Only the second collection of new material since
the Toadies went indie in the late 2000s (2010's
Feeler was a revival of an album lost in the battles with their major),
Play. Rock. Music. finds
the Toadies in lean fighting form, sticking to their signatures but articulating them with clarity and muscle. One of the striking things about
Play. Rock. Music. is how big and bright it sounds, its riffs almost sparkling in the Texas sunlight, the clarity offering an effective distraction from the band's lingering dark lyrical obsessions. This dichotomy provides some welcome drama but the chief appeal of
Play. Rock. Music. comes from those gargantuan guitars and
the Toadies' clean and efficient attack, both of which are showcased better here than they have been in a long time. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine