "My Buddy," reminiscent of The Psychedelic Furs Talk, Talk, Talk, mixed with goat-throwing guitar sexy, and balled up for enjoyment akin to the delayed and pleasant stupefaction of just the right amount of cough medicine mixed into vodka. The new chocolate and peanut butter? Yes, sir, two tastes that go great together. -razorcake magazine (Geykido Comet )

TOYS THAT KILL: Control the Sun: CD
Anyone who knows me knows I love TTK.I've seen them damn near a hundred times. I really liked the new stuff that they'd been slowly adding to their set lists, which is why my initial thoughts on Control surprised me. I definitely thought it was decent. but not as good as The Citizen Abortion. It didn't have the immediate hooks and is almost all mid-tempo. Upon more listens. it finally hit me. I was hooked. The mid tempo-ness makes me think of Replacements and Husker Du. where the music may be slower. but it sure as hell still rocks out. By about the tenth listen. I began thinking that not only was this as good as Citizen, but I full-hearted-Iy think that it surpasses it (which is tough since The Citizen Abortion hasn't left the closest stack to the Slereo since its release). I think it's even more addictive. I find myself singing part of a song (usually "Just One Jump" or 'The World United Against Breeding") several times throughout the day. Everything sounds so big and full and intentional. Every note. every vocal. every quirk seems to have a specific purpose and need. Not in an epic way- this aint' no fuckin' opera. It just fits so perfectly together. Topics range from political to personal to procreation to some guy named Jed who wanted a song about himself, poor bastard. More than highly recommended with the advice to give it the chance of a few listens to win you over. Believe me, it will. -razorcake magazine (Recess)

pick up the new times if you live in LA for article on recess/toys that kill or click here if you live elswhere!


Dear Shark Pants:
Guys, I dig your record. It reminds me of another Tucson band, the Weird Lovemakers. Or maybe the Bananas. And at times the guitars remind me of the more aggressive Queen songs, or even early Black Sabbath. But I'm reluctant to mention those bands because Porno Snakehead isn't derivative. You guys have this sense that any music is up for grabs, that anything can be assimilated. And that reminds me of the Weird Lovemakers. Did I mention them already? It's the approach more than the sound. Anyway, I'm writing to let you know that you're committing commercial suicide. I'm sure you know this already, but I'm trying to appease my conscience so that I can enjoy your disc 100% guilt-free. That's my two cents. Thanks for putting out such a cool album. Sincerely, Mike / Go Metric! #18 - Spring 2004

Shark Pants - Porno Snakehead CD [Recess]
this trio from Tucson, AZ playz desertrous punk rock. mhm, snotty and very dry ... don't know, remembers me of helmet a bit, but they are not like helmet at all. theres also something of the gossip in their music, but they're not like the gossip either. it's their dry guitars. you can feel the heat. but unlike most of those bands i am thinking of (like kyuss) they are kind a fast and do their punk thing very good. danceofdays.org (ad)

Shark Pants "Porno Snakehead" CD 9/15:24
This album just flies by. Nine blisteringly Io-fi gutter-rock tunes In just under 16 minutes. This Tuscon, Arizona band wears their Minor Threat and Stooges Influences proudly, but don1 think they're just another hipster entry In the NuRawk Sweepstakes. "Dogner'" has more Invested in earty '80s hardcore punk than any clan of retro scenster would. "Say it like you got a pair" lead singer Isaac screams on "Canyonero." Right on, dude, right on. Looking for a sweet Zeppelin ooda? "Later Alligator's" got you covered. It's all here, really. The relentless drumming and furious riffs are perfectly placed. The vocals snarl and wail beautifully. These guys just might be the best band out of Arizona (no offense, Giant Sand). Just listen to "Chukis" and tell me you don't agree. John Shredding Paper Magazine

GOES EXTREMELY WELL WITH THE SHARK SHIRT:
The fellas in the Knockout Pills have been blathering in my ear about local band Shark Pants ("the best punk band in Tucson, hands down," sez guitarist Travis Spillers), and now I know why.The band's debut album, Porno Snakehead, out this week on San Pedro, Calif.'s Recess Records, is the sound of three gotta-be-snortin'-the-meth desert ne'er-do-wells charging through nine songs of blissful speed-punk in just over 15 minutes.The problem I have with most punk bands obsesses with speed is that they're so preoccupied with it that they forget to write memorable songs. Not so with Shark Pants. The group--singer/guitarist Isaac, bassist Vannessa and drummer Dick--is the rare band that'll have you shaking your head when the album's over, wondering what the hell just hit you, then five seconds later, you realize you're already humming one of the songs you just heard. In other words, they write killer melodies--they just play 'em faster than you tiny brain can comprehend them. Fuck "power trio" -these two men and a lady are a nuclear bomb. Shark Pants celebrate the release of Porno Snakehead with a CD Release Party on Saturday Nov. 15, at Vaudeville Cabaret, 110 E. Congress St.The punkstravaganza kicks off around 9 p.m. with opening sets from the band's labelmates Toys That Kill, Civic Minded Five, San Pedro's Killer Dreamer and local powerhouse Hobart. Admission is cheap.--Stephen Seigel --Tucson Weekly

Alive and Kicking Shark Pants w/The Jet City Fix October 30th, 2003 Centro Digna #135, Tucson, AZ By Matt Brown
Tucson's fearless punk trio Shark Pants headlined the gig with their quirky brand of Detroit-style garage rawk. Neither the bassist's broken foot nor the drummer's bare-bones kit could stop this band from kicking serious ass that night. The Jet City Fix had blown some eardrums, but Shark Pants were there to blow minds and break necks with songs like the addictive anthem"Porno Snakehead" (the title track from their new CD on San Pedro, California's Recess Records.) I strongly recommend checking them out. Props are due to Shark Pants guitarist and lead vocalist Isaac for putting this gig together; Centro Digna #135 rivals fellow Tucson all-ages art gallery Solar Culture as an intimate setting for great rock shows.

CrimeWave Magazine 11/15/03 Shark Pants CD Release Party: with Killer Dreamer, Toys That Kill and the Mapes @ Vaudeville Cabaret
Hobart was on the bill too, but finding out sometime during that night that they broke up. I was bummed. The Mapes opened, it was to be Civic Minded Five instead, but due to some reasons I can't remember they turned into the Mapes for tonight. They were also missing their Bass player and at the last minute recruited Dave from the Fusty Luggs. Crazy rock, Las Vegas all the way. It was me with no money asking Jason Decker for more beer that turned the night into drunkness galore. Killer Dreamer was next, and my god, this was some good shit. Loud, Loud, LOUD. Is it really necessary to hear anything? Jason, do you have money for another beer? Toys That Kill were just as good and rockin as ever, tearing it up and I was wasting away. Alright, now the wait is over, it's been forever since I've seen them live, Vannessa's broken legs were a big reason of course. Shark Pants just blew me away, they are a great fucking live band, and to ever get the full effect of Shark Pants they need to be seen live. Also pick up their debut CD, you can find it at www.recessrecords.com a big thank you goes out to fellow crimer Jason for getting me tanked, I needed it, and punk rock is better for it. D. Pike

Razorcake #18
I saw Shark Pants play in Torrance last year.They were sandwiched between two of my favorite bands: the Knockout Pills and Toys That Kill.Much to my surprise,Shark Pants stole the show.No disrespect to the Knock Out Pills and Toys That Kill, they were both awesome,but I expected them to be awesome. I didn't expect anything out of Shark Pants and they blew me away.It was a solid wall of sound that carried with it all f what I love about punk rock from Tucson: the noisy insanity of the Blacks, the trashy humor of the Weird Lovemakers, sneaky melodies like the Knockout Pills. Beyond all of this, Shark Pants seemed to simultaneously explode and keep shit tight as hell. That night in Torrance still ranks among my all-time favorite shows.I think of it so fondly that any Shark Pants album would have a tough act to follow. For me to fully endorse Porno Snakehead, Shark Pants would have to take all the energy and rock from their live show and capture it into plastic.That's a pretty tough thing to ask of any band. Still, at first, it seemed as if Shark Pants were equal to the task. The first four songs explode out of the speakers like free beer and 2 AM promises.I thought we had a classic in the making. The "Later Alligator" takes it's turn as the fifth song on the album, and, through some inexplicable force of nature, someone in Shark Pants starts screaming like Robert Plant "Baby, baby, baby (keep repeating)."And it bummed me out so much that I almost couldn't listen to the next song. In fact, I get so mad every time I hear those baby. Baby. babies that I can't seem to enjoy the last four songs, though they do have all the rock I'd hope for. In fact, this album is about seven baby,baby,babies from being perfect.But seven baby,baby,babies is a lot, especially when their right in the goddamn middle of everything, goddamn it. I think I'm just gonna burn the first four songs and the last four songs onto a CD of my own and start telling people that I have the elusive Shark Pants demo and that it's way better thatn Porno Snakehead.-Sean

 


TOYS THAT KILL / RAGIN' HORMONES "Running From Love" 7" EP
Toys That Kill proudly carry on the tradition of FYP. Their debut full length was fantastic and both of these tracks continue the quality. Veritably the definition of snotty punk rock. Ragin' Hormones are pretty much straddling the same punk rock pogo horse as their their more well known 7" mates. Unfortunately, my promo copy of this keeps skipping...hopefully all copies aren't as fucked up as mine is. (JC) AMP MAGAZINE (Stardumb/ P.O. Box 21145/ 3001 AC Rotterdam/ The Netherlands)

TOYS THAT KILL / RAGIN' HORMONES split 7" (stardumb)
TOYS THAT KILL have yet to disappoint.They're stealthy. If you listen with a lazy ear,they may sound merely spastic,a little retarded, but with repeated listens-as opposed to bands like The Vandals and Guttermouth who revel in being booger-eatin' morons with cryogenically frozen minds of twelve year olds-their smartypants quotient becomes apparent. Their songs never lull,stutter step, or miscalculate. i can hear flashs of cheap trick, Psychedelic Furs, and " i know that song"-ness amplified,messed with, and groomed in their own style. I'm not saying they're genuises,but the lyrics and music combined reinforce the idea that this is,indeed, a band that doesnt have to be flashy and doesnt have to use big words and confusing artshit to continue on a unique path,one that im happy to listen to over and over again. Included are two songs that arent on their highly recommended CD,the citizen abortion,: "run from love" and "birds in catsuits". the RAGIN HORMONES-if chuck berry was dead,this would be like watching a band piss in his mouth at the funeral. so awful i dont even want to comment on it.-razorcake fanzine


Civic Minded 5 : E=CM5 CD
The Civic Minded Five are from Las Vegas and sound like a cross between the Weird Lovemakers and a band that would be on Plan-it-X or Secret Center. They're goofy, poppy, sometimes funny, and sometimes stoopid. My kind of record. (MRR / Donna Poole)

Civic Minded 5 : E=CM5 CD
i've seen the civic minded 5 play on the side of warehouse in freezing winds. And they were fucking great. lazer reminded me of the intensity of greg ginn. then someone tripped over the lamp chord and everything went black and we drank more and people bumped into one another. i've seen the CM5 in a vegas dive bar and got threatened i could'nt take pictures unless i faxed in a request. that night,they sucked balls. they played a fucking twenty minute medley that they'd restart over and over again. they were just very bad drunks. i've seen the CM5 smash a guitar in NYC and i was joyous. the crowd got rowdy. fun,punch your friends rowdy. in other words,live is a mixed bag,depending on their sobriety and their we-hate-one-another levels of irritation. Enter this cd. fuck your first song. if anything,put it after ten minutes of blank space at the end. it's a parody of aerosmtihs "sweet emotion". jesus its painful and it's shitty/ Things pick up mightily right after that. then they do things like: fuckin' spazz,almost-kazoo vocals jumping all over themselves like little dogs having fun humping. and if you listen beyond the frenetic din-and i'm not calling anyone a pussy here-the musicianship is as inspired as it is warped and speedy. guitar lines fray and splice and stop and bunch up suddenly and make very basic song structures crackle like the front of a retard bus with the brakes locked up,after it hits a brick wall. it's funny. the CM5 are an unavoidable accident. there's a lot of screaming,like someone's in a lot of pain,which, in my book,makes for a very enjoyable record. favorite track: "kiss my black ass" Rolickin'. razorcake magazine

Civic Minded 5 : E=CM5 CD
punk is one of those music categories that comes in all kinds of forms, but still retains a solid core. it influences all sorts of music styles,and is still made in its pure essence-dirty,crazy and sometimes ironic. on local civic minded 5's E=CM5, the group captures a sliver of the old school. listening to this record,youd think you were having a drinking party at a friends house- except youd have to put the cd player on repeat because the 17 traks rip through so quickly. starting with an acoustic,just out of time aerosmith cover retitled"sweet emo", cm5 take you to the vegas suburbs and back the inebriated breakups of"get that girl"{ away from me},"the quasisuicidal"it would never bother me" and an ode to green valley love "pittman wash" if punk still doesnt give a fuck then neither does cm5,and thats what makes E=cm5 a solid representation of the genre:a thinking and drinking mans soundtrack,the music racing through the inebriations and past the morning hangover. -kari o'connor /city life


Toys That Kill "The Citizen Abortion"
The bands label has brought you such greats as "The Dwarves" , this band, is definitely up the alley of the skater, who reviled in the days of yore. With Social Distortion, DRI, Black Flag and many others. Toys That Kill, is a solid punk sound, some newer sounds, in the sense of becoming more user friendly, but still true to what the musicians have stood for and not falling into the glamour punk of today's corporate beast. Greg Ginn of SST records, said in an interview that, "Most successful labels, put out music that is consistent, so that people know what they're getting", If you like what you hear, then this holds true, how successful is Toys That Kills label Recess Records, I don't know, but they do give off the consistency for good music. The newest album of Toys That Kill, will be hitting stores on June 17th of this year, "Control The Sun".This album is super good for any road trip or moment you feel like neglecting yourself or others. For those who need that driving force to put down the tricks or just to make it through the day, your not wasting your money on the album. SV FILMS & MUSIC

Toys That Kill Live Review
Early '90s vert pro Todd Congelliere's still at it in Toys That Kill. A little more on the rock side of punk rock, but in the vein of irreverent politico-punk (but not nauseatingly so). Their record Control the Sun on Recess Records kicks ass, as does their live show. And playing with Toys That Kill was San Diego's own Locust. Thrasher Magazine

Toys That Kill "The Citizen Abortion" Recess Records
This was the long awaited debut album by a band spawned from the ashes of the now (sadly) defunct F.Y.P.. The guys in F.Y.P. put out one last record for the people to remember them by and that album was titled "Toys That Kill". Well the saga continues with the new band Toys ThatKill, formed by Todd Congelliere (ex-F.Y.P. front man) and Sean Cole (ex-F.Y.P. drummer) along with their friends Denis Fleps, who now plays drums and Casey "Chachi" Ferrara on bass. In my opinion F.Y.P. was one of the best punk bands of the 1990's. They are definitely one of my favorite all time bands. So I couldn't wait for this album to come out. It finally did, and kids, it was well worth the wait. "The Citizen Abortion" by Toys That Kill was one of the best records released in 2001. And, once again, in my opinion, one of the best ever. Toys That Kill definitely have that F.Y.P. sound because of Todd's vocals, but this band seems to be a little more polished and more mature then his previous band. This album has sixteen tracks, most of which are some of the best punk rock joints Ive ever heard. Word Up! On the muthafuckin real! Some of my favorite tracks are Amphetamine Street, "Unity Mitford", "Little Bit Stranger","Mating Season", "Hare Ruya" and "Catholic Damage". I can't really think of any one band they sound like to give you people reading this a comparison - which says something for them. Yet if you like punk rock, you will like this album. If you don't, there is something seriously wrong with you. This shit rocks! Go get Toys That Kill "The Citizen Abortion" at your local record store, or better yet go to the Recess Records website or www.toysthatkill.com and order this record now. Im sure youll agree with what I am saying about this killer debut release from this great band - and these guys are just getting started! Rob Leary / Aural Report

TOYS THAT KILL The Citizen Abortion
R$12 via Lja Records ou na mo da muambeira oficial da Lj nos shows de So Paulo, a Sra.Valria Mendes. Bom, esse um CD que fao questo de resenhar pessoalmente. O Toys That Kill pra quem ainda no sabe a banda "update" do idolatrado (pelo menos por aqui) FYP. Na verdade, o FYP lanou seu ltimo CD que se chamava Toys that kill, depois "TTK" acabou virando o nome da banda mesmo. Ah... entendeu? O FYP era muita banda que mudava a cada CD, digamos que a cada novo disco os caras se tornavam mais bubblegum, mas nunca deixando de lado aquela tosquera imunda. O TTK seria o mximo de bonito e pop que o FYP conseguiu chegar sem deixar de ser uma banda de personalidade, suja, tosca e imatura. A guitarras so melodiosas mas com microfonia e sonoridade buzzzzzzz, os vocais tambm so muito meldicos mas sem perder o esprito 15 anos (por mais que os caras, sei l, j tenham uns 30!) e quando pra gritar, bom... Voc sabe o que eles fazem. Samplerzinhos bem sacados e uns que chegam a ser at mensagens subliminares, j saquei um foda. O encarte sem comentrios, tem 18 pginas, uma para cada letra com uma montagem ou desenho bm loco! Num total de 16 msicas, mas fica bem complicado destacar alguma em especifico, cada hora eu gosto mais de uma, "Ass mirror" abre o CD com classe e logo depois "Bullet from the sky", punk rock sujo de menos de 1 minuto com criancinhas gritando no fundo podre. "Unity mitford" uma daquelas msicas para voc sair de carro em alta velocidade com uma garrafa de vodka, enquanto se "Mating season" tocasse no rdio, poderia ser facilmente confundida com uma musica do Blink 182! Esse CD assim o tempo todo, capaz de te deixar confuso. Seria possvel no decorar os refres lindos e pegajosos de "Keep Caroline", "2 billions bastards" e "Hare ruya"? S seu subconsciente poder dizer. Resumindo, esse disco muito foda, porque rene os melhores elementos que uma banda de rock and roll poder ter: bonito, autntico, original, sujo, pop e o caralho a quatro. Tour no Brasil em abril. * Resenha por: VINHO PODRE T, quer mandar essa resenha para o teu amigo finlands que no fala portugus? Olha ela a em bom ingls.

TOYS THAT KILL-the citizen abortion
Former F.Y.P member,skate rat,and current Recess Records honcho, Todd Congelliere,is back with an album that is musically and lryically a lot more mature than FYP. This is an updated version of their punk sound and has a lot of catchy songs and dischordant guitar. i really liked this album and think it is definitley worth checking out. Some good tracks include "Amphetamine St.", "Bullet From the sky", "Mating Season" and "Catholic Damage". Good stuff. (Horizontal Action Magazine)

TOYS THAT KILL-the citizen abortion
In today's sea of punk rock-which has more turds residing in it's waters than our very own atlantic & could easily be subtitled the mediocre ocean-it's records like this that remind me of the reasons why i got into the whole caboodle some 15 years + ago. Imagine the energy & attack of DILLINGER FOUR channelled through the belligerent behaviour of the DWARVES & infused with the total understanding of the finest points of punk rock n' roll as represented by ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT & you'll have an idea how incendiary this record is. But only an idea!! This album just contains awesome punk rock , played by guys who know how to make it sound thrilling instead of jaded; fun instead of dour. There are way too many great songs out of the 16 present to give individual name checks, but it never once released its grip on my attention. you should know RECESS RECORDS have released some of the best records of the last 10 years or so & here's proof that head honcho Todd can also play it with the very best of them. look out for an interview next time round. (scanner-UK) (also made #1 record of issue)

TOYS THAT KILL "the citizen abortion"
A great new punk band featuring ex-F.Y.P members. Not as snotty as their old band,but just as catchy and maybe a bit more aggresive. One of my favorites of this issue. HITLIST MAGAZINE (also #1 on jimi cheetah's top ten list)

TOYS THAT KILL-THE CITIZEN ABORTION (recess) This is very tuneful yet hard-hitting punk rock loaded with tasty guitar hooks and smacking drumbeats. It's not that sort of ho-hum melodic stuff either. instead, there's scads of creative hooks and unique guitar bits that have convinced me I'm going to spend a good deal of time playing this over the next couple of months. The band compares themselves to The clash, The buzzcocks, and The Jam--me, I hear more of the Descendants.(www.recessrecords.com) [The Big Takeover]

Toys That Kill "The Citizen Abortion" Cd on Recess Records by Ryan August
Toys That Kill is Recess Records newest, irreverent punk band. It also features former FYP founder and Recess Records head honcho, Todd Congelliere. I have to admit I was expecting more of that sloppy, snotty, childish pop thrash that FYP was so well known for. Not that I was expecting anything bad. It's just that you can only take so much idiotic insolence from a band pounding on its instruments like a bunch of six year olds who were denied their cookies with their afternoon glass of milk. An entire album of such wreckage is a little more than I can take, and I was pleasantly surprised when the discordant guitar doodling of "Once Upon a Time" kicked in starting off the album. Toys That Kill succeed where so many bands fail. They have actually managed to put together an updated take on the classic punk sound: buzzsaw guitars, hook filled choruses, appropriate tempo changes, and those snot filled vocal stylings we all love so much. The recording is damn near amazing, and the TTK boys have even managed to add even more fullness and depth to their album with some hilarious sample work tossed into a portion of the songs.
It's comparison time, and I don't feel the need to drop the names of any of those classic British bands like the Buzzcocks, The Clash, or even The Sex Pistols (oops, I guess I did it anyway) because it seems pointless to mention the obvious. Besides, this isn't a tenth generation retro rehash. At times, I hear some of that classic southern California styled punk as done by bands like the US Bombs or The Stitches ringing in my ears. Other times, I'm reminded of that coarse vocaled punk pop that was flowing out of Chicago in the early 90s by bands like Screeching Weasel and the Vindictives. But, the real killer is that Toys That Kill are able to mix all these things together into a competent blend of their own, infusing some totally original, dischordant guitar melodies and tone infected buzz. I wish more bands were able to put together a sound that is as grounded in solid, fundamental punk rock as Toys That Kill are, and at the same time, are able to create something completely new and vital. This is an amazing record that will be spinning in my Cd player for months to come. I haven't heard something new that was this good in a long, long time. Thank you Toys That Kill! Go out and buy this platter today! (RA www.punkfix.com)

TOYS THAT KILL / THE CITIZEN ABORTION .cd (Recess Records) 8.7
The label that brought you the book I Was a Murder Junkie, now brings you a childish pop punk band. Pop punk is a term sadly associated with MTV sellouts, after you hear the screams in songs like Ass Mirror or String; youll know that this band is a whole different story. The tunes are quite catchy and they own an immature wisdom. Toys That Kill can sound similar to the material of specialized labels like Lookout or Stardumb; they even worked in a split release with Hollands own Ragin Hormones. This album is definitely not fast, but it also aint slow; a constant rhythm belongs to the album concept. This cd is more than ok. Hey, is that Todd Congelliere the former pro skateboarder? anarchuz zine

TOYS THAT KILL-the citizen abortion
Basically , this is FYP with a new name and not a drastic change. Tuneful punk,but not always predictable. Three chord pop punk,some songs that touch on a garage/rock n roll sound and swirling/grungy "season finale" to end things up. Creepy graphics throught the lyric book-there's a dark underbelly to this deceptively sunny-sounding band.- Suburban voice

Toys That Kill - The Citizen Abortion (CD, Recess, Hard rock/pop)
GREAT band name...!!! And surprise, surprise...great BAND as well. Toys That Kill play with the same fury and intensity that made the first punk bands of the seventies so cool and exciting. These guys are as loud as holy hell, but the songs are precise, direct, and catchy. We absolutely love the song titles: "Ass Mirror (Puckered Lips)," "Amphetamine St," "2 Billion Bastards," "Hare Ruya"... Funny, loud, tight, smart, and chock full of passionate energy...Toys That Kill are one of the best really loud bands we've heard in quite some time. This album is hard-driving, crazy, frenetic, and MIND BLOWING. How 'bout we keep this short and simple... Fans of loud rock...you must BUY THIS. Truly GREAT stuff!!! (Rating: 5+++) out of 5 babysue magazine

TOYS THAT KILL-the citizen abortion (recess records)
being a typical stupid-ass girl,i'll confess that the cover of this cd is the only reason i pried the new citizen fish out of my stereo and popped this in. i was curious to find out if this sounded as good as it looked. the cover loses alot as you see it here. martha stewart can learn a few things from todd congelliere's brilliant use of color schemes and use of space,though im sure the songs on "the citizen abortion" would make poor martha's head spin into a frenzied whirlwind of confusion and repulsion. thats something i like to measure music by. when it pisses off the rightous,chu-going,cake-baking,track-home-owning,9 to 5er's,thats a pretty good indication to me that it's worth checking out,which is exactly what i plan on doing when they play at the colonial cafe' on august 10th with scared of chaka,F.Y.H.,pharmacy,and broken society. this is about as in your face as punk gets,with plenty of catchy driving guitar riffs and raw bratty vocals to keep you moving. if this music isnt your cup of tea,there are plenty of cool soundbytes in between tracks and a recipe for making fog that might interest you. rant magazine

TOYS THAT KILL-the citizen abortion cd
with FYP going the way of a used depends undergarmet, my expectations for what,on paper,looks like a recussitation or a ghost-ridden bike of a just-departed band were really low. i liked FYP. They were stupid. Fucking stupid. And i say that with love. Lots of retarded love. Part of the sugar shavings of that candy necklace of love was almost complete ineptitude of the band.And the dick and fart jokes. Because we all know the basic punk rock equation: bad band plays so awfully,it's good. if they're that retarded for real,even better. They helped redefine glorified incompetence,like a taco bell employee with ADD,a sense of humor,and full access to the guacamole gun,but with instruments. So when the first thing i heard about Toys That Kill is that they could play,me though " thats like saying that the lady who had that sock puppet lambchop could really act" Who gives a fuck about that? I want sock puppets and stained underwear. Joe satriani plays well. Fuck that guy. Well it's time to break out a can of pink,paint polka dots all over me and throw me in the middle of a monster truck ralley. TTK are fantastic. Although seemingly incomprehensible-even to myself-they retain the spastic,wet,warm undie feeling of FYP-but they can play the hell out of a song and there's social commentary that involves no bodily fluids. As a matter fo fact,without ever using the words directly,the whole albums chock full of anti-authoritarianism. We'll end with a song quote that sums it up nicely:"but whats a trip without a little danger?" It's nice when resurrections work out and the phoenix rising from the ash isnt just dust settling from someone pissing out the fire- razorcake magazine

TOYS THAT KILL-the citizen abortion
I was lured to this one because it was recorded in my hometown of Austin,TX at SWEATBOX. This band is out of san pedro,ca. Four guys mking good music together. This is the fist band ive ever heard on RECESS RECORDS and hopefully it is not the last. I enjoyed what it had to offer. The one track i found to be the hokey pokey for kicking you're ass was "ASS MIRROR". TRUCKSTOP MAGAZINE / RICK ANDRADE

TOYS THAT KILL-the citizen abortion CD
Out of the ashes of F.Y.P come a band that's as melodically inviting and complex as Dillinger Four. Words and presentation are rock solid tough melodi-punk with kick ass choruses and production,as well as words that occupy the middle ground between 8th grade poetry and Bad Religion's excessive verbiage. Im other words,they're heartfelt without being trite in either direction,and have the musical chops to back it all up! SHREDDING PAPER / jesse

TOYS THAT KILL-the citizen abortion CD
So this is the new FYP band. The record looks like an FYP record you know, really bad layout, bad fonts, etc., kinda sounds like an FYP record too. You can't really deny the Five Year Plan. Always some good tunes that get stuck in your head. This stuff sounds like FYP, but with a little more Clash and Buzzcocks thrown in. These dudes are all stand up guys too, so you should get with this. buddyhead


FYP dance my dunce
I was going to write in defense of record stores carrying hate rock, but no one involved in punk really gives a fuck about free speech anyway, so I'm writing about FYP's classic album,dance my dunce. When released in 1993, it was a breath of fresh air in an era dominated by regimented sounds. Sloppy, poppy,fast, and catchy as hell, this second LP from FYP contains classics like "vacation bible school", "2000 A.D." and "Fuck you and a half". The band brought a juvenile sense of kiddy power into their sound, and they sang about important themes like school lunches and ding-dong ditching. Dance my dunce is still in print on vinyl and CD from Recess Records. Subsequent to this classic album ,FYP suffered from inconsistency,horrendus live shows, and the suicide of one of its members. Believe it or not,the only other really good full length is their swan song,TOYS THAT KILL, which came out in 2000 and blows away all their later work. FYP fans will also want to check out the band TOYS THAT KILL, who put on the great live show FYP was never capable of. PUNK PLANET
REVIEWER SPOTLIGHT: ART ETTINGER


THE CRUMBS - Hold That Shit Right! {Recess}
I'm tired of writing it, but with a band as underrated as THE CRUMBS, it's kinda necessary.This is just about the best bar-room Punk Rock 'n' Roll band on the planet.Taking its licks in equal parts from The Holy Trinity of R (RADIO BIRDMAN, RAMONES and REPLACEMENTS), THE CRUMBS rock and do it so fucking well. This 18-track comp features the Florida band's first 7" (Alien Girl) and the boss 10" 'Get All Tangled Up'.What's the real clincher here are the six unreleased tracks that span the divide between the band's first two albums that were originally released on Lookout!The band will never win any originality awards - and thank fuck for that cuz this is plain, simple and incisive rock 'n' roll that THE QUEERS can but aspire to.As the final track states: 'You Make Me Rock 'n' Roll'.

THE CRUMBS-s/t
The Crumbs are a quartet of floridians doing what they do best : drinking like there's no tomorrow, having fun,and playing that good 'ol rock-n-roll. Now let's tell something more about that good ol' rock 'n roll. The band plays garage rock. Since i don't know much garage bands i always think of The Hives. But these guys seem to have a different appproach, where The Hives are over the top and noisy, The Crumbs play their material with a certain kind of cool. Which makes this a cosy-sounding record. But the problem is that they never reach a climax They just keep rocking at the same level, which makes it boring when you've heard a few tracks. Only interesting for the fans of this genre, maybe. - Sebbe (munchkin)

THE CRUMBS-s/t
Long been a fan of this florida 4-some,ever since their "ALL TANGLED UP" 10" in fact & this is the first stuff ive heard by them since their 2nd lookout album. good to have you back too guys! if you have ever wondered whether a band would come along & pick up the crown discarded by the SAINTS after their 2nd album-then wonder no more. THE CRUMBS have picked up that crown & placed it upon their collective heads. This really high octane rock n' roll deivered with a sneer & interspred with some prime time ROLLING STONES coolness. This includes a blaze through the TASMANIANS "doing me wrong" too. Wondefully ragged production & sloppy yet spot on playing. Yep,this is rock n' roll with attitude & sus. I once called this lot "the best bar band on the planet". Seems like they're still entitled to that epithet. (scanner-uk) (also made #7 record of the issue)


THE CRUMBS-s/t (recess records)
the first 2 crumbs albums sound like theyre pretty much trying to rip off the saints.which is okay. the saints were a great band and the crumbs wee picking up where the saints left off.it worked. the singers had similar voices and the rhythm guitar just powered both bands. with this crumbs album ,though,they seem to have taken that sound and expanded it in a strange direction. it sounds like the crumbs spent the past year and a half hanging out in the backwoods somewhere,listening to old rock n' roll radio stations. theres a lot of sun studio guitar sounds,a bit of country twang,and even some touches of ritchie valens-style ballads.it works in some places and doesnt work in some places. i get the feeling,at times,like the band really wants to rock,like the drummer wants to pick up the pace,like the singer wants to scream,but for some reason,theyre holding back. then on songs like "out of range" they dont hold back and i see what a really good band they can be. on the whole, i really do enjoy this album,and i appreciate that theyre growing as a band. i just prefer the times when they rock out.-sean carswell/razorcake magazine


F.Y.P. "Toys That Kill" CD Okay, I guess this one really is the last record by FYP, but they called it "Toys That Kill" because thats the name of the band that Todd and Sean (Two of the main FYP guys) will continue to play in now the FYP is over. There is a big booklet that comes with this that goes over the history of the band, but this is new material, not a retrospective disc. This has the distinctive FYP sound of the last few new releases, "Toys that Kill" is a good name because it does have a demented childishness about it. It's punk rock that doesnt get repetitive or boring. This may be the best record yet. I'd have to go back and compare the other ones to be sure, but every song on here is strong and no other band has this sound. (Recess) Probe

F.Y.P - Toys That Kill
After ten years of fuckin' up the place, F.Y.P call it quits. This records title, Toys That Kill, is the name of the band that founder Todd and Sean, drummer on the last two records, have started so they can sleep on more couches and get naked on stage. Reminds me of Descendents/All, but only in title. Toys That Kill is, again, produced by Dwarves' Blag, and surprisingly, a lot of it sounds good. Some'll call this over-produced, but those are the same shitheads that can't listen to punk without a blender or a vacuum on cuz it sounds too pretty. Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty of warped stuff here, but there's more straight forward (still dirty) stuff than one might expect. And with 17 songs in under 30 minutes, ya don't have to be a math whiz to figure there ain't no wasted space here. All lyrics are provided and there's a thick booklet with all sorts of photos and ranting and stuff. Scott Hefflon, Lollipop

F.Y.P "Toys That Kill"
Toys That Kill is the final chapter in FYP's career that has been upsetting the norms of society for the past decade. I was fortunate enough to have seen their live show a few times and their performances were always energetic, sloppy and driven in a beer fueled fire. Blag Dahlia, fronyman of the Dwarves, produced the album and Josh Freese of the Vandals sat in on drums, which is probably one of the reasons this album sounds comparatively polished to their previous works (but don't let that distract you from picking it up). With the band's fan base and the quality of music they have put out over the years, I find it hard to believe that they never made it into the mainstream. -Kevin Evinger (Heckler)

FYP - Toys That Kill
For you noodle heads who don't know who FYP is, they were a spectacular punk rawk band. Unlike most cookie cutter punk bands they experimented with their sound and developed it beyond their original three shord snot punk hymns. Some mey bitch that "FYP got too poppy," but they also got more talented, so fuck off! I love this album like I love my long dead hamster. It rocks and is by far the best FYP (next to Dance My Dunce). Besides rocking da black, this is FYP's most eclectic release (yes, punk bands can be eclectis too). They dip into realms they've previously been in, like the chimes and organ backing. But they also have a song, "Love's Been No Good To Me,: featuring the punkest fucking country riff I have ever heard. Even with the sound change, FYP has several songs on here with their great snot vocals. Tragically, this is FYP's last album. By the time you read this, they will have been reborn as Toys That Kill, so watch out! And Toys That Kill will have the infamous Todd Congelliere so hide the china! Get this, because after all "One Thousand Dead Cheerleaders Can't Be Wrong." La Mala Manzana magazine

FYP - Toys That Kill
Much like Descendents / All, the title of FYP's final record is also the name of their new band. Unlike Descendents / All, FYP's last album is by far their best. Now, if you still think that FYP will never top "Dance My Dunce," you shuld stop reading now. Although their old snotty, sloppy hardcore makes a few guest appearances, this is a pop record. And a damn good one. I'm looking forward to Todd and Co.'s new band. (JER) Hit List

FYP - Toys That Kill
More tunefull, bizarre punk rock from FYP, maybe a bit more melodic than the last record, but at the same time, a good deal louder. The band's song writing ability has improved, without a loss of simple sickness. Toys That Kill opens on the sweet sounds of "Where the Creeps Go," then immediately breaks up into the super fast psycho rant "Stupid's On." The lyrics are still really strange and they have a certain grade school quality. FYP always seemed to be a band made up of kids who ate paste in the back of the classroom. Fans of FYP take note, after this album, the band dissolves, and the two remaining members will become Toys That Kill. More sickness to come, no doubt. Mark Ginsberg, Rockpile magazine

F.Y.P - Toys That Kill (Recess)/Come Home Smelly (Theologian, EP)
FYP's last musical testament(s), as that chapter of the band ends and Todd and Sean will be continuing under the name Toys That Kill (hmm... isn't that what happened when the Descendents became All?). Giddily enjoyable tuneful punk with surprises along the way. On the "Toys" album there's raging hardcore, a toy piano, a Minutemen cover and one song that sounds like something off a 1930s blues album. The EP features "Come Home Smelly" from the album plus 7 unreleased songs including a cover of Poison Idea's "Pure Hate," which is a FUCKING AWESOME choice. Definitely leaning towards the pop side this time and the lyrics can get serious at times, but they don't wanna completely grow up, to paraphrase a band already mentioned in this review. Suburban Voice

F.Y.P Toys That Kill Recess
This is not my favorite F.Y.P. album, but I could have told you that before I even heard this record. "Dance my Dunce" is one of my all time childhood faves (if you don't own that record you are not and never were into 90's punk rock) and there is no way that it could be replaced by the new shit. It just ain't gonna happen. Out of all the bands I listen to when I was in high school, I think F.Y.P had the most profound effect on my adolescent development. What better soundtrack to flunk to than "Vacation Bible School"? From an outsiders point of view F.Y.P was always the coolest band live; thrashing the stage and playing like twenty songs in like twenty five minutes. They made all the Good Riddances and Strung Outs look like weenie rock jocks. After I became an F.Y.P fan, the ante was upped and other than Born Against, I was done with modern punk. After I got to know the guys in the band I fell in love with all of them including Jed. Every time we'd play shows together they'd kick us down with a little cash and get Tim Chi drunk. After a while they became part of our extended family located in the south bay. Both of our camps suffered great losses of good friends in close intervals and the F.Y.P/ Recess family helped support all of us little sores in a pretty bleak time for both camps. For their support I am eternally grateful. As for F.Y.P's new record, it's not a full departure from the last record, but it is definitely the most mature of the immature collection. By saying that this is not my favorite record by San Pedro's sultans of satire, I do not mean that it isn't a worthy release or even their best. I am just tied to "Dance My Dunce" for sentimental reasons. In all truth, every one of F.Y.P's albums has great songs, including "Toys That Kill". Included in the new record is the full bio's on each of the main cast of characters (Todd, Sean, Jed, and Joe) and a complete list of everyone who ever held ranks in the Plan. If you are an F.Y.P fan this is essential to complete your collection. --Joe Cardamone/buddyhead.com

F.Y.P - "Toys That Kill" LP
Fuck Yeah! That's the F.Y.P I know and love: noisy, poppy, fucked up. Side A is much like their older stuff, but they tread new ground on side B with extra feedback, samples, studio tricks and other shenanigans. Pretty fuckin' cool. MRR (Hal McLean)

TOYS THAT KILL F.Y.P Recess Records
It's an inevitable part of growing older: your favorite bands always break up. And if you haven't heard the news already, Toys That Kill is F.Y.P's final album. I personally have been listening to the sloppy punk of F.Y.P for years now, but you could tell that this album is the one they want us to remember. Singer/guitarist Todd (he used to be a pro-skater, too) and bassist/ back-up singer Sean team up with Josh Freese (drummer from The Vandals) for this release. Along with Blag Dahlia of the Dwarves, Toys That Kill was produced at the fancy-schmancy Grandmaster Studios in Hollywood. (The same place the Foo Fighters recorded. Hooray for Pat Smear!) This album has a lot of good songs on it. "Come Home Smelly" is one of my favorites. It sounds like the "new" F.Y.P, a little less sloppy and a little more poppy than they were years ago, yet the lyrics seem to be pulled from the same mind who created the Dance My Dunce album and it shows through with the utmost brilliance! "Don't Have Another One" is probably the poppiest and catchiest song on this CD. I'm telling you, this song is serious dammit-this-song-is-stuck-in-my-head-again-and-I'm-loving-every-minute-of-it material. Todd sings oh so harmoniously, warning an acquaintance not to have another child with such inspirational words as, "Your ass is begging for my right shoe, vasectomy will be true blue." Truly, a song to be remembered. I'd have to say the weirdest track would have to be "Damage." It sounds like a country-western serenade sung through a crappy answering machine, while the singer asks, "Who's that nekked in the bonsai tree? Is it Uncle Frank or is it Pete?" Yup, it's F.Y.P, baby! Serenading their way to the top! There's even a neat bio booklet included with the CD that gives the history of F.Y.P from 1990 to 2000. It's worth the read and very interesting. It's a great addition to an album that represents the ending of a 10-year "reign." There is no doubt that this band has left a mark upon the various punk scenes around the world and that this album is the perfect farewell, if I do say so myself. Don't worry just yet--you do have one last chance to see F.Y.P. The band will be playing its last show on June 17 at Showcase Theatre in Corona. I highly suggest getting your tickets ahead of time 'cause I think this one's gonna sell out. And don't get too sad. It turns out Todd and Sean have started a new band, appropriately called Toys That Kill--go figure! They will be playing a show the following night (July 18) at the PCH Club in Wilmington. Sounds like it oughta be quite interesting. Either way, the breakup was bound to happen, but let this be a lesson to all you wannabe rockstars out there: have fun, don't be too serious, but play 'cause you wanna play, not 'cause you have to. F.Y.P did just that. It helped them stay true to themselves and their fans. I know I'll miss seeing them live, but it's good to know that their DIY spirit will never fade away. You gonna miss me? Lemme know all about it: heela@gcrecords.com.

F.Y.P - "Toys That Kill" CD
Their final release, as the band is changing names after this to Toys That Kill. There have been so many lineup changes over the years that I'm guessing they just want a fresh start, since it will still be a couple of members of F.Y.P (the only two that have been consistent members since '95), and the press and booklet says the band will follow the pattern set by the last couple of LPs. Another strong effort, produced again by Blag Dahlia, with plenty of pop punk songs along the lines of Screeching Weasel, like the last few efforts. The more hardcore elements are more or less gone, the snottiness remains in the vocals, and plenty of humor sticks in your mind in songs like "1000 Dead Cheerleaders." If a band has to go out, this is the way to do it, with one of their strongest releases in years. Steve, Shredding Paper

F.Y.P-come home smelly cdep
I think this is a short CD for people with short attention spans. Clocking in at a grand total of 17:05, F.Y.P. packs in eight tracks of loud, fast, and bratty punk rock. The album starts out with warm sounding guitar with a light feel, and that changes pretty quick. F.Y.P. is in your face the whole time, with lyrics about everything from Chia pets to God to pink slips. The transitions in the songs are good. Their sound ranges from happy and poppy to loud and pounding and back down again with no trouble. All the songs are entertaining (and mostly under two minutes!) but I especially liked the high-pitched harmonic guitars in "Pink Slipped." I'm surprised I haven't heard of F.Y.P. sooner.

Come Home Smelly F.Y.P. Date: 2000 Review By: Michael
There is something about listening to F.Y.P. that has always brought a smile to my face. There is no denying that the band has produced some goofy shit over the last ten years. One thing I could always count on with F.Y.P. was that I couldn't count on anything. Sometimes, they drove me up the wall with their sloppiness, but I always found an undeniable charm in their records. The "band" (which as of late was a vehicle for founding member Todd Congelliere and multi-instrumentalist Sean Cole) has waved a hearty fuck-off to the incarnation known as F.Y.P.. But before they go off into the proverbial sunset, the boys have tossed us a couple of bones. First, their last full length (and new band moniker) 'Toys That Kill' and this, their final release, 'Come Home Smelly'. So it is with a heavy heart that I pay homage to F.Y.P. with a substantial spin of their farewell offering. Too bad its so fucking good...it would have been easier to just say, "Holy shit.. thank heavens they threw in the towel". But alas, that is not the case. 'Come Home Smelly' is a collection of 7 unreleased tracks exclusive to Theologian Records, as well as "Come Home Smelly" from the full-length 'Toys That Kill' (a different recording of the song can also be found on the excellent SubCity Take Action! benefit compilation). And in true oddball style, the F.Y.P. boys are joined by Vandals skinsman Josh Freese on half of the tracks, and go it alone on the other half. The sad thing about 'Come Home Smelly' is that I find it to be one of the most enjoyable things F.Y.P. has produced. "Come Home Smelly" is a great track, goofy yet catchy as hell in its simplicity. For some strange reason, the opening chords of "West Psalm Beach" remind me of the intro music for WWF superstar security agents, The Acolytes (or so I'm guessing...my cheap cover is now blown), and speeds up into post-hardcore tinged skatecore with ample choral screaming . And then once again, F.Y.P. switch gears to resemble Weezer with "Shirts and Skins". One thing about listening to these guys; you may get all disoriented and think you are listening to a fucking compilation album, given the variety of styles. One of the highlights of the disc, the religiously subtle "God Don't Give 2 Shits About Me", a NOFX sounding romp that ends with guest vocal by the almighty himself (who confirms that this is indeed the case). A ripping version of "Pure Hate" by Portland, Oregons' "Kings of punk" Poison Idea follows in old-school straight ahead style. "Knee High" may be my favorite track on the disc, showcasing how damn good these goofy bastards have managed to become. This song has an amazing melody that resembles the most straight ahead NOFX. What may be the most beautiful song on the disc "Pink Slipped" is truly charming, and my sleeper hit of the year. "Primetime" rounds out the disc in prime catchy F.Y.P. fashion; and subsequently rounds out the recording career of the band F.Y.P.. 'Come Home Smelly' is a testament to the diversity and originality that F.Y.P. have provided us over the years. And though the new incarnation of Toys That Kill will be rambling our way soon, F.Y.P. will remain one of the goofiest yet innovative outfits to ever toss themselves head first on the punk rocks scene. Charmingly brilliant, melodically stimulating and sarcastically amusing, 'Come Home Smelly' is as much fun as any album I have come across in recent memory. If you are into a bit of diversity in your pop-punk, then look no further than F.Y.P.. Theologian has another winner to add to their stellar catalog; And F.Y.P. have afforded us a great send off to their cool career. One damn fun record. punkrocks.net

live review of gilman st show-199? FYP played too. they were really good and even better then what i remembered them to sound like. it was wierd because for the first few songs of their set,i wasnt even sure if it was them,but it was and they were really good! their label,recess,has some of the best punk releases around too. athena/flipside#102

Berzerk-theyreaftame cd
wow!! berzerk are good. the first song on this cd,"better your today",has a part that sounds very similar to "break down the walls" or "positive outlook" by youth of today",so to start things off nicely. the rest of the album continues the sucess set by the first song. the recording is pretty rough,but if your like me,you'll like it that way.berzerk is comprised of three guys and two girls. there are 14 songs on this cd. it rocks .the end. (10 skulls out of 10!) -nothing to do fanzine

Berzerk-theyreaftame cd
yea thats a girl singing but it aint the cranberries or britnet spears. this is the best female hardcore singer that ive heard in awhile. the music is structured like mid 80's hardcore.(my favorite right before metal).joanne spice effectively runs the range from snot nose punk to bad ass guttural rantings that would have high school quarter backs running scared. check out track 10 "imagine that". joannes not backing down with lyrics like "bitch your ass is mine!" and why should she with musicians that she has backing her up. i regret missing their show in gainsville.i'm sure it would have been worth the drive. truckstop magazine

Berzerk-theyreaftame cd
in true recess records style,this release SCREAMS drunken kids playing as fast and as loud as they can. it takes me back to the days when i would drive over two hours every weekend to see some hardcore band i had never heard,get comletley annihilated,and end up sleeping on a hard wood floor. sure i miss those days,but i dont ever want to have to live through another one again. i've done my time and thanks to bands like berzerk some kid in bum fuck egypt will have the perfect soundtrack to some very crazy times he will never forget and never want to relive. spongey monkey fanzine

Berzerk Theyreaftame Recess Records
It's not too often that a punk album gives me even a shred of hope for a scene that is fractured and increasingly mundane, but Berzerk breathe new life into a genre that is seemingly slowly gong the way of the buffalo. This Portland five-piece combines an old school ultra-enraged punk vocal attack, a rhythm section with undeniable speed and skill and guitars that are somewhere between metal and punk (a beautiful combination). The vocals of Joanne Spice are the driving thrust for the aggression, anger and passion that is Berzerk. Theyreaftame is a must-have for any fan of earl