Starting Now is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket released on August 27, 2021 (exactly 30 years since the release of Fear) through Abe’s Records. This is the first album since the departure of longtime drummer Randy Guss in 2020.

The album started with vocalist Glen Phillips writing material that he thought would not fit a solo album and as his bandmates recorded versions of some of this music, he became convinced to make a studio album with them. Recording was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the musicians continued piecing together tracks over email, also including guest musicians such as rhythm and blues vocalist Michael McDonald. The songwriting goes back several years and discusses Phillips' spiritual journey and personal life.

Track listing All songs written by Glen Phillips, except where noted. "Game Day" – 3:44 "Transient Whales" – 3:32 "The Best of Me" – 3:22 "Starting Now" – 3:47 "In the Lantern Light" – 3:55 "Hold On" (includes lyrics from "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus) – 2:44 "Truth" (includes excerpt from "Oration in Memory of Abraham Lincoln" by Frederick Douglass) – 2:51 "Slowing Down" (Phillips and Mando Saenz) – 3:40 "Dual Citizen" – 3:49 "Fever" – 5:13

Personnel Toad the Wet Sprocket Dean Dinning – bass guitar, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals Josh Daubin – drums Glen Phillips – vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, mixing on "Dual Citizen" Todd Nichols – lead guitar, backing vocals

Additional personnel Mikal Blue – recording, mixing (except on "Dual Citizen"), production Eric Boulanger – engineering, mastering Daphne Chen – violin Richard Dodd – cello Eric Gorfain – strings, violin, arrangement Elyse Grossman – backing vocals on "Game Day" Leah Katz – viola Jonathan Kingham – piano on "Truth" Jeremy Lawton – organ on "Truth" Brody Lowe – artwork Michael McDonald – vocals on "The Best of Me" Chris Pelonis – backing vocals on "The Best of Me" Sophia Phillips – backing vocals on "Game Day" The Section Quartet – strings

See also List of 2021 albums

References

External links

Press release for the album