The Toyes (CD Tunes, 1996)

I first heard The Toyes on the stellar compilation of Spanish-language reggae, Viva la Rasta, where their "Dos Lenos" was featured.  "Dos Lenos," the English version of which is "Smoke Two Joints" (and the French "Fume Deux Joints" -- necessary?  Perhaps not.), is rightly the centerpiece of this debut album from the American band.   The song is exuberant live-band roots with a wry sense of humor (apparent in the lyrics "I smoke two joints in times of peace and two in times of war.  I smoke two joints before I smoke two joints, and then I smoke two more."), a description that would be apt for the entire album.  Despite "Dos Lenos," The Toyes' music isn't heavily influenced by Latin music (at least not as much as groups like King Chango); it's more of a mix of rock 'n roll and roots reggae.  The rock gets a bit heavy on tracks like "Late Night Bozos," their version of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird," and "Wake Up (And Smell the Java)," but it generally doesn't overpower the reggae.  What truly separates The Toyes from other reggae groups, though, is their wacky yet intelligent humor.  As if titles like "The Lucky Sperm Club" and "What's So Bad About a Nipple?" didn't clue you in, the band's lyrics are out there, but they still have purpose.  "What's So Bad About a Nipple?", for instance, isn't silly for the sake of being silly; rather, it makes a point about the taboo of showing nudity in the media when Arnold Schwarzenegger is blowing away 20 bad guys on Channel 3.  They also tackle topics ranging from television talk shows to religion.  The Toyes perhaps get a bit too clever for their own good, however; they need to spend more time crafting tighter songs than borderline gimmicky lyrics, as with their parody "Monster Hash."  In this occasionally cheeseball way, they remind me a bit of a reggae version of Was (Not Was).  With time and maturity hopefully this will improve.