became one of the most successful alternative rock bands of the early '90s, boasting a contemporary folk-pop sound that wielded enough melody and
-styled jangle to straddle both the modern rock and adult contemporary markets. Singer
formed the group in 1986 in their native Santa Barbara, CA. After honing their sound in local bars, the bandmates entered a nearby studio in 1988 and recorded their debut LP,
, in eight days at a cost of $650. Originally sold as a homemade cassette in Santa Barbara record stores, the album eventually made its way to the Los Angeles offices of Columbia Records, which signed
in its original form, without any alterations or remixes.
The somber
Pale, produced by
Marvin Etzioni, followed in 1990. After years of persistent touring,
Toad the Wet Sprocket's commercial breakthrough followed with 1991's
Fear, as the single "All I Want" -- quite nearly left off the album -- became a Top 20 hit. Another single from the LP, "Walk on the Ocean," fared similarly well, and the combination pushed
Fear to platinum sales. Three years later,
Toad returned with
Dulcinea, which generated a third Top 40 hit with the single "Fall Down." While "Fall Down" seemingly catered to the grunge generation with its minor-key riffs and anxious vocals, the bulk of
Dulcinea emphasized
Toad the Wet Sprocket's acoustic craft, and the band scored another hit with the mellow "Something's Always Wrong."
In Light Syrup, a collection of unreleased material, appeared in 1995. Although it contained the hit song "Good Intentions," the album didn't sell nearly as well as its predecessors, possibly due to the inclusion of "Good Intentions" on the popular Friends soundtrack.
Coil,
Toad the Wet Sprocket's fifth proper LP, followed in 1997 and suffered a similar fate, yielding one single ("Come Down") but failing to command the attention of
Toad's earlier work. Faced with a dwindling stream of hits, the group ultimately split in July 1998, with the compilation album
P.S.: A Toad Retrospective surfacing in 1999.
Glen Phillips launched a solo career several years after the band's breakup. He remained the most visible member of the group, collaborating with
Nickel Creek and issuing a string of solo releases during the early 2000s.
Toad the Wet Sprocket reconvened for several tours during the decade's latter half, with
Phillips often serving as the band's own opening act. Apart from the concert recording Welcome Home: Live at the Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara 1992, however, they failed to release any material.
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Jason Ankeny & Andrew Leahey, Rovi