Some diehard metal heads and diciples of Belzebub might frown upon that we here at Heavy Metale are reviewing a cd by such a non-metallic band like Toto, but then you can just sit there with your wrinkled faces, because in the Heavy Metale team all possible tastes fit in, just like in our beer. So why not just relax your facial muscles and ponder this text with an open mind ?
Toto XIV is a record that never was intended to see the light of day. The band’s last album Falling in Between was released nine years ago and two years later, in 2008, it was announced that Toto had split for good. But already in 2010, they were reunited and back on the road again. First there was the question of raising money for former bassist Mike Porcaros suffering from ALS, but the band apparently thought it was so fun to play together again, that they just continued touring. A new studio album, was never discussed however. Messieurs Lukather, Paich and company seemed perfectly happy to go on tour now and nver record in studio again under the name Toto. But an overlooked clause in their old record contract revealed that they signed on to deliver a certain number of albums, and that they now owed the record company one more cd.
And how lucky that turned out to be. For a product put together simply because of contractual obligations, Toto XIV is one hell of an impressive performance and if it proves to be the band swan song, they are really going out with a bang.
What impresses is the casual, organic and confident feeling Toto XVI exhibit as a whole. The songs have reportedly largely come up through jamming in the studio and are for the most parts group compositions. It feels like the band has had genuinely fun in the creative process. Here You find everything from tough riff monsters to jazzy beats, ballads and progressive symphonies. Together they create a homogenous entity that never outstays its welcome.
The opening track “Running Out of Time” bodes well, with a beautiful drive that remind me of a lot of other opening tracks from previous Totoalbum, as far back as Kingdom of Desire from the early 90s. Furthermore, its wonderful to once again hear Joseph William’s voice in the right place again. His distinctive voice makes it easy to draw parallels to The Seventh One of 1988, which was the last Totoplattan he sang lead on. But there are other things just these two records have in common. Even The Seventh One offered a smorgasbord of all possible styles of music that this band mastered so deft.
Let number two, “Burn” is a calmer and more moody piano-based story, reminiscent of Coldplay, but delivering a punch in the chorus that the Englishmen never could be capable of. “Holy War” is one of those Toto songs that one should not play in your car if you are afraid of getting speeding tickets. Lukather and Williams voices complement each other perfectly. The band even borrows from themselves by reusing the crescendo ending from “Goodbye Girl” from the 1978 debut album. “21st Century Blues” is as the name suggests a blues sung by Steve Lukather. It sends out Steely Dan vibes and the song might as well be from any of Luke’s latest solo album. Tom Scott horn arrangement and sax honkin’ adds extra spice. “Orphan” has become one of my personal favorites on the album, partly because it is the last outpost before we walk out into a wasteland of quieter songs, but what an outpost it is! Just aswith “Holy War”, it is better to skip during the car ride if you want to keep your driver’s licence. “Unknown Soldier” sung by Lukather is an epic story with many layers and elements to enjoy. “The Little Things” is the album’s first outright ballad. It has a hefty calypso feeling and offers a real surprise in the form of Steve Porcaro’s first lead vocals on a Totosong since “It’s a Feeling” back in 1982.
”Chinatown” reminds me of “Africa” in the beginning. Not surprising, given that it is David Paich who sings the verse. In the chorus You rather get vibes of “Georgy Porgy” which also makes sense since this song originally was written by Paich even before their debut album. On “All The Tears” Paich is back as lead singer again. This is also a ballad and so far into the album, the only real dip when I start reaching for the skip button. Not that the song is bad really, but that the pace has been too slow for too long. “Fortune” continues in the relaxed state even if you can not really call it a ballad. Joseph Williams impresses again. Michael McDonald’s distinctive voice in the backing vocals again makes You think of Steely Dan. I just have to point out the fact that Toto is a band blessed with so many amazing voices that also fits so well together. The backing vocals and choruses of the songs are completely magical.
And so we have reached the finale. And what a finale it is! “Great Expectations” is sung by David Paich in the beginning but the mic is taken over by Joseph Williams when the piece develops into an epic ending symphony in the same spirit as the “Home of the Brave” from 1988’s The Seventh One. This is a monster of a song that I really hope to hear live this summer at the Sweden Rock Festival when the band performs there.
If Toto XIV turns out to be the band’s thank you and goodbye-disc, they certainly bw out with their heads held high. There rests a sense of self assuredness, pride and love for creation, collaboration and creativity throughout the album that I have not felt from the band since as far back as aforementioned The Seventh One.
Unfortunately, the release of Toto XIV always be associated with Mike Porcaro, the band’s bass player who had to retire in 2007 due to ASL and who passed away just the other day. This easily reminds You of August 1992 when another Porcaro brother and band member, drummer Jeff, died only a few weeks before Kingdom of Desire would be released.
But this sad coincidence does not change the fact that Toto XIV is an album that can stand proudly next to the band’s most legendary masterpieces.
Review: 4/5 A Masterpiece!
The album is released in Europe on march 20.