Toadies announce a brand new studio album The Charmer, out May 1 on Spaceflight Records. It was done with Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago and is among the few projects recorded with him before his unfortunate passing that have not yet been released.
Recording with Albini is something the band wanted to do for a very long time explains bassist Doni Blair: “Working with Steve was, quite literally, a dream come true. It was the best recording session I’ve had in 35 years of making albums.” Frontman Vaden Lewis adds: “This album has been a long time in the works, and it’s such a joy to see it come together, we went back to basics for this session: all analogue, live takes, high energy.” Drummer Mark Reznicek adds: “I’ve been a fan of Steve Albini’s since I first heard the albums he recorded with the Pixies and PJ Harvey, so being able to record with him is really a dream come true. In fact, when we first signed with a major label, they asked us who we would like to work with and we all said “Albini!” Well, for whatever reason, the label didn’t go for it. And now 30 years later, it finally happened!” Albini’s technique of capturing bands raw and live was the perfect match the for band’s energy resulting in the classic Toadies sound, Lewis says: “No computers were used for tracking or mixing, just old school tape and razor blade.”
Made on their own terms, fulfilling a long-held dream of recording with Albini and released through a label that puts artists first, The Charmer is the most defiantly “Toadies” Toadies album yet.