Anthony Toner - Light Below The Door
2011, Dozens Of Cousins
2011, Dozens Of Cousins
Irish crooner Anthony Toner
continues to impress with his second album, Light Below The Door. A
smooth voice, a distinctive flair for 1970's style singer/songwriter, rock and
soul sounds and solid songwriting make any concert or recording from Toner a
treat, but he raises the bar a bit this time around. Opening with "All Of
The Above", Toner sews a memorable melody into an arrangement that's a
cross between Barry Manilow and early Chicago. "Gratefully" finds
Toner using a talk/sing vocal style that is appealing. The song is intelligent
and heartfelt, and is among the best that Toner has written to date. "East
Of Louise" is a brilliant story song about a friend that is full of
amazing imagery underscored by a subtle, acoustic-guitar driven arrangement.
"Way Too Dark" again uses
stark imagery to build a picture of a single mom left high and dry in the
listener's mind. The blues/folk blend in the arrangement is anathema to the
neurosis and longing that fill this tune. This is an absolute "Wow"
moment for Toner, and is worth a listen even if the album escapes your
attention. "You're The One" is a classic, simple love song full of
great poetry that shows off Toner's quieter side. "The Great Escape"
tells the story of a family feud in a stirring rockabilly arrangement. Toner
brings the characters to life in song in the way that only great songwriters
can, and highlights the achievement with some impressive guitar work along the
way. Light Below The Door bows with "Nashville Snowflake", the
tale of a snowflake that wants to live together. Once again, Toner's melody and
imagery are near-perfect.
If Anthony Toner was plying his
trade as a singer/songwriter in 1975 he'd be signed to a major label and known
all over the world. Today his material may sound a bit dated to some, but what
doesn't change is that Anthony Toner is a world-class songwriting, with a voice
that's eminently pleasant to the ear. Artistically he seems to be peaking right
now, as well. Light Below The Door, consequently, is not an album to be
missed.
Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)
Learn more at www.anthonytoner.net or www.myspace.com/anthonytoner. CD copies are only available from Toner’s
website. If it’s digital you crave:
Amazon MP3 iTunes
Please note that the Amazon.com prices listed above are as of the posting date, and may have changed. Wildy's World is not responsible for price changes instituted by Amazon.com.
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