The Medusa Fora

Posted: **Mon Feb 06, 2006 2:28 am**

glonn wrote:Thanks for all of the suggestions. I got Communication and Conviction. I listened all the way through the first time and it has been coming up on shuffle mode for that past couple of weeks. I don't know if I am qualified to make a complete review yet but here goes anyway.

For the most part I like the album. I appreciated the instrumentation and the intensity of the playing. The originals are good and I enjoy the selection of covers. Finnegan's Wake is fantastic. However, there was something that was bugging me about the Tossers. I figured it out a few days ago. Tony Duggins cannot sing. To me Duggins sounds like the guy from New Order. I always thought that he couldn't sing either but I was told that that was the appeal to some people. Whatever. To my ears whenever Becca Manth starts singing it is like a breath of fresh air which leads me to believe that Tony's voice is subtly grating.

The big caveat here is that Tossers are NOT the kind of band that has hooks and other tricks that makes their music easily digestable but ultimately a hollow experince. Rather, their sound is one that might take a while to get used to. When that time comes the listener will understand the depth of the tunes and they will endure. This is how I feel about a very obscure and defunct band called Rites of Spring who were a local DC favorite back in the mid-1980's. Their music was not melodic at all, it was noisy, chaotic, and unfamilliar. It was impossible for me to listen to for an extended lenght of time but after a few months I loved it and their music endures (to my ears) today.

I will keep on listening and will look forward to the day when my ears get used to Duggins voice. Thanks again for the suggestions.

You got to keep in mind that it was what the band sounded like at their very beginning. Listen to their following albums, you'll find that Tony sounds very different on those ones. He has a very energetic voice that can go from one extreme to another very easily. He's far better than on the CD you got.

Posted: **Mon Feb 06, 2006 2:43 am**

keep in mind everyone that the whole notion of what is singing (let alone good singing) and what is shouting or talking, is in the ear/mind of the beholder. I can think of some great "singers" who have grating voices. Strummer was one.
It will be interesting what Tony's new solo album sounds like. Accent or no accent? I think it is a put-on anyway, so he might just drop it. Personally I don't care either way, and look at the act as a vaudville-like act anyway.... and I don't mean anything negative by that. In fact, I think it takes more creativity and tallent.
I have a solo recording from a best of Chicago punk album called Larkin, by one A. Duggins that is a fucking great song, and done extremely well. Just him, playing an acoustic guitar, singing, and with a violin in the background.... singing the history of Irish resistence to England in the 20th century. Outstanding. UP THE REPUBLIC!

Posted: **Wed Feb 08, 2006 7:35 am**

on tony duggins' singing....

i've always liked it. annoying at times because of the fake accent, especially on the long dim road. some of those songs i just can't listen to because they're so annoying.

the vocals aren't as strong and developed on communication and conviction. it's much better on the newer ones. i just think he's a fantastic singer. i like how he does donegal danny, i listen to it every morning as i drive to school now and i just love the vocals.

i have mixed feelings on his solo album.

Posted: **Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:35 am**

I haven't heard the solo album. New, right? The fake accent thing is a little odd. I get passed it by thinking "vaudville." I would like to hear from an Irish person with an Irish accent the degree to which it is bad. As for singing ability, I like plenty of singers who can not/do not sing, and I do not like plenty of singers who sing.

Posted: **Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:34 pm**

Eric V wrote:II would like to hear from an Irish person with an Irish accent the degree to which it is bad. .

Over to you , IrishRover.

Posted: **Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:01 pm**

becca manthe doesn't sing on communication and conviction. it's lynn bower.

Posted: **Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:35 pm**

My ignorance is exposed. I checked out the current lineup on their web site and assumed that "the girl" was always the girl. Thanks for the edification.

Posted: **Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:39 pm**

So what happend to Becca? Did she run off with Elvis Costello too?

Posted: **Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:54 pm**

she is still with the band. she plays fiddle.

Posted: **Thu Feb 09, 2006 5:35 am**

mcswagger, i'll give you youknowwhat on youknowwhat since you've given me so much youknowwhat in the past and i haven't had the chance to return the favor.

Posted: **Thu Feb 09, 2006 8:12 am**

goodbar wrote:mcswagger, i'll give you youknowwhat on youknowwhat since you've given me so much youknowwhat in the past and i haven't had the chance to return the favor.

This must be one of those crazy word games! Lemme try!

Plank, Coca-cola, dust

Let's see how I did!

"mcswagger, i'll give you plank on Coca-Cola since you've given me so much dust in the past and i haven't had the chance to return the favor."

Huh. I seem to suck at this game unless that sentence is some kinda crazy teenage slang. Is "I'll give you plank" some kind of suggestive innuendo?

Oh. Wait. It's just a totally clever code trying to mask that this post should be responded with:

These fora may not be used to arrange the exchange of bootleg or illegal recordings. Please make these arrangements privately or on other fora. Thanks.

Posted: **Thu Feb 09, 2006 10:55 pm**

dzm, i'm shocked! i would never do such a thing!

Posted: **Fri Feb 10, 2006 4:21 pm**

Did somebody hear Tony Duggins solo album? Is it any good?

Concerning the accent, is it really that bad? I never heard a true irishman in my life, but I must admit that I quite like the accent Tony Duggins takes.

Posted: **Fri Feb 10, 2006 4:29 pm**

DzM wrote:
goodbar wrote:mcswagger, i'll give you youknowwhat on youknowwhat since you've given me so much youknowwhat in the past and i haven't had the chance to return the favor.
This must be one of those crazy word games! Lemme try!

Plank, Coca-cola, dust

Let's see how I did!

"mcswagger, i'll give you plank on Coca-Cola since you've given me so much dust in the past and i haven't had the chance to return the favor."

Huh. I seem to suck at this game unless that sentence is some kinda crazy teenage slang. Is "I'll give you plank" some kind of suggestive innuendo?

Oh. Wait. It's just a totally clever code trying to mask that this post should be responded with:

These fora may not be used to arrange the exchange of bootleg or illegal recordings. Please make these arrangements privately or on other fora. Thanks.

I like your style DzM :lol:

Posted: **Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:01 pm**

I bought T. Duggins solo record. It is really good, I love his voice and his kind of fake accent. Every Tossers fan should own this.

The Medusa Fora

Best Tossers Album?