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***In 2002, Robert Pollard of Guided By Voices wished aloud for a chance to sing for Phantom Tollbooth, one of his favorite bands. He refers to the idea as "the band that would have ruled the world." The next thing anyone knew, the former members of Phantom Tollbooth revisited their 1988 swan song album Power Toy (four stars at AllMusicGuide), erased all the vocals, and presented it to Pollard, who then created new vocal melody lines and lyrics. Named after a popular children's book, Phantom Tollbooth was a strongly art-rock-influenced variation on the raging yet eclectic post-hardcore of Hüsker Dü and the Minutemen, incorporating quick tempo changes, noise experiments, and bits of jazz. The group was formed in 1984 in New York by guitarist Dave Rick--formerly of Yo La Tengo and a frequent collaborator with Bongwater, B.A.L.L., and King Missile-- along with Gerald Smith and Jon Coats. The band put out three crazed records on Homestead before breaking up-- like all good bands do-- in 1988. What they said of Phantom Tollbooth Phantom Tollbooth gives new meaning to the word "crunch." Combining things Burmese with the Meat Puppets and avant-jazz thrash (what the hell: thrazz), the band pummels mercilessly with lurching power chords and droning bass. -CMJ It's got manic pop-oomph akin to the MC5's "Call Me Animal" powering a scattershot structural sensibility à la Ornette Coleman. -Jersey Beat Phantom Tollbooth ... speaks to you in ejaculations: blurted out bits of information or flat-out sprints. -Spin The meanest slice of hyper-rhythmic art punk to wake my neighbors in months. -NY Talk |
