Even James Jackson Toth’s most rabid fans probably can’t keep track of the prolific singer/songwriter’s output. The Lexington, Ky.-based Toth has issued numerous solo and group efforts (including cassettes, CD-Rs, limited-edition vinyl, etc.) under his own name as well as such monikers as WAND, Wooden Wand And The Vanishing Voice, H.P. Witchcraft, the Jescos and the Blood Group. His latest release is Wooden Wand‘s Death Seat (Young God), an impressive 12-track album produced by YG label head and Swans frontman Michael Gira and featuring musical contributions from members of bands such as Lambchop, Silver Jews, Mercury Rev, Glossary and Fire On Fire. Toth is heading out on European and North American tours in the new year, but in the meantime, he will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with him.
Toth: I love the Roches. Why doesn’t everyone love the Roches? I don’t know that many fans. This divisive album came out in 1989 and largely dispenses with their well-worn acoustic sound for uncharacteristic synthesizers and drums, and the results are sensational. Hopelessly unimaginative so-called traditionalists consider this album blasphemy, but they’re the same folks who say the same thing about Leonard Cohen’s brilliant I’m Your Man, so, you know, consider the source. If you are not moved by “In The World,” you have ice water in your veins, my friend.
Video after the jump.
