The Charmer
Spaceflight, 2026
9/10
We all remember “Possum Kingdom”, the mid ‘90s hit from Toadies, and the guttural line ‘Do you wanna die’ at the end. The Texas rockers broke up for a few years in the early 2000’s, but have consistently released records and toured since. The Charmer, their 9th album, was one of the last records Steve Albini worked on, and it brings some classic rock nods into the fold.
“Ash’s Theme” starts with Clark Vogeler’s mesmerizing guitar before the rugged rhythm section enters the swirling climate, and “Come To Life” follows with acoustic guitar and Vaden Todd Lewis’ familiar voice that helps balance gentle versus gritty ideas.
Moving closer to the middle, “Long Time” builds into the grungy rock of the ‘90s, where Mark Reznicek’s fluid drumming won’t go unnoticed, while the scrappy “Damage” thumps with precision and rawness that invites singing-along.
“Gasoline Jane” and “In Bandages” exit the listen. The former chugs densely and benefits from Doni Blair’s skilled bass, and the latter leads intimately before powerful singing and alt-rock bursts enter.
You’ve got to hand it to Toadies. Decades after most of their peers have moved on, they’re making diverse and timeless alt, grunge and ‘90s rock. As always, Albini’s presence was a huge asset and he sure does illuminate the many strengths of the band.
Travels well with: The Smashing Pumpkins- Machina/The Machines Of God; A Perfect Circle- Mer De Noms