Toto - Through the Looking Glass
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Free Music Notes for Through the Looking Glass
Free Music Review: Toto's Tribute to their heros is HOT
Hit: 4 Stars
Despite the initial misgivings about this album, "Through the Looking Glass" has proven to be a fantastic achievement by the band.Toto is not only celebrating a 25 year anniversary, but also the ability to release music without the direction of a label! They decided to do something different for this celebration -- pay tribute to the artists who got them started on the path that has brought them to where they are today.
The album opens with the Bob Marley tune, "Could You Be Loved," an absolutely kicking arrangement that takes the band in a direction it has never been before? Rap? On a Toto record? Oh yes. And unlike most Rap, it's tasteful. Toto proves that they certainly live up to their namesake (Toto meaning, "all encompassing" as far as musical abilities). Bobby Kimball takes the helm for vocals on this track, but this is mainly a full band vocal masterpiece. What fantastic harmony!
Steely Dan's "Bodhisattva" follows, a really fun and fast paced song that keeps the album strong. Kimball once again takes vocals, and nails it!
The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" features the return of keyboardist Steve Porcaro, and MAN is he unbelievable. The keyboards create an incredible mood in this song, coupled with the soulful, smooth voice of Steve Lukather. Some of the best guitaring from Luke can be heard on this track -- incredible!
Al Green's "Can't Get Next To You" features the return of Toto's horn section, makes this song worth listening to on it's own. Kimball nails the vocals here.
Stevie Wonder's "Livin For the City" takes on a much darker light in this toto-lly awesome version. The keyboard melody is replaced by Luke's guitar, and WOW. Kimball nails the vocals once again, and harmony at the end of the song is absolutely incredible. The instrumental break takes the listener on an even darker journey, as sound clips take control and replay September 11, 2001. An amazing song, this!
Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage/Butterfly" sails off next, the band's classic instrumental tune. VERY cool. Very indicative of a Simon Phillips record (and you can tell he mixed this one.) Wow!
Next, arguably the best song on the album, is Elton John's "Burn Down the Mission" with Bobby Kimball on lead vocals. Utterly amazing. The production on this song is fantastic, the instrumentals are unbelievable, and the background chorus is everything you expect from a Toto vocal -- perfection. The album is worth buying just to hear this one.
Clapton's "Sunshine of Your Love" follows, and Luke absolutely nails this one. Great vocals, and the guitar..... Amazing. Luke is clearly one of the best in the business.
Eric Burden's "House of the Rising Sun" takes a much harder edge on this album than the original. Kimball takes lead vocals, and he absolutely shines. Taking into account the lyrics of this song, this melody -- at least to me -- is what the song should sound like.
Elvis Costello's "Watching the Detectives" is a joy to hear. Costello has publically stated his hatred for the band Toto, and the band hits back by doing this song. Luke takes lead vocals and does a fantastic impersonation of Costello -- better than the original.
The album closes with Bob Dylan's "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" with David Paich taking the lead vocals. It's quite refreshing hearing Dave like this -- I've never heard him sing like this before. Sound effects added in the studio give this song a "live" feel to it. The music is top-notch, as always.
Bottom line? Is it Toto's best? No. Is it their worst? No. But then, does a veteran band like this HAVE a worst album? Certainly not. Through the Looking Glass is one of the best tribute/cover albums I've ever heard. Yeah, perhaps I'm a bit biased, since I'm a fan.
This is a must have for any Toto fan or just a fan of the originals. They all surpass the originals, at least in my opinion, as far as production is concerned. One thing you can always expect from a Toto album is perfection in the studio. It's their mark, and it's why they were always so sought after as studio musicians.
GET THIS ALBUM!
Free Music Review: Through the Looking Glass - a Tribute
Hit: 4 Stars
Toto's "Through the Looking Glass" is a great album that should be listened to by every Toto fan. As a professional musician, I've often thought that it would be neat to put together a collection of those artists/composers who influenced me. Every musician has had several, from classical to jazz to pop - someone who has inspired them in their musical development. I think it very admirable that they decided to put an album like this together.
Of the tunes that I am familiar with, Toto has done an amazing job of keeping to the original artist's style, yet modernizing and making it their own at the same time. George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" has been arranged as a power ballad, opening with some keyboard sequencing and ending with a heart-felt, guitar solo. The tribute to Herbie Hancock's classic "Maiden Voyage/Butterfly" is simply stellar - again, a modern sound that any contemporary jazz station would be proud to play. Elton's "Burn Down the Mission" is another tune that retains the "Toto" sound, yet doesn't take away from what Elton produced.
Think about it - how many covers have new artists butchered? As a classically trained pianist, I was taught to keep it in the style/era of the original composer, yet make it my own. Toto has done just that. Though I do not care for most of the songs on this album (the originals never did anything for me), I am impressed, I am impressed with the overall result. If you enjoy Toto's music, this is one for your collection.
Free Music Review: sounds like Toto--yet doesn't sound like Toto
Hit: 4 Stars
This is an interesting album to listen to--it's definately *arranged* like other toto records, but it doesn't always *sound* like other toto records because Paich/Lukather didn't write the material here. I'm guess what's missing are the chord changes that make a toto album sound ... like toto. That's why I'm not giving it 5 stars. This album might be better named with a different band name.The cover of Elton John/Bernie Taupin's "Burning down the Mission" is a standout--Bobby Kimball sings his heart out. Also David Paich on vocals on "It takes a lot to laugh..." The timing on their cover of Cream's "Sunshine of your love" brings back memories of the B section of Jake to the Bone" (Kingdom of Desire).
All that being said, these guys are amazing, talented individuals. Try to catch them live sometime. This album illustrates why they were (are) in such high demand as session musicians. Like most of their other recordings, you can learn something musically from each listing.
Free Music Review: Stephen Hurren from London (UK)
Hit: 4 Stars
Although I'm such a slight Toto fan myself: And considering I saw them in concert on their tour of this album, I do think of them as clever musicians. There wouldn't be anything wrong with them covering other peoples songs. But it's the distorted rhythym guitar sounds that they make which I find quite irritating. They can also give people headaches, obviously. And in fact, I agree that their versions of the first three trackson the album are smashing. And my other two favourites on this album are "Watching The Detectives" and probably "Sunshine Of Your Love" which I find more up to date than Cream's own version.
But I definitely find their versions of "House Of The Rising Sun" and "Living For The City" too much avon-guard in the background which I also don't find too pleasant enough to listen to at home. I'm not too keen on the fourth track either.
Free Music Review: A Toto Triumph!
Hit: 4 Stars
The newest release by Toto is a cover disc of songs that perhaps influenced the band through the years. It is very well done.The artists that originally recorded these songs should be very pleased with these covers. Toto stayed true to the original tracks with a little added twist here and there.
They cover the gambit from reggae, Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved", R&B, Stevie Wonders' Living for the City" to even Elvis Costello's "Watching the Detectives". They also cover, Steely Dan (Bodhisttva), George Harrison (While My Guitar Gently Weeps), Elton John (Burn Down The Mission) plus five more.
Sometimes cover albums are poorly done and the artists renditions are way over the top. Not in this case.
Toto pays tribute to some their heroes and they do it with flying colors.