Scott's Song by Song # 30-- Andy Toomey: Masterpiece
Originally posted to Facebook on April 21, 2025
Link to post:
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Welcome to issue #30 of Scott’s Song By Song (#scottssongbysong).For more information about this series, click here: https://www.facebook.com/share/Gc2VkwHQWGLdeaDd/?mibextid=oFDknk
Today I am returning to Andy Toomey who we met in issue #16 on his fine EP, recorded with the Stick Men, “Perseus Calling” (see here for that review, including biographical info about Andy: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BwNUQQhq7/). His new release is another EP, boldly titled “Masterpiece”. This time around, one Stick Man- Markus Reuter- and session drummer extraordinaire Zack Alford whose resume includes work with Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Nine Inch Nails, the B-52s, Psychedelic Furs, and David Bowie. Once again, the caliber of collaborators willing to take part tells us a lot about Andy Toomey. Here are the credits as to who plays what:
Song, Lyrics, Vox, Bass, Piano: Andy Toomey
Drums & Percussion: Zachary Alford
Touch Guitar, Electronics, Piano, Organ, Mellotron: Markus Reuter
As before, Andy requested this review, but he knows that I call it like I hear it. The only compensation received is a free download to the EP. This EP was just released on April 4.
Let’s dive in:
Track 1 - Don’t Fake It
The track fades in with various sound effects quickly joined by piano. We are at a slower tempo as Toomey begins singing. Excellent sustained note in the lyric “Make It.” Each verse seems to add more to the instrumentation subtly as we proceed through this ballad. Andy’s vocals are the focus on this song; they are heartfelt and genuine. I am not sure who he is encouraging in the song, but whoever they are, Andy’s got their back!. There is a bit of a false ending then the instruments crescendo slightly before the song reaches its conclusion. Nice tune.
Track 2 - Masterpiece
This one is rockin’ right out of the gate. The rhythm section has a tight groove going on to support the vocals and Reuter’s soundscapes. The lyrics in this one are also motivational and encouraging. We also have some (more) cowbell in the rhythm (or perhaps more accurately agogo bells). The bass has a “nasty” fuzz on it (in a good way). Awesome touch guitar break from Reuter at around 3:09. The guys sound like they had fun recording this one. The instruments sound like they are fading with still a minute and a half or more to go. The bass line just shifted into high-gear with a Roundabout style riff a-la Chris Squire of Yes at about 4:00. The coda of this song is super-proggy. Lots of cool effects as the song reaches its end. Terrific track!
Track 3 - Born to Die
A bass riff and some accents on the keys start us off on this track. I like the cymbal accent a few seconds in. Alford then gives us a great tom-tom groove. There are some chime-ey guitar flourishes. Andy sings about the grim truth that “we are only born to die”’ but I think that his point is to make the most of the time that we have in between those two points. This track is very rhythmically based. The drumming on this song is fantastic. Reuter provides the atmosphere with his wizardry. The track is very engaging and there are many elements to draw the listener in. Well-done!
Track 4 - It Doesn’t Matter
The bass riff seems to be building the foundation for this one as well. I like the off beat hi-hat pattern starting after the first minute. The groove is very poly-rhythmic. The theme of motivation continues in the lyrics, when he sings “it doesn’t matter how far you fall. It doesn’t matter at all.” The musical texture is getting more dense as we proceed. Rueter has several layers himself. This may be recorded by a trio, but sounds much bigger. Once again, the varied sounds and textures really draw me in as a listener. There is a bit of a Peter Gabriel vibe on this one. Cool track!
Track 5 - What Could It Be?
Dissonant notes start us off here. Toomey’s vocals begin by repeating “obey, consume” with a lot of delay (echoes). This one is dark and desolate sounding, somewhat akin to Pink Floyd on “Empty Spaces” from “The Wall”. Lol, now he is saying “like, subscribe” with the echoes as before (I laugh, because I truly hope you do “like and subscribe” to my reviews and spotlights). This track is more “free-form” than the others. There is a loose structure, but it sounds more improvised on the instrumental level, particularly on Reuter’s parts. I get what Andy is going for here, and he is executing it well, but this is not my favorite track.
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:
Andy and his notable musician friends have pulled off another well-done bit of experimental prog. I really enjoyed the first four tracks, but track #5 was not really my cup of tea, although he did achieve what he set out to do with it. Fans of more edgy prog-rock or art-rock should really check him out. I think an interesting collaboration for Andy to pursue would be with Sproingg , whom I recently did a spotlight on. None of the tracks are on YouTube from this release, but he does have some things up there from earlier releases, including the previously mentioned “Perseus Calling” if you search his name. The best way to find his music on Bandcamp, linked here: https://andytoomey.bandcamp.com/album/masterpiece . As a result, there are not any “Links for Listening” as I usually include. I will give this one 4 out of 5 stars.
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Prog On!
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