Glen Phillips Album Review:
Travels with Glen at 2006-07-28
I have been a faithful follower of Toad the Wet Sprocket for years, and have continued listening to their efforts post-breakup. While the songs of Lapdog have a deliciously rough and bluesy feel to them, I always turn to Glen Philips for every conceivable mood. This CD has some of my favorite Glen songs on them, including the folksy-pop tunes with deadly hooks: Thankful, Falling, and Finally Fading. These songs have been in a perennial loop in my mp3 player for an entire month while traveling throughout the US and have provided happy musical moments of introspection and insight on an otherwise humdrum vacation. Winter Pays for Summer is more upbeat than Glens first solo album, Albulum, but it also shines with intelligent lyrics and subtle humor. It perennially surprises me that Glen is not better known, as his songwriting skills surpass most of the current pop rock acts on the charts today.
Glen Phillips Album Review:
There is nothing better than discovering a classic ! at 2006-05-24
The best way I can convey my opinion of Glen Phillips new record is to say that I really want to hear songs from Winter Pays for Summer when Toad the Wet Sprocket come to town this summer.Normally it would be anathema to suggest Toad omit any of their classics but I need to hear some of these tracks performed live with Todd,Randy and Dean.The lyrics, the melody, and the instrumentation are flawless and will no doubt demand many repeat listens.It is just wonderful to take a chance on a CD and realize it is a bona fide gem.
Glen Phillips Album Review:
Satisfying at 2006-02-25
This is a really nice CD. I like every song, and there is a good variety of rhythms and thoughtful lyrics. The material is better than the other solo CD I bought of his. I listen to this one a lot and have not tired of it.
Glen Phillips Album Review:
Phenomenal Release at 2005-09-29
Granted, Ive been a big fan of Glen since the early days of Toad the Wet Sprocket, so maybe Im biased. However, I feel that Glen has really broadened his horizons with this release. Whereas Abulum was an intimate portrait of the singer/songwriter, Winter Pays For Summer reveals him as a wonderful collaborator. Glen is an excellent performer live, but this album sacrifices in intimacy it more than makes up for with a greater depth and musical richness than his previous releases. For instance, the track Gather is nothing short of amazing. The emotional vocal harmonies with Ben Folds on Courage never fails to move me. And whenever I need a pick-me-up, Cleareyed always gets me energized. Every song on this disc is a gem. If you like Glens earlier work, I highly recommend this one.
Glen Phillips Album Review:
Weve all got a lot to be thankful for... at 2005-09-24
I was a huge Toad the Wet Sprocket fan and was depressed when I realized there would be no more Toad albums to look forward to. I kept up with the various members as they moved on and downloaded everything I could find from Glen Phillips and the band Lapdog which consisted Todd, Randy and even Dean for a while. Both entities put out some great music but I eventually lost track of them.I happened upon Winter Pays for Summer and snapped it up. After spending a month or so listening to this album I have to agree with many reviewers here at Amazon.com - its GREAT! Duck and CoverFinally Fading Out and Thankful are very strong. His lyrics are very good and the richness of the instrumental accompaniment proves that this is no lightweight effort.I am less infatuated with the slow, moody songs - but then I never liked TTWS slow, moody songs either. The pop song Falling is a decent tune but here the lyrics seem lacking. The only song I dislike is Gather.Do I think this album is better than TTWS as some here have suggested? No, but then is Phil Collins better than Genesis? Nope, not even close. Is Paul McCartney better than the Beatles? I laugh in your face. Is Ozzy Osbourne better than Sabbath? Come on... All kidding aside, there was a rawness about TTWS that I loved; an intangible that is only achieved by the group effort. You can sort of hear it in Lapdogs early releases where most of the old group was still together. All that was missing was the heart - Glen Phillips.

Glen Phillips Album Review:
If You Can See Him, You Should at 2006-01-25
My girlfriend and I were fortunate enough to see Glen Phillips perform at Largo in December (05) and had an absolute blast. While both of us were/are big Toad The Wet Sprocket fans, we thought that that era of music had past until I came across Winter Pays For Summer earlier in the year. Listening to that, it became clear that Glen still had a great deal to say!The live album provides a terrific reminder of how great it was to see Glen perform. While for the most part it lacks his cerebral quibs, the music and feel of the album is an accurate testament to that evening. The mix of solo and Toad numbers provide a great flow and I for one think that the versions of certain songs here far surpass their studio predecessors (Crowing, for one). All in all, if you loved Toad, youll love Glen, and if youre in the LA area, check to see if hes playing at Largo - its really a wonderful evening.
Glen Phillips Album Review:
Simply great at 2005-02-26
This album is nothing less than outstanding. I saw Glen during the tour when this was released and it truly represents how great his live performances are, let alone the depth of his music and lyrics. This is a must have for any Toad fan or any fan of music that has depth, emotion, and brilliance.
Glen Phillips Album Review:
Just A Man And His Guitar at 2004-07-11
The day the music died for me is the day Toad the Wet Sprocket called it quits. I went home that night, locked myself in my room, and listened to all their albums back-to-back, mourning an era of music come to an end. But then former lead-singer Glen Phillips launched a solo career and started touring small venues across the states. I had never seen Toad in concert and regretted the chance, so I made it a must to catch Glen live when he came to the Soiled Dove in Denver, CO. Incidentally, a pre-fame John Mayer opened for Glen at that show. The concert was intimate, sad, full of laughs and some pining for great musics past! Live at Largo captures those same feelings perfectly. Just Glen and his guitar. His playing is spot-on and his chops sound as if he hadnt missed a day of performing since his time with Toad. To me, Glens solo material is inching out on the plank a little more from where Toads music came to an end. The lighter songs got a little sillier (Drive By) and the darker stuff got more morose (darkest hour). The 17-song (plus intro) set includes mostly new solo stuff and new-new material, but littered throughout are a couple of TTWS tunes including 2 of my favorites, Crowing and Something to Say. If this disk lacks anything its the humor I saw on display at his live show. Glen is a Very funny man. Unfortunately his humor doesnt come across here as his comments in between songs are few. This is a must own for Toad fans and those who like great music at its rawest--just a guitar and a great voice.
Glen Phillips Album Review:
The Best Yet at 2004-04-30
If you are a Toad fan, pick this up. If you are new to Toad, pick this up. If youve never heard of Toad, pick this up. You will not be disappointed.
Glen Phillips Album Review:
Finally, a Glen Solo on CD..... at 2004-03-08
Ive been a Glen Phillips fan since I was 10 (back in 91 when Toad was hitting their prime with the album Fear)...his lyrics have touched me that no other songwriter could ever come close to.Recently I lost a book of CDs that contained one of my beloved bootleg Glen shows. This cd has become more than a replacement for that old Glen show, pretty much because it carries a wide selection, and since it was done particularly to sell on the market, has excellent sound. I love this show recording more than his debut album, Abulum, because it really captures the essence of what its like to sit in front of Glen and just have him serenade you, singing his heart out like the angel he is.For old Toad fans, of course, this is a must-have. For those of you who are fans of quiet acoustic songwriters such as John Mayer, Damien Rice, Jeff Buckley, .....buy this album and discover a weathered veteran who carries more soul and genuity than anyone else trying to jump on the single-acoustic-singer bandwagon.