Song, by Toad Records

Last updated

Song, by Toad Records
Founded2008
FounderMatthew Young
Genre Indie, Folk
Country of origin Scotland
Location Edinburgh, Scotland
Official website http://www.songbytoad.com, http://www.songbytoadrecords.com

Song, by Toad is an independent record label and music blog based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 2008 by Matthew Young, and has released a number of critically acclaimed albums by acts including Meursault, Rob St John and Sparrow and the Workshop. The label takes its name from a passage in The Wind in the Willows . [1]

Contents

History

Song, by Toad began in 2004 as a music blog by Matthew Young, a design engineer in Edinburgh. [2] The label was founded in 2008 after a drunken discussion with the band Broken Records, whereby Young promised to release the band's first album if they weren't signed by another record label. Although Broken Records eventually signed to 4AD, Young decided to found the label anyway. [3]

Following low key releases by Uhersky Brod and Nightjar, the label's first major release was Pissing on Bonfires/Kissing with Tongues by the Edinburgh-based Meursault in 2009, the success of which Young credits with forcing him 'to set up a proper record label'. [3] The album was rated by cultural magazine The Skinny as the 16th best Scottish album of the 2000-2010 decade. [4]

Toad Sessions

Alongside the record label and the blog, Song, by Toad have also recorded and published a number of live 'Toad Sessions', [5] mostly recorded in Matthew Young's home. The Toad sessions have featured international artists including Mumford & Sons, [6] Josh T. Pearson, [7] Sam Amidon [8] and Lach, [9] as well as artists from the label including Meursault, Adam Stafford and Rob St John. [10]

Artists

These artist have all released music on the Song, by Toad label. [11] [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>12 Golden Country Greats</i> 1996 studio album by Ween

12 Golden Country Greats is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Ween, and their third on Elektra Records. It is the only album on which the group limited themselves to a specific genre of music.

Lach is an American singer-songwriter associated with the anti-folk movement. As a songwriter, Lach founded the anti-folk art and music movement, which is cited as a main inspiration by contemporary performers like Beck, Jeffrey Lewis, Hamell on Trial, The Moldy Peaches and Regina Spektor in the US and Laura Marling in the UK. Lach has released six albums, a book of poetry, and has a regular series on BBC Radio 4 called The Lach Chronicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pig Destroyer</span> American band

Pig Destroyer is an American grindcore band formed in 1997 in Alexandria, Virginia. The band was formed by vocalist J.R. Hayes, guitarist Scott Hull, and drummer John Evans. Throughout the band's earlier history, they were a three-piece group until sampler Blake Harrison joined in 2006, notably had no bassist until the inclusion of John Jarvis in 2013, and went through 2 past drummers with the role currently held by Adam Jarvis. Pig Destroyer is one of the most well-known grindcore bands in the genre due to Hayes's poetic lyrics, Hull's incorporation of thrash, punk, and doom influences in songwriting, and technical drum work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Creosote</span> Scottish singer-songwriter

Kenny Anderson, known primarily by his stage name King Creosote, is an independent singer-songwriter from Fife, Scotland. To date, Anderson has released over forty albums, with his latest full length, Astronaut Meets Appleman, released in 2016. Anderson is also a member of Scottish-Canadian band The Burns Unit. In 2011, Anderson's collaborative album with Jon Hopkins, Diamond Mine, was nominated for the Mercury Prize and the Scottish Album of the Year Award. Astronaut Meets Appleman was also longlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Amidon</span> American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Vermont

Samuel Tear Amidon is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mumford & Sons</span> British folk rock band

Mumford & Sons is a British folk rock band formed in London in 2007. The band currently consists of Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwane, and Ben Lovett. Winston Marshall left the band in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kid Canaveral</span>

Kid Canaveral was a Scottish alternative pop band that formed in St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, but are now based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Since 2007 the band have released a number of well received singles, an E.P. and an album on their own label, Straight to Video Records, and in 2011 they signed with Scottish independent label Fence Records. The band left Fence Records to join Johnny Lynch on his new label Lost Map Records in August 2013. The band have received praise for their pop hooks and melodies, and their energetic and engaging live performances. Their second record Now That You Are a Dancer was nominated for the 2014 Scottish Album of the Year Award. The group released their third record Faulty Inner Dialogue, via Lost Map Records, on 29 July 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meursault (band)</span>

Meursault are a Scottish indie rock band from Edinburgh, formed in 2006. Led by singer-songwriter Neil Pennycook, the band's musical style has been categorised as folktronica, alternative rock and indie folk. The band themselves have described their latest work as "epic lo-fi". The name of the band is a reference to the main character of L'Etranger, the absurdist novel by Albert Camus.

<i>All Creatures Will Make Merry</i> 2010 studio album by Meursault

All Creatures Will Make Merry is the second studio album by Scottish indie folk band Meursault, released on 24 May 2010. A limited edition, hand-printed version of the album was released in April 2010. Songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Neil Pennycook states that "the main theme of the record is one of contentment – what people are willing to do to obtain it, hold on to it, and what we stand to lose or gain if we try."

<i>Pissing on Bonfires / Kissing with Tongues</i> 2008 studio album by Meursault

Pissing On Bonfires / Kissing With Tongues is the debut studio album by Scottish indie folk band Meursault, released in 2008 to a generally positive reception from the music press and online community critics. The band initially self-released the album in 2008, before a second run was released on the Edinburgh-based independent label, Song, by Toad Records, in 2009.

<i>Cold Seeds</i> 2010 studio album by Cold Seeds

Cold Seeds is a musical collaboration between Kenny Anderson, Frances Donnelly, and Neil Pennycook and Peter Harvey of Meursault.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eagleowl</span>

eagleowl are a Scottish lo-fi, indie folk band from Edinburgh, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moulettes</span> English art rock band

Moulettes are an English art rock band that combines elements of rock, progressive, folk and pop music. The band was formed in 2002 in Glastonbury, England by Hannah Miller, Ruth Skipper, Robert Skipper, Oliver Austin and Ted Dwane.

Rob St. John is an English writer, artist and musician.

<i>Something for the Weakened</i> 2012 studio album by Meursault

Something for the Weakened is the third studio album by Scottish indie rock band Meursault, released on 16 July 2012 on Song, by Toad Records. Regarding the album, songwriter Neil Pennycook noted, "This album makes more sense to me, and I think I’m more relaxed this time. I can hear it as a body of work, and it resonates more with me than the other records."

Enfant Bastard is the performing name for Cameron 'Cammy' Watt, a musician and artist formerly based in Edinburgh, Scotland who has released albums spanning a number of genres including indie, alt-folk, Lo-fi, Chip music and House. He now resides in Gothenburg, Sweden where we works as an artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randolph's Leap (band)</span>

Randolph's Leap is an eight piece indie-pop band from Glasgow, Scotland, and signed to Lost Map Records as of 2014. Founded by frontman Adam Ross in 2006, members include Ross (guitar/vocals), Adam Florence (drums), Vicki Cole (bass), Andrew MacLellan (guitar), Heather Thikey (violin), Pete MacDonald (keyboards), Ali Hendry (trumpet) and Fraser Gibson (trombone).

The Leg are an alternative rock band based in Edinburgh made up by Daniel Mutch, Pete Harvey and Alun Scurlock. The band formed from members of Khaya and Desc, following the break-up of the latter in 2005. The band have released four albums, first with SL Records and then Song, By Toad Records.

<i>Crippling Lack</i> 2016 studio album by David Thomas Broughton

Crippling Lack is a 2016 album by British folk singer and guitarist David Thomas Broughton. The album was released in three volumes with three labels in three countries. The labels are Edinburgh's Song, By Toad (Vol.1), Lens’ LeNoizeMaker (Vol.2) and New York City's Paper Garden (Vol.3).

References

  1. "Song, by Toad - About". Song, by Toad. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  2. "Incredible Mr Toad!". Leither Magazine. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Interview: Matthew Young". The Scotsman. 12 October 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  4. "Scottish albums of the decade #16 - Pissing on Bonfires / Kissing with Tongues". The Skinny. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  5. "Toad Sessions". Toad Sessions. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  6. "Mumford & Sons Toad Session". YouTube . Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  7. "Josh T. Pearson Toad Session". Song, by Toad. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  8. "Sam Amidon Toad Session". Song, by Toad. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  9. "Lach Toad Session". Song, by Toad. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  10. "Rob St John Toad Session". Song, by Toad. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  11. "Artists". Song, by Toad Records. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  12. "Song, by Toad Records". Song, by Toad Records. Retrieved 5 July 2020.