Car Seat Headrest makes ‘Best of 2016’ lists

Car Seat Headrest

“Teens of Denial”

“Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales”

“Vincent”

Fill in the Blank

“Cosmic Hero”

“Destroyed by Hippie Powers”

“The Ballad of the Costa Concordia”

 

Car Seat Headrest in the News – Dec. 2016

“This is an instant indie-rock classic.”

–Allan Raible on ABC News, Dec. 30, 2016

“…one of the most critically acclaimed indie albums of the decade.”

CEG, December 27, 2016

“As a wordsmith and ideas man, Toledo is up there with a clutch of maverick geniuses…”

–Tony Hardy on BestNewBands.com, Dec. 24, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest’s Talking Heads Cover ‘This Must Be The Place’ Is The Best Cover You’ll Hear This Year”

–Caitlin White on Uproxxx, Dec. 22, 2016

“The Will Toledo-led band covers a lot of different tracks during their sets, and at their homecoming gig at The Neptune last month, they covered the Talking Heads’ Speaking In Tongues track ‘This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)’ with the help of their opening band.

–James Rettig on Stereogum, Dec. 22, 2016

“…there really is something jubilant about how Will Toledo takes that Pavement style of indie slop to such anthemic levels here.”

–Rob Sheffield in Rolling Stone, Dec. 21, 2016

Teens is a voice-cracking classic.”

–Abram Scharf on Creative Loafing (Tampa Bay), Dec. 21, 2016

“Through changes of pace and intelligent, introspective lyrics, Car Seat Headrest have created a work of raw depth and beauty.”

GIGsoup, Dec. 21, 2016

“The song simultaneously inspires feelings of dread and hope.”

–Darryl G. Wright re” “Fill in the Blank” on Spectrum Culture, Dec. 20, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest’s ‘Drunk Drivers /Killer Whales’ is an alt rock masterpiece and the linchpin of Teens of Denial, one of the year’s best albums.”

–Grant Ridnor on Spectrum Culture, Dec. 20, 2016

“These songs rock with a fuzzy-yet-clear intensity; they retain their DIY spirit, but the focus is sharper, as are the hooks, even when songs stretch past the seven-minute mark.”

–Steve Klinge in Magnet, Dec. 19, 2016

Teens of Denial takes the verbosity of artists like Jonathan Richman and Okkervil River’s Will Sheff and combines it with a classic rock-sized sound to create one of the most enthralling records of 2016.”

–Terence Praet in The Manuel, Dec. 19, 2016

Teens of Denial is a complex, smart, catchy record with some of the year’s best tracks on it.”

–Rich in The Revue, Dec. 19, 2016

“Utilizing the classic quiet-loud-quiet structure, ‘Cosmic Hero’ plays with emotions more than it has any right to.”

Dozens of Donuts, Dec. 19, 2016

–“‘Destroyed By Hippie Power’ rocked, revitalizing Indie Rock in one fell swoop.”

Dozens of Donuts, Dec. 19, 2016

“While the entirety of Teens Of Denial could be seen as a magnificent journey through an adolescents growing fears, ‘The Ballad Of The Costa Concordia’ organically put it in one paranoid package.”

Dozens of Donuts, Dec. 19, 2016

“…my favourite album and one to buy all your favourite people this Christmas is ‘Teens of Denial’ by my current favourite band Car Seat Headrest.”

The Only Indie Boy in Old York, Dec. 18, 2016

“…packed with great songs combining anthemic song hooks and shout-along choruses with smartly crafted lyrics of alienation, depression and survival.”

KEXP (Seattle) re: Teens of Denial, Dec. 16, 2016

“As Teens of Denial presents Car Seat Headrest (aka Will Toledo) in a full-band setting following a string of Bandcamp albums, it’s hardly the sound of bending to convention.”

–Hays Davis on Under the Radar, Dec. 16, 2016

“…Toledo applies his encyclopedic rock knowledge to writing indelible, engaging songs that manage to sound so big and yet feel so personal.”

–Steven Hyden on Uproxx, Dec. 15, 2016

“Rookie of the Year: Car Seat Headrest”

–Lior Phillips on Consequence of Sound, Dec. 15, 2016

“This first studio-recorded LP from the band, Teens of Denial is frustration, confusion and humor in one of its best rock interpretations.”

–Skye Leppo on The Key, Dec. 15, 2016

“When that crunching and cathartic ‘it doesn’t have to be like this’ refrain finally kicks in, it’s nearly as bracing as any face-slapping Nirvana chorus.”

Farce the Music, Dec. 15, 2016

“This is 23-year-old Will Toledo’s 13th album, a tale of 20-something lives and 90s influenced American indie rock par excellence.”

–Kernan Andrews in the Galway (Ireland) Advertiser, Dec. 15, 2016

“‘Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales’ was essentially indie rock’s anthem in 2016.”

–Eli Enis in The Alternative, Dec. 14, 2016

“Every generation gets the bookish, depressive indie-rock superstar it deserves, and you could scribble out the margins of every notebook inside a Staples with all the soul-scraping lines packed into Car Seat Headrest’s Teens of Denial.”

–Jeremy Gordon on Spin, Dec. 13, 2016

A feel-good album about people chemically incapable of feeling good, Teens of Denial reckons mental illness, alienation, and a blooper reel’s worth of false epiphanies without angst or coddling…”

–Mike Powell on Pitchfork, Dec. 13, 2016

“Teens Of Denial is that record I never got tired of.”

–Steven on 107.7 The End (Seattle), Dec. 13, 2016

Teens Of Denial is a massive statement, proof that the scruffiness of those old songs was more necessity than style.”

–A.G. on Uproxxx, Dec. 12, 2016

“…to paraphrase one of Toledo’s ancestors, a perfect sound is a perfect sound forever, and Denial found him honing it into his most cohesive, most endlessly replayable set yet.”

–Sean O’Neal on The A.V. Club, Dec. 12, 2016

“As a songwriter, Toledo captures what it’s like to be an awkward but thoughtful and intelligent man in his twenties in the modern era.”

–Bdog on The Gourmet Bachelor, Dec. 12, 2016

“…with Teens of Denial, Will Toledo has crafted a lofty, lyrically observant, melodic heavy and fun-as-hell album that does its predecessors well.”

Aquarium Drunkard, Dec. 12, 2016

“The chorus of the song…hits at the feeling of being an anxious millennial directly.”

–Corey Leung re: “Fill in the Blank” on Twin Sheep, Dec. 12, 2016

“Whether he’s lamenting his lost backpack or pondering that next glass of beer, Toledo makes the mundane sound brainy and cool.”

–Marcus J. Moore in Spin, Dec. 12, 2016

“His music is moving and even deeply affecting at times.”

–Joshua B. Hoe on On Pirate Satellite, Dec. 11, 2016

“Thank you, Car Seat Headrest, for delivering the best indie-rock album in years.”

–Jim Harrington in the (San Jose) Mercury News, Dec. 9, 2016

Teens of Denial collects a still more impressive dozen artful packed-with-ideas songs that never trip over their own ambition.”

–Dan DeLuca in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Dec. 9, 2016

“We followed everyone’s favorite new rock band Car Seat Headrest around SXSW 2016, just as they broke through.

–Chris Chafin in Brooklyn Magazine, Dec. 9, 2016

“They’re basically everything you ever wanted in a band, and will hit that spot for a music craving pretty much every time you have one.”

–Jackie Yeager in Bands in Town, Dec. 9, 2016

“Toledo’s vivid lyricism pumps Denial’s 70 minutes full of heart and humanity…”

–Eric Renner Brown in Entertainment Weekly, Dec. 8, 2016

“‘Vincent’ starts with 2½ minutes of gathering guitar Minimalism, adding a motor beat; then Will Toledo’s voice arrives, with bipolar confessions of self-doubt and excess, as the music just keeps building.”

–Jon Pareles in the New York Times, Dec. 7, 2016

“Toledo is one of those rare talents whose precision as a songwriter is matched by his gift for arrangement.”

–Andrea Domanick on noisey, Dec. 7, 2016

“…he managed to make a record that was as good as any rock record, maybe one of the best rock records of the century, and maybe one of the top 10 rock records ever made.”

–Bob Boilen on NPR, Dec. 6, 2016

“The record is a near-masterpiece, big and ambitious but still precise in every moment…and if he’s going to be the voice, or even a voice, of indie rock moving forward, I feel like we’re in good hands.”

–Nate Scott in USA Today, Dec. 6, 2016

“The complexity of the songwriting on Teens of Denial isn’t just a craftsman showing off; it’s the work of someone building something elaborate enough to hide inside.”

–J. Edward Keyes on Bandcamp, Dec. 6, 2016

“One of the best rising acts in rock.”

–Scott Russell re: Will Toledo in Paste Magazine, Dec. 6, 2016

“…someone who can express the torments and depressions of a generation with a twisted sense of humor and music that shambles as recklessly as life itself.”

Bitter Southerner re: Will Toledo, Dec. 6, 2016

“I admire a lot of music, but this is what I want from music.”

–Bob Boilen on NPR Music, Dec. 5, 2016

“If this doesn’t make you wanna crank the car stereo and go all Cannonball Run, you need new ears.”

–Matt Reilly re: “Vincent” on NPR Music, Dec. 5, 2016

“‘Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales’ says something about every year, every day, and every waking moment in our life, and that’s such a hard thing to do as a writer.”

–Michael Roffman on Consequence of Sound, Dec. 5, 2016

“…it simply and positively rocks.”

–Patrick Green on Crave, Dec. 5, 2016

“Car Seat’s entire set was pristine, and the band has clearly grown into their skin as live performers.”

–Dylan Sies on Northwest Music Scene, Dec. 4, 2016

“My good friend and roommate Julia always insists that the success of a first date can be determined by turning on the song ‘Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales’ in the car and seeing if they’re singing along by the end.”

–Adrienne Hohensee on KXSU (Seattle University), Dec. 2, 2016

Will Toledo’s review of Kanye West’s “The Life of Pablo”

Talkhouse, Dec. 2, 2016

“Toledo may posture as an underachiever, but with Teens Of Denial, he’s achieved something great, transcending his Bandcamp origins to create a work that rivals its lofty influences.”

–Peter Helman on Stereogum, Dec. 1, 2016

“Toledo’s open-book approach to personal struggles provides a scarred but triumphant human heart at the center of these 11 blazing epics, all of which find a radio friendly angle in the uncertainties of youth.”

–Jeff Terich in American Songwriter, Dec. 1, 2016

Car Seat Headrest in the News – Nov. 2016

“…the best rock album of the year.”

–Frank DiGiacomo re: “Teens of Denial” in Billboard, Nov. 30, 2016

“A bona fide arena-ready rock headbanger…”

–Rob Sheffield re: “Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales” in Rolling Stone, Nov. 30, 2016

“This is an album that makes you really fucking glad to be alive.”

–Mack Hayden on Paste, Nov. 30, 2016

“Rolling Stone names Loudoun County alum’s album fourth best of 2016”

–Trevor Baratko in the Loudoun Times-Mirror, Nov. 28, 2016

“Like Nirvana building quiet and explosiveness into the same space, Car Seat Headrest knows how to be intimate and epic at the same time.”

–Joe Levy in Rolling Stone’s “50 Best Albums of 2016,” Nov. 28, 2016

“The genre is in need of a standard bearer these days, and Toledo is more than up for the task.”

–Collin Brennan on Consequence of Sound, Nov. 28, 2016

“‘Teens Of Denial’ was a heady reboot of college Americana and one titanic trip.”

–Larry Bartleet in NME, Nov. 27, 2016

“…a staggeringly good, alluringly dense record of smart, melodic guitar rock that withstands comparisons to the label’s golden age.”

–Sean Nelson re: “Teens of Denial” on The Stranger, Nov. 23, 2016

“Of the 10 greatest anthemic lyrics of 2016, I swear to that rocker in the sky, Will Toledo wrote 11 of them. It’s all so smart and whimsical and funny and, damn, it’s a voice — a great big thundering voice of modern wit and angst.”

–Wayne Moriarty on The Province, Nov. 22, 2016

“If you like Teens Of Denial, do not miss Car Seat Headrest on this tour because everything off that album that they play sounds like a million bucks.”

–James Cobo on Blurred Culture, Nov. 22, 2016

“He kept it honest, allowing the crowd to soak in what he conveyed through contemplative lyrics and meandering guitars, his feet standing still but his music constantly in motion.”

–Madeline Wells re: Will Toledo in The Daily Californian, Nov. 21, 2016

“In the live setting, the band’s tunes are full of tension and release, upbeat and tightly executed, accompanied by Toledo’s oft spoken word style of singing.”

–Kyle B. Smith on LA Music Blog, Nov. 21, 2016

“Listen to Car Seat Headrest’s ‘Simlish’ Version of ‘Not What I Needed'”

–Kevin Lozano on Pitchfork, Nov. 21, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest delivers joyous performance at WOW Hall”

–Craig Wright and Sararosa Davies in the Daily Emerald (Eugene, OR), Nov. 20, 2016

“The most played album in the Recordstore office, it rocks when it needs to, is touching at points, full of witty turns of phrases and choruses that jam into your brain for days.”

recordstore.co.uk re: “Teens of Denial its Album of 2016, Nov. 18, 2016

“He illustrated that he is a musician’s musician, respectful of and honest with his craft.”

–Daniel Kielman on The Bay Bridged, Nov. 17, 2016

“This year’s San Diego Music Thing headliner, Car Seat Headrest, is a classic example of DIY. ”

–Matthew Burke on NBC7 (San Diego), Nov. 12, 2016

“Although he sports boyish glasses and has the reputation of a bedroom auteur, Toledo plays an absolutely raucous and entertaining live show.”

–Will Reisman in The Bay Bridged, Nov. 11, 2016

“It’s a Horatio Alger tale for the millennial era.”

–Tom Lanham in the San Francisco Examiner, Nov. 10, 2016

“The breakout indie rock band of the year—actually of the last few years…”

–L. Kent Wolgamott on Bohemian.com, Nov. 9, 2016

“…his first full album for [Matador Records] — this year’s Teens Of Denial — touched a public nerve with its image-laden quest for identity set to anthemic rock’n’roll and couched in innovative arrangements, changing his life irrevocably in the process.”

–Steve Bell on the music (Australia), Nov. 7, 2016

“Toledo and crew hit all the right notes in raging against modern ennui…”

–Doug Freeman in The Austin Chronicle, Nov. 6, 2016

“Garage rock as mood elevator, let’s call it.”

–Eric Webb on Austin360, Nov. 6, 2016

“It’s a brainy offering that’s packed with more angst than a stack of ‘Harry Potter’ books, and it doesn’t skimp on the rollicking riffs.”

–Nathan Poppe re: “Teens of Denial” in The Oklahoman, Nov. 4, 2016

“Will Toledo’s bedroom confessional becomes a rock brigade – with empathy!”

–Neph Basedow in The Austin Chronicle, Nov. 4, 2016

“What do Mitski, Angel Olsen, Bon Iver, and Car Seat Headrest all have in common? Aside from the fact that they’ve all released very strong indie rock albums in 2016…”

–David Sackllah on Consequence of Sound, Nov. 2, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest is the Poster Child for Bandcamp Fame”

–Taylor Gilliam in Phoenix New Times, Nov. 2, 2016

Car Seat Headrest in the news – Oct. 2016

“At the rate the band’s popularity is swelling, a night to catch it at the intimate venue may be a coveted check-mark some day.”

–Christy Fantz in the Longmont (CO) Times-Call, Oct. 28, 2016

“A Guide to All of Car Seat Headrest’s Pre-Fame Albums (All 11 of Them)”

–Steven Hyden in Uproxxx, Oct. 28, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest announces UK shows for 2017”

DIY Magazine, Oct. 17, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest livens up a sleepy afternoon”

–Heather Ah San in RIFF Magazine, Oct. 17, 2016

“While comparing oneself to Bowie might in most cases be seen as hubris, in Toledo’s case, it makes sense. When you’ve released what amounts to a ‘greatest hits’ album at the age of 23, you’re allowed to dream big.”

–Zack Ruskin in SF Weekly, Oct. 12, 2016

“Will Toledo’s (Car Seat Headrest) Favorite Lyrics of 2016 So Far Are…”

The Talkhouse, Oct. 7, 2016

Another mystery solved

In 1981, I recorded a Dixieland jazz piece that was playing on KLON in Long Beach, Calif. I didn’t hear the name of the song or the performers. But if I had to guess, I would have said it was from the ’20s or ’30s, recorded in New Orleans, and entitled ‘Fare Thee Well.'”

Wrong, wrong and wrong.

Thirty-five years later, after an internet search on some of the lyrics, I finally found it. I was directed first to a song called “Mama’s Gone, Goodbye,” recorded by Peggy Lee. Right song, but not the recording I was looking for.

I found many different versions of the song on YouTube, some of which dated to the mid-1920s, including one sung by Sippie Wallace and a recording from a piano roll made by the song’s composer.

The recording I was looking for turned out to be from a 1960s-era jazz revival band, Big Bill Bissonnette and the Easy Riders Jazz Band, with Victoria Spivey on vocals.  They were based in Connecticut, of all places, and the recording was made in Wallingford (hometown of my Yale ancestors) on August 9, 1964.

Here it is:

Car Seat Headrest in the News – Sept. 2016

“[Will Toledo’s] staring straight at success’s snarling face, as generations of artists have before him, and choosing to remain vulnerable for art’s sake.”

–Hannah Hron on The Current (Minneapolis Public Radio), Sept. 29, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest seized the Majestic with raw, emotional energy.”

–Matthew Norman in the Badger Herald, Sept. 29, 2016

“I was floored by the level of performative polish they brought when given their own full set at an actual theater.”

–Amileah Sutliff in the Daily Cardinal, Sept. 29, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest were in Minneapolis last night when Will Toledo broke out into a piano-driven rendition of ‘Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales,’ before the rest of the band joined in.”

–Josh Rosenberg on Spin, Sept. 29, 2016

“The up-and-coming singer-songwriter reaches nostalgic adults and upbeat teenagers alike with his anthemic songs.”

–Brian Koppelman’s “The Moment” podcast on Slate, Sept. 27, 2016

“The Seattle-based band’s ‘Teens of Denial’ may be the best indie rock album of the year”

–Cormier in USA Today, Sept. 25, 2016

“Will Toledo…has certainly started a conversation, and, based on the size and energy of the crowd at Mercy Lounge, he is succeeding in getting his message across.”

–Matt Hall on No Country, Sept. 23, 2016

“His grungy, yet unforgettable guitar riffs paired with his semi-sarcastic lyrics is what makes him one of the best singer-songwriters out in the music world today.”

–Cullen Lewis on CincyMusic.com, Sept. 23, 2016

“On the eve of his band’s sold-out show at Thalia Hall on Friday night, Toledo talked about his strange new life as a rock star in the making.”

–Allison Stewart in the Chicago Tribune, Sept. 22, 2016

CityBeat recently tracked down Toledo to discuss his move from bedroom craftsman to the maestro of a fully realized band.”

–Jason Gargano in CityBeat (Cincinnati), Sept. 21, 2016

“Band of the Week: Car Seat Headrest”

–Jeff Niesel in Cleveland Scene, Sept. 21, 2016

“Toledo’s lyrics, filled with relatable yet idiosyncratic metaphors for love and heartbreak, just beg to be sung in a sweaty crowd of people, and so they were.”

–Matt Bobkin on Exclaim!, Sept. 20, 2016

“It’s introspective, self-deprecating, and nothing like the trendy pop-centric rock of the past decade. The songs are personal, imaginative and intelligent.”

–David Safar re: “Teens of Denial” on The Current, Sept. 19, 2016

“While the groggy vocals and bittersweet lyrics depict a downtrodden saga, the musicality of the songs lift spirits and feed the soul.”

–Taylor Shellman re: “Teens of Denial” on The Human Writes, Sept. 19, 2016

“How Car Seat Headrest went from bedroom band to internet sensation”

–Kinza Shenn on Hero, Sept. 19, 2016

“What really illustrated the band’s rise was the amount of singing along the whole Bowery crowd was doing at Thursday’s show…to nearly every song…”

–Bill Pearis on Brooklyn Vegan, Sept. 16, 2016

“It’s hard to put a finger on why they are so darn appealing, but it’s something in the dynamic shifts of Toledo’s vocals from low rumbling to piercing power that just impales your soul. It doesn’t hurt that his songwriting is just as incredible.”

JamBase, Sept. 16, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest, in spite of the choice of musical subjects and themes, isn’t teenage music. Everyone feels the angst of humanity occasionally, or often. All adults were once teens, and teens are people too. His themes are ours.”

–Julia McAnly on Smile Politely, Sept. 14, 2016

“Instead of musing about what influenced his songwriting, we asked Toledo himself.”

–Cam Lindsay in NOW Toronto Magazine, Sept. 14, 2016

“…the first Matador release of new songs is full of narratives and themes unfolding throughout its songs; one of the year’s best albums.”

–Mike Gerry on Open Ears Music, Sept. 13, 2016

“…the 24-year-old Toledo is being praised as one of the best young songwriters in indie rock.”

–Hal Bienstock on AMNewYork, Sept. 13, 2016

“The [Atlanta] show was a potent distillation of the singular mix of introversion and aggression, vulnerability and empowerment, insouciance and precision that makes Car Seat Headrest one of the best rising acts in rock.”

–Scott Russell in Paste Magazine, Sept. 9, 2016

“Toledo’s unassuming nature as the front man of Car Seat Headrest is the stuff romantic indie notions are made of, and all adulation is totally deserved…”

–Sean McQ on LockelandSprintsteen.com, Sept. 9, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest is already going where indie rock is set to head in the near future. They break boundaries without trying at all, and put on a humble performance with no shortcuts.”

–Olivia Ladd in MTSU Sidelines, Sept. 8, 2016

“Indie rockers, Car Seat Headrest, played a cover of Frank Ocean’s Blonde cut, ‘Ivy,’ at their latest show in St Louis.”

Conversations About Her, Sept. 7, 2016

“At a recent in show in St. Louis, Car Seat Headrest performed a cover of Frank Ocean’s Blonde highlight ‘Ivy.’ ”

–Noah Yoo on Pitchfork, Sept. 6, 2016

“During a show at St. Louis’ Ready Room, Will Toledo aka Car Seat Headrest gave a raggedy, emotionally-unhinged rendition of ‘Ivy,’ one of Blonde’s most immediate tracks.”

DIY Magazine, Sept. 6, 2016

“…thanks to Indieheads Podcast, we can see what happens when one of 2016’s best artists covers another of 2016’s best artists. Toledo definitely transforms the song in his musical image…”

–Cameron Wade in Paste Magazine, Sept. 6, 2016

“The performance gave a rougher, rawer edge to Ocean’s satin smooth original: an injection of angst and pain into a song that is, after all, about falling out of love and growing old. The result is cathartic.”

–Gavin Butler on Pages Digital, Sept. 6, 2016

“Outside of Frank covers, the up-and-coming act are definitely worth a listen. Though they didn’t make it into my recap, they were one of the most entertaining sets at Made In America and their latest album is destined to get spins well beyond 2016.”

–Alex Galbraith on Uproxx, Sept. 6, 2016

“Hitting Ocean’s notes is no easy feat, but head Headrest Will Toledo isn’t one to shy away from covering big names…”

–Anna Gaca on Spin, Sept. 6, 2016

“Will Toledo of Car Seat Headrest covered [‘Ivy’] at St. Louis’ Ready Room last night totally solo, and though Ocean’s isn’t an easy voice to imitate, Toledo’s take is pretty good.”

–Gabriela Tully Claymore on Stereogum, Sept. 6, 2016

“With this summer’s ‘Teens of Denial,’ Will Toledo and friends take a tremendous artistic step forward, proving the dynamism of vulnerability and ultimately making a compelling case for 2016’s record of the year.”

–Adam Ramos in The Observer (Notre Dame/Saint Mary’s), Sept. 5, 2016

“The life experiences in Toledo’s songwriting are more than just songwriting. He’s referred to [his] albums as emotional weather patterns.”

–Brittain Thompson in The Local Voice (Oxford, MS), Sept. 3, 2016

“…a hell of a first impression, a testament to Toledo’s unlikely prowess and proof that DIY gumption can indeed accomplish more, accomplish something.”

–D. Patrick Rodgers in Nashville Scene, Sept. 1, 2016

“CSH falls into a genre of itself. Covering a wide range of genres and topics, fans must be ready to expect anything from him.”

–Livvy Cohen in The Charger Online, Sept. 1, 2016

Car Seat Headrest in the news – Aug. 2016

“…a 12-track shoegaze-tinged rock safari through typical early adulthood struggles, backdropped by a fertile jungle thick with thunderous, fuzzy guitars.”

–Beca Grimm re: Teens of Denial on Creative Loafing (Atlanta), August 31, 2016

“Toledo displays a rarely heard subtlety in a pristine sound setting that only brings to life these astute and well delivered songs.”

–Nick Triani in One Quart Magazine, August 29, 2016

“Just in the past couple of weeks, Car Seat Headrest — now a band rather than a one-man project — have been introduced onstage by Warren Buffett and made their late-night TV debut.”

–Tom Breihan on Stereogum, August 26, 2016

“Toledo may seem like another unassuming kid from Leesburg, Virginia, but there’s a bona fide rock star hiding behind those glasses, and he let the world see it during last night’s performance.”

–Collin Brennan on Consequence of Sound, August 26, 2016

“After fronting the project for six years, Toledo took over the Late Show With Stephen Colbert with a performance of the debbie-downer banger ‘Fill in the Blank,’ the opener from Teens of Denial.”

–Brian Josephs on Spin, August 26, 2016

“A dapper Will Toledo and his band made their network TV debut on last night’s Late Show, performing “Fill in the Blank,” the opener from their excellent record Teens of Denial.”

–Scott Russell on Paste, August 26, 2016

“Watch Car Seat Headrest perform ‘Fill in the Blank’ on ‘Colbert'”

–Noah Yoo on Pitchfork, August 26, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest perform ‘Fill in the Blank.'”

CBS.com, August 26, 2016

“Toledo has produced 13 albums of innovative, addictive tracks, some of which Rolling Stone described as ‘impressive’ and ‘yearning.'”

–Amy Atkins in Boise Weekly, August 24, 2016

“…phenomenally good new record…”

–Duncan Harrison re: “Teens of Denial” on Crack Magazine, August 24, 2016

“Leesburg-launched Car Seat Headrest and Sen. Kaine to appear on Colbert Thursday”

–Trevor Baratko in the Loudoun Times-Mirror, August 22, 2016

“Fresh off the success of their latest album Teens Of Denial, Car Seat Headrest have shared a new track from their work on the short film Loudini.”

Conversations About Her, August 21, 2016

“…one of the most overwhelmingly emotional, lyrically specific and physically powerful indie rock records ever made.”

–Marshall Gu re: “Teens of Denial” on Free City Sounds, August 20, 2016

“Like indie buzz bands Parquet Courts and Big Thief, Car Seat Headrest is tapping into guitar rock reminiscent of ’90s stalwarts such as Pavement and Guided by Voices.”

–Kevin Coffey on Omaha.com, August 20, 2016

“The music is unashamedly indie, funny, cynical and great.”

Every Record Tells a Story, August 19, 2016

“Will Toledo doesn’t seem to know how to phone things in.”

–Ben Kaye on Consequence of Sound, August 19, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest have contributed a new song called ‘Does It Feel Good (To Say Goodbye?)’ to a short film called Loudini that was made in conjunction with Ray-Ban.”

–James Rettig on Stereogum, August 19, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest’s awe-inspiring Teens of Denial is one of Paste’s foremost favorite albums of 2016 so far…”

–Scott Russell on Paste, August 19, 2016

“‘Teens of Denial’ is a raw, cathartic album full of complex, yet relatable themes. 10/10”

–Hannah Nowakowski on WSUM.org, August 18, 2016

“The breakout indie rock band of the year — actually of the last few years…”

–L. Kent Wolgamott in the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star, August 18, 2016

“Warren Buffet will introduce Car Seat Headrest at Omaha’s Maha Music Festival.”

–Michelle Geslani on Consequence of Sound, August 18, 2016

“Here is your song of the Summer 2016”

–Chris DeVille on Stereogum, August 17, 2016

“Warren Buffett to introduce Car Seat Headrest at Maha Music Fest”

–James Rettig on Stereogum, August 17, 2016

Teens of Denial comprised his first all-new material for Matador Records, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard US ‘Heatseekers’ chart and grabbing positive reviews across the board.”

–Andrew Stellman on Hear Nebraska, August 16, 2016

“Chuck Klosterman on How Rock Will Be Remembered in 2316”

Celebration Rock with Steven Hyden on audioboom.com, August 15, 2016

“… the best songwriter in contemporary music”

–Libby Webster re: Will Toledo in the Austin Chronicle, August 12, 2016

“How Car Seat Headrest Wrote His Fraught, Least-Favorite New Song, ‘Not What I Needed’”

–Dan Reilly on Vulture, August 11, 2016

“It’s a triumphant record that positions Car Seat Headrest as a musical force who are set to become a major part of the future soundscape of US rock.”

The MALESTROM re: “Teens of Denial,” August 10, 2016

“The clever and vulnerable songwriting of Toledo is brought to the forefront by his incredible vocal control…”

Holy Smokes, August 10, 2016

“The Car Seat Headrest album is destined for some year-end, top-ten action…”

–Jason Thomas on 93XRT, August 8, 2016

“This performance of ‘Fill In The Blank’ for The Current demonstrates that growth and nicely captures the band’s irrepressible drive.”

–Steven Spoerl on Heartbreaking Bravery, August 7, 2016

“Watch Car Seat Headrest perform at Pitchfork Music Festival 2016”

Pitchfork, August 4, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest are the latest indie rock act to earn the prestigious Smash Mouth cosign for their song ‘Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales.'”

–Peter Helman on Stereogum, August 1, 2016

Car Seat Headrest in the News – July 2016

Teens Of Denial is just the right combination of real angst and real musicianship…”

–Michael White on Pretty Neat Grooves, July 29, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest Announce Tour, Release Live EP”

–Matthew Strauss on pitchfork.com, July 25, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest announces U.S. fall tour”

–Michelle Geslani on Consequence of Sound, July 25, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest Covered David Bowie’s ‘Blackstar.’”

–Rachel Brodsky in Spin, 7/19/16

“The Seattle band behind one of the most acclaimed indie rock records of 2016 gets set for Capitol Hill Block Party.”

–Seth Sommerfeld in SeattleMet, 7/19/16

Will Toledo’s “sound takes elements from each — Lennon-McCartney’s studio experimentation, Brian Wilson’s lyrical introspection, Pete Townshend’s power-pop guitar riffs — and combines them into something wholly original.”

–Jacob Nierenberg in Seattle Times, July 18, 2016

“In town to play a sold-out show at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis, Car Seat Headrest…stopped by The Current’s studio for a session hosted by Mark Wheat.”

The Current (Minnesota Public Radio), July 18, 2016

“Toledo…remains a vulnerable lyricist, and on ‘Denial,’ he looks at inadequacy with inspired intelligence and compelling clarity.”

–Piet Levy in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 18, 2016

“Toledo encapsulates what it is like to be a young adult in the 21st century and the psychological distresses of the rather generalized ‘millennials.'”

–Hunter Holcomb on Hunterthinking, July 18, 2016

“What Toledo shares with The Replacements’ Paul Westerberg in particular is an almost-crippling self-awareness, which he ultimately overcomes with wit.”

–Nick Bollinger on RNZ (New Zealand), July 15, 2016

“…one of the best rock albums of the year.”

–Chris Riemenschneider re: “Teens of Denial” in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, July 14, 2016

“…where would we be without the Pixies? Weezer? Pavement? EELS? All of which seem to be alive and very present [in Car Seat Headrest] and packaged in a delightful, intricate and intriguingly ‘new’ way.”

Ravechild, July 14, 2016

“…this album is a modern indie-rock classic. Toledo is a voice that should be watched for greatness ahead, coming off like a lost descendant of both Ray Davies and Stephen Malkmus. ***** ”

–Allan Raible on ABC News, July 13, 2016

“…a great, unadulterated guitar sound on ‘Fill in the Blank.’ It’s crunchy and dry, almost British sounding.”

–Joe Bosso in Premier Guitar, July 12, 2016

“…a breakaway album that realized Toledo’s work in punchy, scrappy, full-band arrangements.”

–Jennifer Kelly re: “Teens of Style” in Pop Matters, July 12, 2016

Denial is a sprawling, ambitious 12-song album that finds Toledo and his bandmates fully embracing and embellishing its new full band status.”

–Joshua Miller on Shepherd Express, July 12, 2016

“How Car Seat Headrest Became Indie Rock Heroes”

–Matthew Perpetua on BuzzFeed, July 10, 2016

“4Knots Fest 2016 in Pics”

— Photos 94-110 by Amanda Hatfield for Brooklyn Vegan, July 10, 2016

“Favorite Albums of 2016: Mid-Year Report”

Farce the Music, July 7, 2016

“Toledo joins musicians like Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Conor Oberst, all with untraditional voices boosted by novelistic songwriting. The sheer amount of observations packed into these songs is astounding, made all the better by the fact that the music rocks.”

–Clarke Reader in The Lakewood Sentinel, July 6, 2016

“The crushing, anxiety-ridden lyrics of front-man Will Toledo also more striking than ever, leaving the crippling imperfections of his personality bare to witness on every aching track, bringing with them an incredible intimacy.”

–Joe Austin, on Toast, July 6, 2016

“Toledo’s deft wordsmithery takes this preoccupation with inner conflict and transforms it into sometimes weird, always compelling narrative.”

–Jeremy Burke in The Village Voice, July 5, 2016

“…epic singalongs and gloriously hook-heavy guitar songs.”

–James Belfield re: “Teens of Denial” on New Zealand Listener, July 4, 2016

“Lyrically Toledo is at his best. Besides Courtney Barnett he’s the best wordsmith in rock n roll right now.”

Wires & Waves re: “Teens of Denial,” July 3, 2016

“It’s the epiphany of adulthood’s anticlimax: a study, weighted equally by wit and poignancy (though never self-pity) of the free-fall between losing your innocence and reclaiming your self-respect, losing your faith and grasping for something, anything to replace it.”

–Andrea Domanick on Noisey, July 1, 2016

“24 hours spent in London spent with a songwriter paying the price for what might be the year’s best indie rock LP.”

–Alex Wisgard in the cover story of Loud and Quiet, July 1, 2016

Car Seat Headrest in the news – June 2016

“Toledo and his band are incredibly talented and, if there is any justice in the world, this will be the album that brings Car Seat Headrest to a much wider audience.”

–Rose on Everything Flows, June 30, 2016

“Many legendary songwriters took years to hone their craft (Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder), but at the ripe age of 23, Toledo has skipped the pruning process and jumped right in with two high-energy, infectious albums in under 12 months, both featuring insight and maturity far exceeding his age.”

Android50 in “The Top 20 Albums of 2016 (So Far)” on Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs, June 29, 2016

“A sad, brilliant journey, lyrically and musically.”

–Bob Boilen re: “Vincent” in “NPR Music’s 100 Favorite Songs of 2016 (So Far),” June 28, 2016 

“Albums are rarely this ambitious or executed this brilliantly.”

–Robin Hilton re: “Teens of Denial” in NPR Music’s 30 Favorite Albums of 2016 (S0 Far), June 27, 2016 

“Toledo responds with the warmest, brightest batch of songs of his career, precocious still…but finally angling toward a renown all his own.”

–Craig Jenkins in “The Best Albums of 2016 (So Far) on Vulture, June 27, 2016

“If you’re unfamiliar with Car Seat Headrest, you’d best get cracking…”

NME, June 25, 2016

“It is surging, fist-raising music, but its lyrical concerns are precise, introspective, and often near-political in criticizing how society treats the congenitally sad.”

–Spencer Kornhaber in The Atlantic, June 24, 2016

“…behind the thick-rimmed glasses lies a monstrously gifted, prolific (10 albums at 23?) musician – who backs his mystique up with a visceral, energetic performance.”

–Luke Forshaw on subba-clutcha, June 24, 2016

“I think CSH are like my Bright Eyes to some of the young lads in the room, a band [that feels] like yours, when you learn all the lyrics and find meaning in them that you can relate to, and those types of bands are so important.”

–Rich Walker on Silent Radio, June 24, 2016

“They may look like they’ve just stumbled out of a uni dorm into the big bad world for the first time, but watch out for these mis-matched, unassuming group of guys – they put on a core rattling performance and they’re gonna be huge.”

–Rhiannon Topham on Takes My Fancy, June 23, 2016

“Songs like Fill in the Blank, Destroyed By Hippie Powers and Something Soon weave from compulsive pop choruses to wail-along crescendos, dripping lyrics of wisdom and experience far beyond his Leonard Hofstadter demeanour.”

–Mark Beaumont’s concert review in The Guardian, June 22, 2016

“The May 2016 release of Teens of Denial marked something of a coming-of-age and the billing of Car Seat Headrest on the [Glastonbury Festival] Park Stage seems like a marriage made in a lo-fi heaven.”

–Tony Hardy on bestnewbands.com June 21, 2016

“…complete spiritual defeat has never sounded more thrilling than the way Toledo screams ‘I give up’ over conquer-the-world guitar swells that indie rock has thankfully started to remember how to do again.”

–Michael Tedder re: “The Ballad of the Costa Concordia” in Brooklyn Magazine, June 21, 2016

Teens of Denial is symbolic of the next step in Car Seat Headrest’s journey: from a cult-internet phenomenon to world renowned rock sensations.”

–Luke Pillar and Alex Miller on 1883 Magazine, June 21, 2016

“Toledo captures, with equal parts wit and poignancy, the freefall between losing your innocence and reclaiming your self-respect.”

–Andrea Domanick on Noisey Music, June 21, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest is indie rock as it should be, full of acute and witty observation but also able to provide emotional release.”

–Lou Ormesher on Brighton’s Finest, June 20, 2016

“Like Courtney Barrett, he comes off as a rock-loving child of alt-rock’s skepticism, working backwards towards something to believe in.”

Rolling Stone, June 20, 2016

“‘Teens of Denial’ is the record of the year.”

–Will Arnett on twitter, June 20, 2016

“Critically acclaimed and touring a new album, CSH are perfect for anyone looking for the next big thing.”

–Tom Bull in Brighton Journal, June 20, 2016

“Progressive metal from Car Seat Headrest’s album “Monomania”

–Dave re: “Misheard Lyrics,” featuring Nora Knight, on Oneironaught, June 18, 2016

“As soon as I saw ‘Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales’ on Car Seat Headrest’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert, I knew it’d be one of my favorites of 2016. Who knew they’d make 11 more just as captivating?”

–Riley in “Our Top 25 Albums So Far This Year,” The Alternative, June 16, 2016

Teens of Denial” manages to be a little of everything; raw but polished, heavy but clear, fun but honest.”

–Nathan Kowalski on cinemaspartan.com, “Five Albums for June,” June 16, 2016

“The momentous Teens Of Denial feels like a coming-out party for slacker music’s latest poet laureate.”

–Chris in Stereogum‘s “50 Best Albums of 2016 So Far,” June 15, 2016

“It’s a chorus that will be stuck inside your head all summer.”

–Adam Strong re: “Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales” in “Songs of the Week #46” on Nailed, June 15, 2016

Teens Of Denial, Car Seat Headrest’s twelfth album — or sixteenth, if you count his little-heard Nervous Young Men material — is a 70-minute indie rock odyssey chronicling a young person’s emotional tribulations through epic, life-affirming anthems.”

–Jeff Rerich in American Songwriter, June 15, 2016

“Toledo’s songs are sharp and complex, self-loathing without being self-pitying.”

–J. Edward Keyes on Bandcamp‘s “Best Albums of 2016 So Far,” June 13, 2016

“GG’s favorite album of 2016 thus far…”

For the Record podcast #44, June 12, 2016

“It’s like skipping through an indie rocker’s iPod, but with bizarre clarity.”

–Matt Miller in Esquire, June 10, 2016

“This is a really solid album from start to finish.”

–Mitto on First Listen, June 10, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest’s newest record is what all good indie rock should aspire to be.”

–Grant Rindner on Pretty Much Amazing, June 10, 2016

“True to the legacy of the loquacious rock troubadours who came before him — Dylan, Young, Malkmus — Will Toledo draws inspiration from a youthful disregard for authority.”

–Stacey Anderson in Interview Magazine, June 9, 2016

Will Toledo’s “It’s Better Live” playlist

Q Magazine, June 9, 2016

“…an unqualified gem.”

–Loring Wirbel re: “Teens of Denial,” in Colorado Springs Independent, June 8, 2016

Teens of Denial…is totally the most badass piece of music released so far this year.”

–Ian Anderson and Atticus Swartwood on Atypical Sounds, June 7, 2016

“Will Toledo battles his angst and bear hugs the world. The result: a perfect underdog anthem.”

Rolling Stone re: “Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales,” June 6, 2016

“I’m happy to predict that for years to come, we’ll still be talking about Beyoncé’s Lemonade and Car Seat Headrest’s Teens of Denial. Pick of the week.”

–Matthew Parsons on Overthink Anything, June 5, 2016

“The sprawl of the song, the multiple parts shifting and weaving into one another, represents something often amiss in indie rock – ambition. The pointed lyrics also get to the heart of what it feels like to transition from adolescence to adulthood.”

–Corbin Reiff re: “Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales” in “Top 25 Songs of 2016 So Far” on Consequence of Sound, June 3, 2016

“The honesty here is ridiculously refreshing.”

–Kalyn Oyer re: “Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales” on mxdwn.com, June 3, 2016

“The continuation of Toledo’s lo-fi sound benefits the song, giving the character within a real bite, as well as being rough around the edges.”

–Laurence Morgan re: “Fill in the Blank” in RAWS Magazine, June 3, 2016

Photos from Car Seat Headrest’s show at Paloma – Club, in Nimes, France

–Robert GIL in Photosconcerts, June 3, 2016

“Toledo balance-beams between self indulgence and depressive confession beautifully, and brings it together to do one of the most difficult, yet human, things one can do: ask for help.”

–Kevin McClary re: “Something Soon” on Sound Signifiers, June 2, 2016

“This album can make you feel 100 different ways. It took only a few listens for me to feel them all at once.”

–Robert Mays in “What’s the Best Thing That Has Happened in 2016” on The Ringer, June 1, 2016

“Last week at the Manhattan headquarters of Matador Records, employees chucked thousands of brand-new copies of an acclaimed album into a garbage truck, which crushed the CDs and vinyl records and carted them away.”

–John Jurgensen in Wall Street Journal, June 1, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest’s ‘Teens of Denial’ is Anthemic Indie Rock at Its Best.”

–Ross Finney in Atwood Magazine, June 1, 2016

Car Seat Headrest in the news – May 2016

“This is an incredibly forward-thinking record that redefines the expectations for Car Seat Headrest on Matador records. I have a sneaking suspicion that this may end up as one of my albums of the year.”

–Matt McCrory on Redbrick, May 31, 2016

“The humour is what elevated it…putting Toledo on the map as a great songwriter who can keep a listener gripped and waiting for his next line.

The Funnel Blog re: “Teens of Denial,” May 31, 2016

“Toledo is quickly earning the reputation of a leading rock songwriter. ”

–Craig Wright in the (Univ. of Oregon) Daily Emerald, May 31, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest’s Teens of Denial is not just the rock album of the year, but may be the emergence of a new musical genius.”

–Dave Faulkner in The Saturday Paper, May 28, 2016

“Ric Ocasek’s loss is your gain…Guess he didn’t want to be linked to one of the year’s coolest indie-rock outings — assuming  you dig absurdly magnificent slacker-grunge that sounds like Pavement jamming with Beck (and sometimes Nirvana).”

–Darryl Sterdan in Toronto Sun, May 27, 2016

“He’s a concise, cutting writer whose wise, economical words and parenthetical thoughts give his crunching guitars, lo-fi synth skronk and laudable melodicism the textual, abstract feel of Michael Stipe meeting playwright Eugene O’Neill.”

–A.D. Amoros on Magnet, May 27, 2016

“Toledo is equally competent in writing savory melodies and uber-palatable instrumental sections as he is at penning incredibly witty narratives.”

–Eli in The Alternative, May 27, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest rocked the Underground Arts May 22. They knocked it out of the park with their ‘first’ real studio album on Matador, ‘Teens of Denial.'”

–Shane O’Connor on The Triangle, May 27, 2016

“Teens Of Denial is American indie rock par excellence and a serious contender for album of the year.”

–Kernan Andrews in Galway Advertiser, May 26, 2016

“It’s the type of thing that only a sample could accomplish, and though it may only be found in landfills…it’s a track that was evocative, engaging, and totally effective. That’s a hard thing to put a price on.”

–David Anthony re: “Just What I Needed / Not Just What I Needed” on A.V. Club, May 26, 2016

“There are many reasons why the music of Car Seat Headrest has connected with so many people but perhaps the main one is Will’s relatable lyricism.”

–Martyn Young in Upset Magazine, May 26, 2016

“…a rare thing, a 21st-century Great Rock Record – the formal studio debut of a self-recording wunderkind whose substantial Soundcloud oeuvre, anthologized on last year’s companion piece, Teens of Style, flagged a talent to be reckoned with.”

–Will Hermes in Rolling Stone, May 25, 2016

“We’d be shocked to see him fade into obscurity. It’s always a good sign when your latest record sounds like your best work, and when your influences reach decades into the past, you’ve got a better shot avoiding fleeting fads.”

–Matthew Ismael Ruiz on Flavorwire, May 25, 2016

“Will Toledo of Car Seat Headrest makes lo-fi rock that is brutally honest and touches on mental health and sexuality.”

–Harriet Gibsone in The Guardian, May 25, 2016

“Aside from simply being well-crafted and beautiful, it’s universally introspective and razor sharp. It’s laser-focused in the right places and it’s loose and rough around the edges exactly where it needs to be. If the rock stylings aren’t your taste, the masterful songwriting will be.”

–Spencer Tuckerman on From Loveland, May 25, 2016

“It gave Toledo his first experience of putting tracks together with a full band, and this feeds into every aspect of his monstrously impressive latest ‘Teens Of Denial.’”

–Alex Flood on NME, May 25, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest Sucks at Poker and Actually Likes Kanye’s TLOP Rollout”

–Quinn Moreland on Pitchfork, May 25, 2016

“Here’s what we captured at their show on Monday night at Black Cat with Naked Days.”

DC Music Download, May 25, 2016
“Be in no doubt, ‘Teens of Denial’ is an engrossing journey into a supremely intriguing musical mind.”

–Tom Hancock in DIY Magazine, May 24, 2016

“…one of the freshest indie rock groups in the world.”
–Marcus J. Moore in The Washington Post, May 24, 2016

“This album is a slow grower, revealing its charm slowly over extended listening, [preferably] augmented with headphones and lights out.”

–Shawn Skager in Northwest Music Scene, May 24, 2016

“There’s a giddy enjoyment to be derived from observing Car Seat Headrest as massive potential begins to be realized.”

–Seán Ryan on State, May 24, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest has generated a ton of media attention with interviews and profile pieces from Billboard, Spin, Vice, Interview Magazine, MTV and even USA Today.”

–James Kim on The Frame, May 24, 2016

“It’s a ride, this. From the off, it’s a blistering and fuzzed-out, punked-up, Seattle-flavoured driving stomp. Gloriously bare boned, stripped back and keen, it’s compelling and urgent in all the right places, with Will Toledo’s melodic rant dragging you through his artistic conundrum. As with all the best anthemic, powered-up pop, best heard loud. Many times.”

Getintothis, May 24, 2016

“Witty, compelling conflicted-inner-monologue lyrics coupled with killer hooks and skill-flexing arrangements result in what will likely transpire to be the best indie rock album of the year.”

–James Jennings in Rolling Stone, May 23, 2016

“Through changes of pace and intelligent, introspective lyrics, Car Seat Headrest have created a work of raw depth and beauty.”

–Jessica Otterwell in GIGsoup, May 23, 2016

“Toledo and company continue to excite by creating the conversation with their audience: a conversation of desperation, a conversation of loneliness, but also a conversation of hope.”

–Tyler Asay in The Key, May 23, 2016

“[Teens of Denial] follows up the well-received Teens Of Style from last year, and is already one of 2016’s most exciting prospects.”

–Ollie Rankine on The Student Playlist, May 23, 2016

“…the band who’s making you rigorously question and thoughtfully revise your definition of indie rock…”

–Dan Smart on Tiny Mix Tapes, May 23, 2016

“Toledo and the band may not be going to heaven, but they sure as hell brought us there.”

–Tyler Asay’s review of Car Seat Headrest concert at Underground Arts in Philadelphia in The Key, May 23, 2016

“Their infectious energy comes through in everything from their music, their dance moves, and their humor in between songs…”

–Chelsea Pineda on chelseapineda.com, May 23, 2016

“I think it’s just what we needed.”

–Jeff Terich on Treblezine, May 22, 2016

“‘Vincent’ shows he’s still a studio tweaker, a good thing.”

–Jon Pareles in New York Times, May 21, 2016

“If Teens of Denial stands as a sign of the times, things have turned out all right for us fans.”

–Nathan Mattise on Ars Technica, May 21, 2016

“We may be in the presence of the next big indie rock titan that could breathe some needed fresh air into the genre.”

–Jack G. on Sputnik Music, May 21, 2016

“Featuring a whir of buzzy guitars, choirboy harmonies and voluminous, soul-bearing lyrics tossed off with a slack, oft-ironic bent, Car Seat Headrest’s music calls to mind ‘90s indie legends like Guided By Voices and Pavement.”

–Dan Hyman in Playboy, May 20, 2016

“The aesthetic he’s curated — hyper-real lyrics, combined with instrumentals that split the difference between Weezer and Modest Mouse’s ’90s records — stands apart from any work he’s done previously.”

–Eric Renner Brown in Entertainment Weekly, May 20, 2016

“On Car Seat Headrest’s first proper new album for Matador, frontman Will Toledo reaffirms that he is ahead of the pack as an imaginative singer-songwriter, capable of crafting dynamic indie rock.”

–Jeremy Gordon on Pitchfork, May 20, 2016

“If Toledo didn’t want people to get excited about Teens of Denial, then he shouldn’t have made such a dynamic, smart, tuneful album.”

–Michael Tedder on Bandcamp Blog, May 20, 2016

“Will Toledo emerges as an aficionado of independent rock music on Teens of Denial, managing to sound like the heroes of the past while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of the genre.”

–AJ Moser on Fitted Living, May 20, 2016

“Toledo is young…but we can all agree on one thing: he’ll soon be big enough that finding his way to the stage will be hardly a problem at all.”

–Joseph Bloss in The Key, May 20, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest’s excellent Teens of Denial is out now, at least digitally…”

–Alex Wexelman in Brooklyn Vegan, May 20, 2016

“…one for the ages.”

–Graeme Campbell re: “Teens of Denial” on The 405, May 20, 2016

“Will Toledo, the brains and voice behind the operation, has a clear and precise ear for hooky riffs, and interesting sounds.”

–Corbin Reiff on Albums of the Day, May 2016

“Will Toledo’s latest is enigmatic, a little deceptive in places, and thoroughly gripping throughout.”

–Tom Hancock in DIY Magazine, May 19, 2016

“Win! The scrapped discs probably paid for themselves in terms of publicity.”

–Jeffrey Rabhan and Jem Aswad in Billboard, May 19, 2016

“Here’s the beautiful thing, Toledo did what songwriters at the peak of their creative powers do. He wrote another song. In a couple of days. It’s at least as good as the first one. I wonder when was the last time Ric Ocasek could do that?”

–Jennifer Kelly in Dusted Magazine, May 19, 2016

“We think this one will be one of 2016’s standout releases for its spontaneous narrative style, DIY attitude and innovative approach.”

the music (Australia), May 19, 2016

“This record is a win for rock in my book and I can only predict that this is a true beginning for Car Seat Headrest’s next stage that hopefully will produce more exciting music in years to come. You should get onboard now!”

–Christopher Anthony on The Fire Note, May 19, 2016

“This terrifically catchy, unfailingly intelligent album of new songs…”

–Dan DeLuca on Philly.com, May 18, 2016

“Guitar rock rules the album’s exceptional opening half, hitting its apex with the ingenious, duelling hooks of ‘Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales.'”

–Matt Bobkin in Exclaim! May 18, 2016

“Toledo and company have fully arrived, anointed, it seems, as the inheritors of a considerable array of rock’n’roll mythologies.”

–K. Ross Hoffman in The Key, May 18, 2016

Teens Of Denial…is everything great about indie rock collected into one album.”

–Tom Breihan on Stereogum, May 17, 2016

“[The songs] often feel as though they’re coming through deliberately cracked speakers, with Toledo’s weary, sing/speak vocals buzzing through brilliantly cobbled-together garage rock melodies.”

–Mike Hilleary in Flood, May 16, 2016

“…a killer rock album…”

–Juan Edgardo Rodriguez on No Ripcord, May 16, 2016

“The result is a smart, sharp and incredibly dynamic set of songs; a fiery bout of rock and roll that should very well soundtrack each and every road trip the summer sends your way.”

–Tom Johnson on Goldflakepaint, May 2016

“On this week’s Alt In Our Stars, Toledo took us into the mindset of a musician making the big jump.”

–Chris Payne in Billboard, May 13, 2016

“Toledo is maintaining a positive outlook on the situation…”

–Scott Russell in Paste Magazine, May 13, 2016

Teens of Denial delayed as Will Toledo re-records ‘Just What I Wanted/Not Just What I Needed'”

–Jeremy Gordon on Pitchfork, May 12, 2016

“Will Toledo’s upcoming Teens of Denial is going to make some serious waves. The dude is a prolific genius and he’s only 23.”

–Colin St. John in “11 Bands Who Might Be the Next Radiohead” on inverse.com, May 12, 2016

“Car Seat Headrest Is Gloriously Morose In ‘Teens of Denial'”

–Ken Tucker on NPR, May 11, 2016

“Toledo speaks for and to the disaffected ones shuffling along between adolescence and adulthood, kicking about the neighborhood to avoid home life and hiding out in their basements and garages when they can’t.”

–Charles Steinberg on Under the Radar, May 6, 2016

“Out of all of the acts at that three-day cluster-fuck of college radio showcases, Car Seat Headrest played with the most energy, the most eagerness and the least sense of entitlement.”

–Justin Joffe in Observer, May 6, 2016

“Strap yourself in. This could be the album of the year.”

–Kim Gillespie in Bay of Plenty Times (New Zealand), May 5, 2016