Phantom Tollbooth are a New York art-punk band who's members went on to play in Yo La Tengo, King Missile, B.A.L.L. and Bongwater. Gerard Cosloy signed them to Homestead Records in the 80's (Gerard was J. Mascis' college roommate who now runs Matador Records) and in 1988 they released Power Toy their final and best album before breaking up. On Power Toy they sound like an East-coast Minutemen, all jazzy and punky. Beard Of Lightning is the Power Toy album but with Robert Pollard of GBV fame singing his own lyrics. Bob had boasted (while drunk one night) that if he had sung on Power Toy the band would have "ruled the fucking world". The members of Phantom Tollbooth heard this and sent Bob the instrumental tracks to sing over, which he did, and Beard Of Lightning was the result.
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