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

Car Seat Headrest in the news – Early 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

Car Seat Headrest in the news – 2015

The indie rock band Car Seat Headrest, led by Will Toledo, has had a growing presence in the news media since mid-2015. As one of Will’s biggest fans — and as his father — I decided that this blog would be an appropriate place to start aggregating the reviews and interviews that are appearing online.

Here are links to some of the coverage of the band in 2015:

“His sun-bleached melodies dig deep in the brain while the lyrics offer mid-song meta analysis on the creative process, a director’s commentary on top of his surging lo-fi jams.”

–Dale W. Eisinger in Paper, December 16, 2015

“This is a band to watch.”

–Adam Valeiras in Flood Magazine, December 15, 2015

“What begins as an exploration of Will Toledo’s neuroses builds to a fist-in-the-air anthem to conquer all [in “Something Soon”].”

–Kate Drozynski in “NPR Music’s Favorite Songs of 2015,” December 15, 2015

“He has self-released hours of muted, needling indie-rock songs, and betrays a shameless affection for sunny sixties pop.”

–Night Life column in New Yorker, December 5, 2015

“Riff-heavy, Strokes-like mumbling tracks, such as “Something Soon,” display the songwriter’s gift for intelligent angst…”

–Dutch Godschalk on Ticket, November 30, 2015

“The difference between this situation and every other band ever, is that Car Seat Headrest already had a national audience for many of these releases.”

–Joseph Cardina on Buffablog, November 17, 2015

“Will Toledo has seen his profile rise exponentially…with the release of ‘Teens of Style’…”

–Andy Downing in redeye Chicago, November 12, 2015

“Toledo’s Bandcamp is an impressive archive of material, and there’s no great way to plow through the whole thing efficiently. The closest experience I’ve had is trying to mow down everything Neil Young recorded over 30 years.”

–Mario Aguilar in 20kHz, November 6, 2015

“Toledo is a very witty, self-aware fellow, so the introspection is more like offbeat poetry, set to hooks that deserved to escape the bedroom.”

–Chris Payne in Billboard, November 4, 2015

“While it may seem lazy to compare Toledo’s style to the lo-fi aesthetics and witty wordiness of Matador icons like Pavement and Guided by Voices, his music undoubtedly does touch on a similarly vulnerable vein with his thoughtful stream of consciousness.”

–Dusty Henry in Seattle Weekly, November 3, 2015

“Toledo’s verses are rife with the sorts of teen-age drama that rock was invented to channel.”

–Will Hermes in Rolling Stone, November 2, 2015

“Toledo quickly became one of the most buzzed about artists who played [at CMJ], and although Teens of Style arrives today, listeners already eagerly anticipate the release of Teens of Denial, due out early next year.”

–Emily McDermott in Interview, October 30, 2015

“Toledo’s songwriting has always been his strong suit, and his ruminations on well-worn themes of unrequited love, alienation, and teenage rebellion are spiked with wisdom.”

–Drew Fortune in A.V. Club, October 30, 2015

“His lyrics are rapaciously intelligent and self-aware, but he never lets his prodigious literary intelligence get in the way of crafting enjoyably off-kilter, anthemic rock songs.”

–Jeremy Gordon on Pitchfork, October 28, 2015

“Toledo’s melody lines are the sort of stuff that you want to stay stuck in your head for a long time…”

–Mack Hayden in Paste Monthly, October 27, 2015

“Toledo’s songs are often compared to those of the Strokes, and while they share spiky elements with that band, Toledo’s freewheeling narratives are more akin to those of Courtney Barnett — hilarious, sharp, and whip smart.”

Aquarium Drunkard, October 22, 2015

“Toledo is a master of tonal control, and the way his songs lurch from self-indulgent regret to empowered declarations and then all the way back again is something to behold.”

–Joseph Earp in Renowned for Sound, October 19, 2015

“Will Toledo might be the voice of a very restless and agitated generation.”

–Lindsey Rhoades in The Village Voice, October 12, 2015

“Neil Young + Swans + Dave Matthews Band”

–Will Toledo describing the band in seven words or less in “So You’re Playing CMJ,” September 15, 2015

“Will Toledo’s story is the kind of internet-era fairytale everyone wants to believe in…”

–Cate McGeehee in Noisey, September 11, 2015

“What’s unchanged is Toledo’s sharp songwriting, which perfectly captures the frustration of feeling trapped in your current circumstances.”

–Kyle Kramer in Noisey, September 1, 2015

“Toledo’s songs themselves play out on a grand scale, one that will be fitting for a larger audience.”

–James Rettig in Stereogum, September 1, 2015

“That Toledo has built such a dedicated fanbase over the years, who have followed his hefty release schedule devotedly, is a testament to the aforementioned ability to connect deeply with an audience.”

–Graham Johnson reviewing “How to Leave Town” in Rare Candy, July 27, 2015

“On ‘Teens of Style’, Car Seat Headrest’s Matador debut, even the quietest moments carry with them a sense that Toledo is using every bit of his considerable talent to maintain some kind of holy balance between scuzz and sublimity, effortless melodicism and fractured surfaces.”

–Michael Wojtas in Clash, June 11, 2015