Toto - XIV

[Jez]

What XIV is , if you actually strip it down and listen to it properly, is a very very fine album. It's about, the songs, the arrangements, the feel, The musicianship, the effort the band have put into this and the end product over all. I've been playing this for nearly a week on rotation now and I think anyone who is a fan of this band, or even a casual observer, cannot deny that this is a very very good album and has more than lived up to expectations and then some.

[PeterS]

But Chinatown is dross,right?

[JC_AOR]

 

 

Suitable for HHs, absolutely. I know it's not heavy but I think the scope of musical styles and genres that HHs represents is made clear on the main page and being heavy certainly is not a requirement. As for Prince and Kate Bush not being on the site...no comment from me Glad your giving Toto a try anyway, Peter, they're some pretty cool and super talented lads.

If you're not sure whether or not a particular band falls within these constraints, just ask (realistically, it's an aesthetic judgment).

 

Which is , I guess, fair enough.

 

I think a lot of us do like Kate Bush , Genesis and similar bands/artists though. Makes me feel they are floating around that boundary?

 

I suspect quite a few like 'Grunge' as well, but say it very quietly.

Thats fair enough. I think we all like stuff that kind of sits on the boundary a bit in terms of musical styles and genres. I remember before Bryan Adams and Richard Marx were welcomed to HHs I started an unofficial rally type of thing in the polls section - and we won! ?

[Geoff]

If this is 100%, IV must be least 130% ?

 

And a CD that is actually good would be 200%? Is that how this game works?

[Glen]

 

If this is 100%, IV must be least 130% ?

 

And a CD that is actually good would be 200%? Is that how this game works?

 

 

I know you dont like Toto, but there's no denying that IV is a great album.

 

I love pretty much every song on that album.

[PeterS]

 

 

If this is 100%, IV must be least 130% ?

 

And a CD that is actually good would be 200%? Is that how this game works?

 

 

I know you dont like Toto, but there's no denying that IV is a great album.

 

I love pretty much every song on that album.

 

 

No denying? Challenge accepted.

[Nightrain]

Pete, this is a very good song for you to listen man

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZhUe2WzyS0

[PeterS]

Wooawooahwooah.

[Jez]

'Chinatown' is the most typical West Coast style track on the album and fits in perfectly with the variation of all the other stuff going on. I can understand people not liking this one, but for me, it's one of the strongest tracks and the one that harkens back the most to their first 4 albums.

[Nick C]

Played it a couple of times today ... early impressions are ... yeah, it's a pretty cool album. I think Chinatown is a neat song too not sure why folks aren't too keen on it.

The only beef I have is that the production especially the first couple songs takes a bit of getting used to...it sounds almost muffled like the bass and drums have no presence, think of playing it under a pillow - I was thinking "is this another Vapour Trails (Rush)" at first. Thankfully it's not and the later tracks sound better, whether it's because I get used to the sound or they actually do sound better - I dunno, but I find when I go back to the first tracks after playing it through then I get the same impression of a muffled sound. Maybe it's my ears .

All the songs are good, no fillers and I enjoyed it even more the second time I played it - so it's definitely a grower.

[gener8tr]

Chinatown is a fabulous slice of Westcoast AOR and could have easily fit onto a Steely Dan album back in the day.

 

But let's not fool ourselves, please. This is not Toto V.

[gener8tr]

... what I mean by that ("Not Toto V") is that this album would not have fit in 1984 / 1985. At least not the 1984 / 1985 as I remember it.

 

Doesn't take away the fact that XIV is a very good 2015 release, however!

[PeterS]

Keep going guys .At the end of this I'll have a good list of bands to avoid.

[gener8tr]

But I dig the Westcoast AOR / Laid-Back sound on this one enough to order the Japanese pressing.

 

Very AIRPLAY'ish, this one... and that's a really good thing!

[Jez]

Chinatown is a fabulous slice of Westcoast AOR and could have easily fit onto a Steely Dan album back in the day.

 

But let's not fool ourselves, please. This is not Toto V.

 

 

As good as Toto IV?, Certainly not, but I will catgorically say for the record, this is the best, most consistent Toto record since 'The Seventh One'.

[gener8tr]

 

Chinatown is a fabulous slice of Westcoast AOR and could have easily fit onto a Steely Dan album back in the day.

 

But let's not fool ourselves, please. This is not Toto V.

 

 

As good as Toto IV?, Certainly not, but I will catgorically say for the record, this is the best, most consistent Toto record since 'The Seventh One'.

 

 

I should re-phrase, Jez...

 

So many bands now-a-days are claiming "This is like our follow-up to..." some 30+ years later... And as much as I'd like to believe it, it's simply not possible and I've sadly come to accept it.

 

At least Jon Bon Jovi has admitted as much. Something along the lines of "I couldn't re-write Slippery When Wet again if I wanted to to. I was 25 years old back then; I was a different person and the world was a different place."

 

Toto XIV is great on it's own and doesn't need to be classified as "The follow-up to Toto IV." 2015 is a LONG way from 1985.

[gener8tr]

...and I did purchase the Japanese CD pressing on ebay earlier today, so I do not feel even one bit bad having listened to the album on constant repeat via youtube this entire day.

 

I'm really digging this one. It doesn't have the big MTV video nor the Circus Magazine photo-shoot, but if you like that smooth westcoast sound from yesteryear, you've come to the right place with this one.

[gener8tr]

And while were talking Toto, anyone know if or where I can pick-up a copy of their 1982 Budokan show?

 

Was it released on Laserdisc, VHS, Betamax?

[gener8tr]

I'm getting into this one more and more with each and every spin.

 

It's not Toto IV. Two totally different beasts.

 

There are no big Casey Kasem Top-40 hits. No Rockline interviews. No goofing around on-set with Martha Quinn and no sold-out 20,000 seat arenas with Asia opening.

 

But that's okay. XIV is more mature than IV. And while it would not have fit me at age 14 in 1982, it fits me very nicely in 2015.

[gener8tr]

Listened to this one quite a few times this past weekend.

 

Luke and Co. say XIV is like the natural follow-up to IV. That would put this disc in the 1984 / 1985 timeframe.

 

I would argue it's more of a precursor; Like Toto II or III circa 1978 / 1979ish. VERY good Westcoast AOR that would have been played on both AM and FM radio back in the day (when AM radio still had some chops).

 

I'm digging this one A LOT!

[Glen]

 

Chinatown is a fabulous slice of Westcoast AOR and could have easily fit onto a Steely Dan album back in the day.

 

But let's not fool ourselves, please. This is not Toto V.

 

 

As good as Toto IV?, Certainly not, but I will catgorically say for the record, this is the best, most consistent Toto record since 'The Seventh One'.

 

 

I would agree with that statement.

 

No its not as good as IV which was a silly billing from the get go, but I am enjoying this album a lot. Yeah including 'Chinatown'.

 

One of my fav tracks is actually 'Great Expectation'. Also 'Unknown Soldier' is pretty great, love that one.

 

However I must agree with this comment from Nick -

 

The only beef I have is that the production especially the first couple songs takes a bit of getting used to...it sounds almost muffled like the bass and drums have no presence, think of playing it under a pillow - I was thinking "is this another Vapour Trails (Rush)" at first. Thankfully it's not and the later tracks sound better, whether it's because I get used to the sound or they actually do sound better - I dunno, but I find when I go back to the first tracks after playing it through then I get the same impression of a muffled sound. Maybe it's my ears .

 

Why is it the first track or 2 sound muffled but later the disc sounds real good?? Weird.

 

Also, has anyone got the Jap version? Im intrigued if the sound quality is any better and what the bonus track 'Bend' is like??

 

Cheers

[Jez]

The Jap version sounds pretty much like the 'Normal' version, even as Blu spec CD2 . The 'problem' (if you can call it a problem) with the first two tracks is the mixing rather than anything else. I can see Nick's point in that the rhythm section does sound a little muddy on those 2 tracks, but to be honest, I think that is a very minor point when it comes to an album as good as this one and certainly doesn't spoil my enjoyment of those songs one bit.

 

The Jap bonus track 'Bend' is a Steve Porcaro written track, very gentle, sparse and atmospheric, featuring just Steve and keys. I love it, as it adds another dimension to the album and rounds it off very nicely, but I think some others may find it non essential.

[Glen]

Cheers mate.

 

Ill stick with the normal version then as i love the end with Great Exp.

 

Yeah the sound isnt really a major issue just a bit odd that the sound fluctuates.

 

All in all though a very good album.

[Glen]

This is actually one of my fav releases of 2015. Its grown massively. I love pretty much every song.

[Nightrain]

Yeah agree, belongs in the top 5 and a beautiful album