Dulcinea (album)
Encyclopedia
Dulcinea is an album
by Toad the Wet Sprocket
released in 1994. It is their fourth studio album with Columbia Records
and the follow-up to their popular album fear
, which was released in 1991. Two songs from Dulcinea reached Top 40 designation on the Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts: "Fall Down" and "Something's Always Wrong". Dulcinea was RIAA Certified
Gold on September 1, 1994 and Platinum on July 31, 1995.
The album's name is a reference to the love interest
in Miguel de Cervantes
' classic Spanish novel, Don Quixote. At least two songs on the album allude to themes found in the novel. "Crowing" is a song about a man who does not know how to keep a hold of his lover. "Windmills" is a metaphor
ical song about how people spend much of their lives chasing absurd or impossible pursuits (the allusion being to a specific scene in Don Quixote where the title character uselessly attacks a windmill
).
Dulcinea also delves into some spiritual themes. "Fly from Heaven" is sung from the perspective of James
, who is portrayed as Jesus
' literal brother and upset about the manipulation of His word. "Begin" and "Reincarnation Song" each explore questions about death
and the afterlife
.
From a musical perspective, Dulcinea is a return by Toad to the basics of a four-person band. The band leaves behind the overdubbed and orchestral aspects of Fear for a cleaner acoustic sound (possibly with the exception of "Fall Down").
Other tracks recorded during the albums 1993 sessions included "Crazy Life" (later released on the Empire Records
soundtrack and remixed by Tom Lord-Alge for Coil
) as well as an alternate take of "Reincarnation Song" and two tracks, "Hope" and "All Right" which would be released on In Light Syrup the following year.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Toad the Wet Sprocket
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Toad the Wet Sprocket is an American alternative rock band formed in 1986. The band consists of singer/guitarist Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and drummer Randy Guss. The band enjoyed chart success in the 1990s with the singles "Walk on the Ocean," "All I Want,"...
released in 1994. It is their fourth studio album with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
and the follow-up to their popular album fear
Fear (Toad the Wet Sprocket album)
fear is an album by Toad the Wet Sprocket that Columbia Records released in 1991. The album was preceded by the single "Is It For Me", which failed to chart well....
, which was released in 1991. Two songs from Dulcinea reached Top 40 designation on the Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts: "Fall Down" and "Something's Always Wrong". Dulcinea was RIAA Certified
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
Gold on September 1, 1994 and Platinum on July 31, 1995.
The album's name is a reference to the love interest
Dulcinea
"Dulcinea del Toboso" is a fictional character who is referred to in Miguel de Cervantes' novel Don Quixote. Seeking the traditions of the knights-errant of old, Don Quixote finds a true love whom he calls Dulcinea. She is a simple peasant in his home town, but Quixote imagines her to be the most...
in Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His magnum opus, Don Quixote, considered the first modern novel, is a classic of Western literature, and is regarded amongst the best works of fiction ever written...
' classic Spanish novel, Don Quixote. At least two songs on the album allude to themes found in the novel. "Crowing" is a song about a man who does not know how to keep a hold of his lover. "Windmills" is a metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
ical song about how people spend much of their lives chasing absurd or impossible pursuits (the allusion being to a specific scene in Don Quixote where the title character uselessly attacks a windmill
Tilting at windmills
Tilting at windmills is an English idiom which means attacking imaginary enemies, or fighting unwinnable or futile battles. The word “tilt”, in this context, comes from jousting....
).
Dulcinea also delves into some spiritual themes. "Fly from Heaven" is sung from the perspective of James
James the Just
James , first Bishop of Jerusalem, who died in 62 AD, was an important figure in Early Christianity...
, who is portrayed as Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
' literal brother and upset about the manipulation of His word. "Begin" and "Reincarnation Song" each explore questions about death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
and the afterlife
Afterlife
The afterlife is the belief that a part of, or essence of, or soul of an individual, which carries with it and confers personal identity, survives the death of the body of this world and this lifetime, by natural or supernatural means, in contrast to the belief in eternal...
.
From a musical perspective, Dulcinea is a return by Toad to the basics of a four-person band. The band leaves behind the overdubbed and orchestral aspects of Fear for a cleaner acoustic sound (possibly with the exception of "Fall Down").
Track listing
- "Fly from Heaven" (Glen PhillipsGlen PhillipsGlen Phillips is a songwriter, lyricist, singer and guitarist. He is best known as the singer and songwriter of 1990s alternative rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket.-Personal life:...
) – 4:38 - "Woodburning" (Todd Nichols, Phillips) – 3:59
- "Something's Always WrongSomething's Always Wrong"Something's Always Wrong" is a single by alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket. The song is included on their 1994 album Dulcinea. "Fall Down" was co-written by Glen Phillips and Todd Nichols...
" (Nichols, Phillips) – 4:59 - "Stupid" (Phillips) – 2:42
- "Crowing" (Phillips) – 3:20
- "Listen" (Nichols, Phillips) – 4:09
- "Windmills" (Phillips) – 3:50
- "Nanci" (Phillips) – 3:00
- "Fall DownFall Down"Fall Down" is a single by alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket. The song is included on their 1994 album Dulcinea. "Fall Down" was co-written by Glen Phillips and Todd Nichols...
" (Nichols, Phillips) – 3:24 - "Inside" (Nichols, Phillips) – 4:19
- "Begin" (Nichols, Phillips) – 4:05
- "Reincarnation Song" (Phillips) – 7:14
- "Hope" (Bonus track on international release)
Other tracks recorded during the albums 1993 sessions included "Crazy Life" (later released on the Empire Records
Empire Records
Empire Records is a 1995 coming of age film that follows a group of record store employees over the course of one exceptional day. The employees of this independent music store try to fight off a large chain, all while learning about each other...
soundtrack and remixed by Tom Lord-Alge for Coil
Coil (album)
Coil is an album by Toad the Wet Sprocket released in 1997. It is their fifth studio album, and the final one before the band broke up in 1998. As with previous albums, Coil was released under the Columbia Records label and produced by Gavin MacKillop....
) as well as an alternate take of "Reincarnation Song" and two tracks, "Hope" and "All Right" which would be released on In Light Syrup the following year.