Toad the Wet Sprocket is one of those bands that stood out in the saturated Alternative Rock scene of the early 1990s. A time dominated by Grunge when heavier, more distorted acts like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, or Soundgarden were peaking in popularity, Toad the Wet Sprocket’s sound was much more Folk Rock-influenced with a Jangle Pop sensibility that may not have been in vogue at the time. However, with a keen sense of melody matched with impeccable songwriting and thoughtful and intelligent lyrics, Toad the Wet Sprocket slowly but surely found an audience.
For some, their early introduction to the band came with the 1989 debut album, Bread & Circus, which featured the single “One Little Girl.” A very unique, provocative, and sensitive track, it undoubtedly left many curious to hear more from this Southern California band. With that in mind, 1990’s Pale offered more beautiful, melancholic songs like “Torn,” the single “Come Back Down,” and “Don’t Go Away.” From here, Toad the Wet Sprocket would have their first major breakthrough in 1991 with their exceptional fear album, which featured huge songs like “Walk on the Ocean” and the Top 10 hit “All I Want.”
Awakening the mainstream listener to this exceptional band, Toad the Wet Sprocket continued on with other high-quality albums such as 1994’s Dulcinea and 1997’s Coil, before stepping away for a while to concentrate on other projects before coming back for good in 2010. A reunion met with tremendous fanfare, the second chapter of Toad the Wet Sprocket has included consistent touring, their album New Constellation in 2013, Starting Now in 2021, and, in 2026, a brand-new acoustic album called Rings: The Acoustic Sessions.
Released in digital formats on January 30, 2026, through Abe’s Records, the album was first announced in October last year at the conclusion of their successful four-month Good Intentions 2025 U.S. headlining tour. A very interesting addition to their discography, it honestly is quite fitting for Toad the Wet Sprocket’s personality. In fact, it seems that, in the eyes of many fans, an acoustic album was a forgone conclusion, given the nature of the songs. Certainly, many have envisioned what it might sound like, but now there is a chance to find out, with the band selecting 14 tracks to record in a stripped-back manner.
A collection of songs handpicked by Toad the Wet Sprocket’s mainstays Glen Phillips, Todd Nichols, and Dean Dinning, you can tell they put a good deal of thought into it all. Of course, picking some of their most well-known tracks (“All I Want,” “Something’s Always Wrong,” “Fall Down), they also include some newer era songs (2013’s “California Wasted” and 2021’s “Transient Whales”) while mixing in a delightful hand of deeper tracks from Pale, fear, and Dulcinea.
All sounding rich in texture and featuring sensational dynamic production, the performances also show exceptional energy, along with a very human vulnerability in Phillips’ voice that adds something extra to the sessions. Feeling like the band has taken decades of their music back inside themselves again, they have found a new spark of fire. Breaking them down to the bare bones (acoustic guitars and vocals), for some reason, the words of Phillips seem fresh to your ears in these recordings, even if you have heard them over and over again.
A true testament to how the band approached this project, each rendition on Rings: The Acoustic Sessions is one you will turn to more than once and will want to share with your fellow Toad the Wet Sprocket-loving friend who might not be aware of its existence. With that in mind, you may also want to pick it up in physical format, either on vinyl or CD (available on March 20, 2026), and check out the band as they plot a summer tour alongside Australia’s Men at Work. Altogether smooth, emotional, and soothing to the soul, Cryptic Rock gives Rings: (The Acoustic Sessions) 5 out of 5 stars.
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