When a musical period is watered down into an “As Seen On TV” compilation, it’s usually a sign of its ultimate demise. Now that they’re pushing early ‘90s nostalgia comps during episodes of "Judge Joe Brown," it’s pretty fair to say we’ll never hear from Better Than Ezra, Harvey Danger or Marcy Playground ever again. But there’s something unique about a few of these modern rock flash in the pans – they actually make intelligent, powerful music. Toad The Wet Sprocket may be the best example of a ‘90s time capsule that needs to be dug up; their most accomplished albums, Fear (1991) and Dulcinea (1994), are sweet, wistful gems that gleam of studio polish, literary wisdom and spiritual introspection. This unique brand of radio-friendliness was most famously presented in the songs “All I Want” and “Walk On The Ocean.”
Welcome Home turns back the clock to 1992, documenting a show in the band’s hometown of Santa Barbara, just as Toad was starting to break into the mainstream. The concert is a strong reminder of the band’s considerable talents – it’s a set of 19 flawlessly executed songs, cherry-picked from Fear and a handful of earlier albums. The band skillfully replicates its studio tracks on stage, and while it’s impressive to hear, it doesn’t make the record much of a collector’s item. Picking up Fear and Dulcinea will always be the ideal introduction to this undervalued group, but Welcome Home’s worth it just for the encore: Fear’s closing track, “I Will Not Take These Things For Granted.” The song’s somber strumming and determined vocal conjures up memories of tender kisses and tumbles in autumn leaves. It’s an ironically touching closing statement from a band whose music should absolutely never be taken for granted.
Appeared in the January 27, 2005, issue of Artvoice.