House of Drumming.com

Felt this was worth of a thread over weekend chatty when it all disappears.
Is there a thread on the new LP? I didn't see one.

This is an epic recording imo. Carlock is brilliant in every possible way.
I LOVE Simon, BUT...TOTO is always a groove band and needs a groove
player. Luke has said many times, Simon is a drummer, Jeff was a
musician. Don't freak out over that...either you get it or you don't.
This LP sounds SO different with Keith on drums to me.

Good review: http://melodicrock.com/articles/reviews/2015/02/20/toto-xiv-review

Due to past line-up changes and experimentation, Toto have never made an album that perfectly balances all their traits. 'XIV' puts that right by bringing their blend of rock, pop, soul, prog, folk and world music into 2015, with lyrics rooted in an angry post-9/11 world where big issues are challenged and hope craved. Nothing epitomises that like uplifting finale, Great Expectations, a cinematic masterpiece that pivots around a spine-tingling hook and technical sorcery.

http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/190583/9

This song BLOWS me away...


Youtube for all the cuts...


Steve Lukather – vocals, guitars, bass on tracks 5, 6, 11
Joseph Williams – lead vocals, keyboards on tracks 5 and 11, park bench on track 2
David Paich – vocals, keyboards, upright bass on track 9
Steve Porcaro – vocals, keyboards
Keith Carlock – drums, background vocals on track 2


David Hungate – bass on tracks 3, 4, 7, 8
Tal Wilkenfeld – bass on tracks 9, 10
Leland Sklar – bass on track 2
Tim Lefebvre – bass on track 1
Lenny Castro – percussion on tracks 2, 3, 5-10
Martin Tillman – cello on tracks 6, 7, 11
C. J. Vanston – additional synths on tracks 1-6, 10, 11, background vocals on track 2, production
Michael McDonald – background vocals on track 6, 8, 10
Amy Keys – background vocals on tracks 4, 6, 8, 10
Mabvuto Carpenter – background vocals on tracks 5, 11
Jamie Savko – background vocals on tracks 1, 2, 11
Emma Williams – background vocals on track 2
Tom Scott – saxophone & horn arrangement on track 4, saxophone on track 8

Well, Simon did start in Toto with the most rememberable drum intro since 50 Ways, so........

New album is very good. Great Expectations is definitely the highlight of album. Carlock did a great job on the album. Crashing his rides is a good thing. Unique guy for sure. Wonder what went wrong with Keith playing live with the band.

Keith gave touring priorities to Steely Dan, Shannon, Jeff's clone in a very good way, took the chair, Toto feels at home with him, they could/should keep Shannon.

It doesn't get me in knots, but I just disagree with this characterization of Simon, and I wonder if it's biased by his drum kit appearance, recording history, etc. Simon's pocket and groove is huge. Sure, he pulls out the chops more often, but he does so in an extremely musical manner and the time always feels great. I mean listen to this and tell me you don't think his pocket is huge, chops tastefully used, and musicality is sophisticated -

……..

That was just stupid and ignorant Bigbone. You have no idea the history of this band
and the relationship Luke had with Jeff. Obviously, you DON'T get it. Way to jump
on a man's weakness and use that to justify your ignorance. If you are serious, that
is even more scary. Move on... Closest to a troll comment in here in a long time!

Pocketplayer wrote:That was just stupid and ignorant Bigbone. You have no idea the history of this band
and the relationship Luke had with Jeff. Obviously, you DON'T get it. Way to jump
on a man's weakness and use that to justify your ignorance. If you are serious, that
is even more scary. Move on... Closest to a troll comment in here in a long time!

Yo relax dude ,i don't need to be insulted from you, i erase the comment.

Pocketplayer wrote:This is an epic recording imo.

I disagree. A few good moments, but overall it's nowhere near their best work. The overall production isn't doing it for me either.

As for Carlock, I love his playing, but it feels like he's holding back big time here. It also feels like he didn't have enough time with the music to really deliver the perfect parts.

I really wanted to love the record, but after listening to it many times, it's not growing on me at all.

It took me several takes, but I hear the old TOTO influences from Paich and especially
Steve.

As for Bigbone, you kept my comment in quotes so no point in me deleting it and calling
it a day.