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    The Phantom Tollbooth 1998/The Call
    The Call — To Heaven and Back cover

    The Call

    To Heaven and Back

    (1997)

    Reviewed by Chris Parks

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    Label FingerprintThe Phantom Tollbooth1998
    alternative rockheartland rocknew wavepost-punk

    BTW The Call's last studio album was 1990's Red Moon but Michael Been's 1994 solo album is definitely worthy of your attention.

    They're back. If you were someone who lamented the breakup of The Call, rejoice. The group has reformed, released a compilation of previous work, and more importantly recorded a new album, called To Heaven and Back.

    The sound has been updated a bit (one example: the opening cut has a jangly guitar tone not found in their previous stuff), but is still recognizable. Michael Been's lyrics are as honest and introspective as they have ever been. The topics will be familiar to longtime fans: relationships (with their pain and joy), human weaknesses, and social injustice.

    This is a solid, though not a groundbreaking, effort. I for one am willing to wait until they have been back together awhile before expecting the band to try something really new.

    3.5 tocks

    Other coverage for this album

    HM Magazine #73Reviewed by Doug Van PeltThe Call - what a mighty group. Defining passion and a big influence on indie rock, this band takes a few unexpected turns on an otherwise typically great Call album. Instead of the pulsating dirty Midwest meets depression rock sound of the band's past, there's actually some pop-influenced on the opening cut, "Soaring Bird." The ballad "Think It Over" takes a melancholy approach that contrasts…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Steven S. BaldwinPeter Gabriel once referred to The Call as "the future of American music." An empty prophecy because of the band's imminent break-up, but at the very least, a claim that advocated the high artistic quality, skillful musical strength, and genuine uniqueness of this beloved band. By those that knew and appreciated them, they have been greatly missed. To Heaven and Back finds them doing again what…

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    More from The Call

    2000Live Under the Red Moon1997The Best of The Call

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