Little Things [Bonus Track] Album Reviews

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AMG Review

Originally issued in March 2004, Toby Lightman's debut didn't pick up a lot of buzz. Catering in both sound and vision to consumers too old for Avril but too noncommittal for Ani, Little Things managed the single "Devils and Angels" and little else. Lightman, however, was undeterred. She toured steadily in support of the record, eventually hooking up with fellow non-threatening troubadour Gavin DeGraw, who had the makings of a triple-A hit with his WB-theme "Don't Want to Be." And like DeGraw, whose own Chariot went through a successful post-release refit, Lightman's record was reissued in July '04 with a bonus track, a jangle-soul version of the Mary J. Blige classic "Real Love." The cover made sense -- Little Things showed off Lightman's appreciation for Mary J. on cuts like "Leave It Inside" and "Front Row." Together with the tour exposure, the single was enough to re-start Toby's climb, even if her debut was still marred by overproduction and grey area genre appropriation. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide