Words, music, images and more from Jim Barnes
The cost of bringing Loudoun County’s computerized financial management systems into the 21st century continues to mount.
The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously June 23 to reassign the trouble-plagued project from AST, the company that had been contracted to do the upgrade, to Oracle America. The board also pumped almost $4.8 million into the project, pushing the total cost above $46 million — nearly twice the initial budget of $25 million.
Washington Post, 7/3/16
“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.”
“…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
When Sandra Kovacs Stein noticed that ravens were building a nest on the Purcellville water tower near her home, she began taking pictures of them.
Karen Schaufeld would watch eagles carry fish and other small creatures back to their nest on her property near Leesburg.
Cheryl Somers Aubin was moved by a newspaper story about a Callery pear tree that somehow survived the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and was buried under the rubble of New York’s twin towers.
During a celebration of local authors and food sources at the Cascades Library in Potomac Falls on June 18, the three women told of how the majesty and mystery of nature inspired them to write their books for children. They were among more than two dozen writers who participated in the first “Eat Local, Read Local” event, which helped kick off the library system’s summer reading program.
Washington Post, June 26, 2016
With the help of some local high school students, Leesburg artist Kevin Dunn is adding a splash of color to one of the drab gray walls of Leesburg’s downtown parking garage.
Last weekend, several art students from Tuscarora and Heritage high schools joined Dunn in painting a bicycle-themed mural he designed to serve as a backdrop to some bike racks inside the garage. Dunn and other proponents of bringing art to public places hope the project will revive interest in creating a larger mural on an exterior wall of the garage.
Washington Post, June 19, 2016
During downtown Leesburg’s First Friday event this month, scores of people got a glimpse of a war being quietly waged every day in the Loudoun County Circuit Court archives: the battle against the ravages of time, including mold, bookworms, rust and acid-laden cellophane tape.
About 160 people stepped through the doors of Leesburg’s 122-year-old courthouse — away from the sounds of al fresco diners and street musicians — to learn how the county’s historic records are being preserved and restored.
Washington Post, June 12, 2016
Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) became chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors in January. She previously had a 26-year career as a mental health therapist, mostly in Prince William County, where she provided substance abuse services for offenders.
The Washington Post recently met with Randall, 51, to discuss her first five months in office and her goals for the rest of her term. The following are edited excerpts from that conversation.
“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…”
“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.”
“‘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
“…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
After Ron Sipes had a pair of strokes in October 2012, doctors predicted he would never walk or talk again.
But Sipes has defied the odds. On May 18, in a voice clear and strong, he sang out the opening lines of a song made popular by Louis Armstrong…
The Washington Post, May 29, 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.”
“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
“The lyrics are intimate but the music can get loud — some songs recall early demos from The Strokes.”
–Nate Scott on USA Today FTW! April 29, 2016
“You’re welcome, indie rock fans: Meet your next favorite album, Car Seat Headrest’s ‘Teens of Denial'”
–Scott Timberg in Salon, April 19, 2016
“Rarely does teen angst sound so fun.”
–NPR’s World Cafe Next, April 18, 2016
“Car Seat Headrest perfectly embodies Seattle’s music ethos – it’s three young dudes making banging, garagey arty rock, beautifully unpolished and sublimely honest, the exact sort of rawness that drove grunge from our basements to the rest of the world.”
–Scott Kulicke on KEXP blog, April 17, 2016
“From what we have heard of the new material so far it seems like Car Seat Headrest is set to take off.”
–Christopher Anthony on The Fire Note, April 15, 2016
“Rousing choruses, cut-to-the-heart lyricism, superfluous alter-egos — Teens of Denial pretty much nails every single ingredient that goes into a great rock record.”
–Collin Brennan on Consequence of Sound, April 14, 2016
“The 23-year-old Leesburg-born musician…is being hailed as one of the best young songwriters around; Rolling Stone compared him to both Brian Wilson and Guided By Voices-frontman Robert Pollard, and Consequence of Sound recently spent close to 1,700 words explaining why Toledo is the ‘indie rock hero we’ve been waiting for.'”
–Dean Essner in Washingtonian, April 14, 2016
“You might not believe in yourself by the end of ‘Fill in the Blank,’ but you will certainly believe in Car Seat Headrest.”
–Quinn Moreland on Pitchfork, April 12, 2016
“The album is a brainy adrenaline rush from the beginning, and the beginning is out in the world as of today.”
–Chris DeVille on Stereogum, April 11, 2016
“Guitars dance around the track like a fighter in the ring, stepping with surprising lightness around the crunchy rhythms.”
–Ben Kaye in Consequence of Sound, April 11, 2016
“Featuring album artwork of written-out lyrics, ‘Fill in the Blank’ has Toledo sounding frustrated with factors outside of his control, which only makes him more upset with himself.”
–Rachel Brodsky in Spin, April 11, 2016
“He was trying to figure out how much the general public was willing to accept as far as the complexities of a pop song.”
–Will Toledo discussing Brian Wilson’s “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” on Pitchfork, April 11, 2016
“The smart, somewhat off-kilter indie-rock of Car Seat Headrest…seemed a perfect fit for a night at a museum.”
–Kevin Bronson on buzzbands.la, April 3, 2016
“Fans of Beatles-esque 60s songwriting, 80s jangle pop, and 90s grunge will find him a welcome long term addition to their classic collection.”
–Cal Trefor on Gigwise, April 3, 2016
“His band puts on a great show [without] necessarily performing – but their set builds from a slow start to a frenetic, heavily rock climax. It’s emotional and transporting to watch.”
–Chris Chafin in Brooklyn, April 1, 2016
“The band dialed the noise up to 11 one last time…leaving this guy with a slight buzzing in his ear and a newfound respect for the straight-up rawking capabilities of Will Toledo.”
–Will Reisman on The Bay Bridged (San Francisco), April 1, 2016
“Two artists, separated in age by more than 40 years but with the same passion and drive to create, despite any obstacles. Music lives. Music thrives. Its only limitation is our ability to take it all in.”
–Jim Lenahan, re: Charles Bradley and Will Toledo performing at South by Southwest in USA Today, March 27, 2016
“You may have gathered that we’re excited about Car Seat Headrest’s upcoming album, Teens of Denial.”
–Jackson Sinnenberg on NPR‘s “All Songs TV,” March 24, 2016
“Now with a record deal, a full band, and a new album on the way, Toledo could soon find himself inspiring younger musicians.”
–Rachel Brodsky in Spin, March 24, 2016
“Not a good pop song. Damn fine rock song though. Damn. Fine.”
–Matthew Hickey, re: “Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales” on Turntable Kitchen, March 24, 2016
“Will Toledo…is a homemade songwriting wiz with a sound that reaches back to ‘90s acts like Pavement and Beck, but which, he explained after the show, really pulls from those bands’ predecessors, specifically The Beatles, The Who and Pink Floyd.”
–Dan DeLuca on philly.com (Philadelphia Inquirer), March 18, 2016
“Every element of the singer-songwriter’s agility shone through at his Under the Radar showcase, where he teased alt-pop tastes of his forthcoming Teens of Denial and let out a few self-deprecating comments.”
–Rachel Brodsky in Spin, March 17, 2016
“[The Flaked soundtrack] has even more indie cred thanks to the cuts it uses from Warpaint, EL VY, Car Seat Headrest and Kurt Vile – among many others.”
–Larry Bartleet on NME, March 10, 2016
“When respected Indie label…Matador Records came calling, Will Toledo was ready.”
–John Wenzel on Hey Reverb (The Denver Post), January 15, 2016
“Car Seat Headrest’s music is catchy, hooky and rough-hewn in the classic indie-rock tradition, and his lyrics are simultaneously funny and poignant — a difficult trick Toledo pulls off with casual aplomb.”
–Michael Roberts on Westword, January 12, 2016
“Toledo has been focusing on translating the intricately layered, angst-driven inertia of his recorded material to a live setting, where “everything is a lot more stripped-down, basic and rock-and-roll,” which sits fine with him.”
–Jonny Pepperman in Relix, January 8, 2016