What The Toll Tells - Two Gallants
What The Toll Tells Image

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critics What's this?

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Universal acclaim- based on 12 Ratings

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  • Summary: This is the second album (and Saddle Creek debut) for the San Francisco duo of Adam Stephens and Tyson Vogel.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 17
  2. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. Equally suitable for a Wild West saloon or meth lab. [7 Apr 2006, p.63]
  2. If the album has flaws, it has great and unique strengths. Difficult, maybe, but captivating.
  3. In What The Toll Tells we’ve been served up an In The Aeroplane Over The Sea for ’06 – full of misty-eyed dreams and incredible characters.
  4. 70
    Sure, the stories are worn and the whiskey is cut-rate, but the feeling is real. [#71, p.113]
  5. 70
    The raw poetic facade occasionally cracks, but there is something special here. [Mar 2006, p.88]
  6. 60
    A sincere winner. [Mar 2006, p.123]
  7. Everything sung here is manufactured to conjure up the same bullshit sense of nostalgia that the band's James Joyce-inspired name is supposed to. [#12, p.93]

See all 17 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. davel
    May 13, 2006
    Great music with an edge and a story to tell.
  2. RichardT
    Mar 21, 2006
    Where to begin? Deep lyrics that defy their age and a racket that defies their sum, add to this the fact they are named after a James Joyce story AND that they offer true tales from San Fransisco and it becomes apparent there is little excuse not to get involved. Expand
  3. HubertusZ
    Mar 15, 2006
    Great songs. Great drive. The dynamics of mainly guitars and drums works very well.
  4. BrianD
    May 31, 2006
    Fans of topical, safe and radio-friendly modern rock will probably not stick with this album long enough to relize it's true depth. Not to say that there isn't considerable commercial appeal in this young duo's second successful collection of songs in two tries, but the deeply ingrained roughness of the musical delivery, the gritty vocals and the equally dark subject matter in no way adds up to bubblgun pop indie rock. The bottom line is that these guys can really write, and they deliver their indea with passion unmatched by their indie peers. This is not only an amazing album, it is an important developmental step from a band that will only get bigger as they continue to win over fans. I would consider this album an indie jem that will only grow more amazing as it ages. ....and "Waves of Grain" might be the most moving piece of music I have heard in years. Expand
  5. GervaisR.
    Mar 27, 2006
    Pitchfork is a snark factory of holier-than-thou scenesters who wouldnt get shivers down their spines if Tyson Vogel played Las Cruces Jail on them. Two Gallants rock hard. Unlike the White Stripes or the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, this power duo writes about historically relevant matters and takes tricky politics head on. This direct, confrontational style irks fans and critics who prefer their music more 'ornamental,' but it's the ony kind of music for me. If you don't agree, see them live and then judge 'em. Expand
  6. ericaw
    Feb 27, 2006
    After The Throes, my expectations were high for the second album, and I was pleased with the result. If you like the style of Two Gallants, you'll love this album. Expand
  7. KonstantinL
    Mar 7, 2006
    Their previous album 'The Throes' was a classic, but this one disappointed me slightly. There are some great tracks on this record but often they are cancelled out by songs much weaker than anything on the debut. Patchy but worthwhile for fans. Expand