After dealing with assorted labels (mostly Trojan and Receiver), the band decided to leave it to longtime UK indie label Secret Records to produce their latest -- and the result is good. Milking the spoken-word bit for all its worth, Dolls' frontman Olga (Michael Algar) yaks away kicking off track one, "Olgamental Intro," and hilarity ensues.
The cartoonish punkers have long been the flipside to the genre's angry temper tantrums, as noted in their earlier studio efforts. Their signature track, "Nelly the Elephant," is known by alternative lovers worldwide. "The Album After the Last One" shows that the Toy Dolls have not lost their edge after more than three decades in the recording industry.
"Kevin's Cotton Wool Kids" will put a knot in your stomach, while their party anthem "B.E.E.R." is enough to make you wanna get pissed up at the pub. If you're not used to their thick euro accents by now, lyrics in the liner notes will be there to help you along. While Tommy Goober and The Amazing Mr. Duncan bang on in the album's 13 songs, Olga, alone, lends his acoustic talent, still keeping alive the vagaries in three bonus tracks (one of which is "The Sphinx Stinks" -- not sure what he's got against Cairo, but is my favorite nonetheless.)
"The Album After the Last One" is full of everything fans know and have known to be unmistakably the Toy Dolls. If you're familar with them from the past, you'll love them at their present as I have stated before, despite rotation with several members. Olga, the vocalist and only original member, remains the same goofball in 2012, without shame. Get a copy, put it on and have a good time.
