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Music

Stream Toner’s New EP of Brooding and Melodic Pop

The Oakland four-piece are gaining a reputation in the Bay Area for dramatic indie rock framed in a punk rock aesthetic and feel.

Their label describes Toner as “bummer punks” and there’s certainly some Hewlett-Packard LaserJet ink darkness to the Oakland band’s moody pop. Their new EP Passing Glance, recorded by David Lindell at Camp David in Portland, offers five delicious pieces of melodic melancholia.

What started as a solo project for Samuelito Cruz (who is also involved with Never Young, Happy Diving and Baja Boys) has evolved into a four-piece that is gaining a reputation in the Bay Area for dramatic indie rock framed in a punk rock aesthetic and feel.

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Noisey: The record sounds poppier than some of the other Toner stuff I’ve heard.
Samuelito Cruz: The LP and first EP were written about two years ago which was a completely different time in my life. I had different expectations for what it was actually going to be. Things with Toner over the past year have maintained a solid relationship as a ‘band’ and not so much a project I wanted to record in my Mom’s backyard. Musically I don't think it's too far off from past releases but more so a change of quality and also recording in a new environment with Dave Lindell.

You can blast punk at a party but your songs sound like headphone music. Stuff you listen to while your head is resting on a window of a Greyhound. And it’s raining. OK maybe that’s a bit too dramatic.
Playing punk music at a party is kind of punishing in my opinion. I can see where you're conjuring up that scene in comparison to our tracks but I don’t think we necessarily reflect being a dramatic band. I try not to take anything too serious, including myself.

But then “High and Dry” sounds perfect for an indie night at a club/bar. Any good indie nights in Oakland?
Indie nights in Oakland are rough and punishing. Bars are expensive and generally suck. If we were talking about a club bumping some R. Kelly all night then I can get down with that. Otherwise I’d rather be at home sipping on a Deadpool Mikes Harder Lemonade with some buds, serio.

'Passing Glance' is available March 15 through Vacant Stare.