Ten Cent Toys - Can't Stop, Won't Stop

I've said since the very beginning of my tenure that for as long as I was co-running this site, my onus would be to seek out the unsigned, unknown, and talented. With that in mind, Floridian quartet "Ten Cent Toys" are possibly one of my crowning achievements to date.

The group has a self-titled album out (2010), but at the time, it was the solo project of David Zawacki.
Skip forward a bit, and Ten Cent Toys now looks like this:

Katt Keooudom - Vocals,Lyrics
David Zawacki - Software Synths
Travis Lee - Hardware Synths
Benjahmin Zero- Programming.

A side note is that each of the members is involved in at least one side project, often with other members of TCT, giving the band a very involved relationship with each other in every possible way, switching duties and roles to maximise understanding.

The playful, throwaway name of the act gives a strong hint as to their style, which from the very first moment reminded me of Ayria meets Panzer AG, with a slight leaning towards Nine Inch Nails and Zombie Girl.

Opener "Closer" has a very heavy bassline, and is dominated by Katt's voice - she reminds me very heavily of Jennifer Parkin, and this song is themed around intimacy and sex. I've noticed a lot of female songwriters utilize this in the Industrial scene, and it gives a very sexy approach - she has a strong, delightful vocal style, but her dark undertones distinguish the song from some its more gentle peers. Slow, but intended as an opening aphrodisiac, this song is a 'mood setter' in the cheekiest sence of the term.

"K.O." puts a stronger onus on Katt's vocals, which sound very similar to someone I've heard before, but the annoying thing is I honestly can't figure it out - her techniques are varied but the delivery is punch-perfect (pun not intended). The programming and sequencing here is just heavy, slow, and dominating - the contrast between the three songwriters and the extroverted vocalist couldn't be more clear.

'Confession' will go down as THE song that makes this band, no doubts on it. Seemingly written as an attack on an ex-partner, Katt recalls a sexual experience, mocking the inadequacies of the protagonist ("I remember the first time we fucked, you were so nervous you couldn't keep it up"). - It's been done before, by artists such as Lily Allen, but not with this scorn or raw talent - I'm reminded so heavily of Ayria it's unreal, but this is heavier, more venomous, and although I may have a great deal of respect for Ms. Parkin, this seems newer and more invigorating.

"Trapped" is a track I heard a demo of previously.
It sounds a little like a seriously heavy version of "Seven Nation Army" and for one of the first times on this release, I can hear all the different programming under the main bassline - I don't know if it's my headphones or not but the bass is hugely dominant over everything else on here.

At 11 tracks, it's the right length for an album of it's calibre. The band has it all - sex appeal, looks, sound, and ability to contrast the music to maximum effect. If wholly critical, I'd urge the group to look into production a little more, but worse sounding things have been released.

There's a gap for this kind of group, and it fits in nicely with the upcoming return of Ayria, however for those of you looking for a similar sound with something more involved, Ten Cent Toys are waiting for your call.

In closing, it's important to remember that having a young, talented female as the forefront of the project is no reason to overlook the efforts of the men behind the equipment, especially when in this case, they work so hard to keep everything in place and flowing nicely.

Recommended with Gusto. Jun 18 2012