CASA - the contemporary a cappella society - Toxic Audio Releases "Word of Mouth"

Toxic Audio Releases "Word of Mouth"

Written by Jay Howser

Sunday, 19 June 2005

After the success of three independently produced albums, Toxic Audio is back with a new recording label and a brand new CD.

Released March 22, "Word of Mouth" includes some of the best a cappella jazz, rock and pop selections from Toxic Audio's three previously recorded albums, as well as six new tracks. The release is Toxic Audio's first with New York City-based DRG Records, which signed the group in January. Though Toxic Audio is already well-known in the a cappella community, "Word of Mouth" was designed to reach an even larger audience, said Jeremy James, who sings baritone for the group.

"Because it's our first label distribution deal, (DRG Records) wanted to introduce us to people who have never heard us before and show them what we do," James said. "It's neat because it acts like sort of a 'best of' album and yet half of it is brand new. It's really exciting."

From a cappella standards "Stand By Me" and "Route 66" to an energetic arrangement of "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence, "Word of Mouth" features the kind of variety that Toxic Audio is known for. It even has a version of "If I Only Had a Brain" from "The Wizard of Oz."

"From one tune to the next, you never know what the next song is going to be or who is going to sing the lead," James said. "We tried to translate that to the CD and recreate the live experience as best we can on a recording."

DRG Records discovered Toxic Audio during the group's seven-month stint on the off-Broadway scene in 2004. With more than 200 performances at the John Houseman Theater, their show drew rave reviews and won the 2004 Drama Desk Award for "outstanding unique theatrical experience" and was even rated No. 1 in the Wall Street Journal/Zagat Theater Survey.

It only took two months from the time the group signed with the new label to the time that "Word of Mouth" hit the street last week. James said he hopes fans will show as much support as they have with the group's previous albums.

"We do everything with our fan base in mind. We build our audience one person at a time," he said.

For more information about Toxic Audio, visit www.toxicaudio.com.

Jay Howser is a former journalist and a genuine a cappella enthusiast. He lives in Utah with his wife and two daughters.