It's become a tired cliché to say a band was before their time, but in the case of Toys Went Berserk, the expression hits the nail well and truly on the head. Formed at the end of 1985 - long before Nirvana flung open the industry gates for the indie crowd - Toys were never particularly successful in a commercial sense; yet during their six year lifespan they established a loyal following in Australia, and a cult following overseas that continues to the present day.
Musically on their own in the Sydney scene of 1986, their sound owed far more to McKay/McGeoch era Banshees, than the vogue for Ramones/Stooges soundalikes. Often dense and unsettling - it was always tempered with razor sharp melodic hooks.
Toys were renowned for their energetic live performances, and the band also recorded extensively, releasing numerous singles and 3 albums: "Pieces" (1987), the acclaimed "The Smiler with a Knife" (1989 - produced by Rob Younger) and "Sensory" (1990 - recorded in Boston with Pixies producer Gary Smith at the helm). They also appear on the ABC's "Stairways to Heaven" CD and DVD (from "The Money or the Gun" TV show). The band returned to the States in 1991, for a 16 date tour - but finally decided to put the lid on the Toy box at the end of that year.
In 2005, Reverberation released a long-awaited Toys compilation - and the band regrouped for a few special shows to promote it. "The Bitter & the Sweet" is a comprehensive best of, with a bonus CD that unveils the bands final, unreleased recordings from 1991, as well as rare demos and live radio sessions. The band's debut single "Guns at my head" also appears on the second volume of "Tales From the Australian Underground".
here is a review of "The Bitter & the Sweet" by Patrick Emery in Melbourne's Beat magazine.
CD review
Amazon.com - buy CD and read another review
Coo and Andy currently play in swampy, voodoo rock n roll outfit Rocket to Memphis, and also released a studio album in early 2006, as Houdini Twins.
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