Toil (album)
| Toil | ||||
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| Studio album by Flatfoot 56 | ||||
| Released | July 24, 2012 | |||
| Genre | Celtic punk, Christian punk, folk | |||
| Length | 38:31 | |||
| Label | Paper + Plastick | |||
| Producer | Johnny Rioux | |||
| Flatfoot 56 chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Toil | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Absolute Punk | 8/10 |
| Alternative Press |    |
| AMP Magazine | Positive |
| Consequence of Sound | |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | |
| Punk News | |
Toil is a studio album by the Chicago Celtic punk band Flatfoot 56, released on August 14, 2012, by Paper + Plastick. The release is the fourth studio album released by the group since they were signed by a label. Johnny Rioux, a member of the Celtic punk band Street Dogs, returned as the producer.
The album was released to generally favorable reviews. Critics and fans enjoyed the album's diversity of sound and song writing. Reviewers described the album's songs as working-class anthems with Christian themes. The final track on the album, a Celtic punk cover of the hymn "I'll Fly Away", was well received by music critics. The album produced one single, "I Believe It", that was released as a music video. Both the album and the single failed to chart. The track "Winter in Chicago" was featured on the soundtrack for the video game Watch Dogs.
While on tour in 2011, Flatfoot 56 played at Summerfest in Milwaukee with Less than Jake. Less than Jake drummer Vinnie Fiorello, owner of Paper + Plastick, saw the band play and was impressed by their energy and performance. When he discovered that the band was looking for a record label, he offered to sign them.
Johnny Rioux, who had produced Flatfoot 56's last album, Black Thorn, was chosen as the album's producer. The band felt that having the same producer improved communication and allowed the band to work more freely. According to frontman Tobin Bawinkel, this familiarity allowed Rioux to encourage the band to advance musically and think differently. During January 2012, the band recorded the entire album at the Atlas Studios in Chicago, Illinois.
The album's lyrics have been described as an anthematic examination of the struggles of the American working class and politically liberal. Along with highlighting the struggles of blue-collar America, the lyrics portray the idea that there is hope even when things appear to be bleak and that giving up is not an option. While there are Christian themes throughout the songs, neither Christian nor secular reviewers found them to be preachy.
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