He's So Fine, He's Like Me...

The power of Chris Knox!

Toy Love was it in the way of kiwi pop. We all know the Clean, but Toy Love was first. The band marked, even more so the transition from imitating UK punk and featured both members of Tall Dwarfs as well as one of my favorite bassists Paul Kean, later of the Bats. They formed out of NZ's original punk band the enemy and were quite a show. After forming in Dunedin they relocated to Australia expecting it as a route for more success. Unfortunately they were wrong. They recorded one poorly mixed self-titled record which has been re-mastered and sounds pretty great on the first disc. However it is some of the earliest singles like "Rebel," "Squeeze" and "Sheep" that stand out the most. These songs can really speak to anyone, anywhere in the world who knows what being a hipster or a true rock 'n' roller is all about. If you are reading this I am sure they should connect with you. Frontman Chris Knox is an incredible performer and the whole band is really switched on as well. It's a whole lot of fun and if you are interested in the history of New Zealand rock this as just as, if not as important as "Tally Ho!," "Pink Frost," and The Dunedin Double EP.


Toy Love - Cuts (Disc 1)