One year ago today…

On April 2, 2022, my son’s band Car Seat Headrest performed at the Anthem in Washington, DC. Will wasn’t feeling well, so he sat for a portion of a set he described as “more acoustic-y” than usual.

I recorded the ending of his song “Sober to Death,” which features Will singing lead and guitarist Ethan Ives singing the high harmonies.

The next day, Will tested positive for Covid-19, and the band had to suspend its tour.

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 – 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