Before NICKELBACK inherited the crown-princedom in being the butt of constant ridicule in the uppity music snob circles, TOTO used to be the elitists’ punching bag for years, if not decades – and absolutely for no reason whatsoever. In the band’s defense, it must be said that their hits have not become classics for nothing, and as David Paich‘s latest endeavor, “Forgotten Toys,” aptly demonstrated last year, these old-timers still have what it takes to write catchy, feelgood bangers. Now, it’s time to check out what shape Steve Lukather‘s songwriting quill is in, as his new solo album – the ninth overall – entitled “Bridges,” was released on June 16th, 2023, via The Players Club/Mascot Label Group. Featuring past and present members of the TOTO family tree, the sleevenotes convey an idea of what the music is going to sound like before you even drop the needle on the first track; yeah, this is some kind of yacht rock – something to be listened to while dressed in a chequered suit, slightly over-sized in the spirit of Miami Vice, with the jacket sleeves rolled up, and, most importantly, in a pastel shade. The 1980s were not perhaps the most triumphant decade when it comes to fashion but, by contrast, the mainstream music of the era was way better than it is now, what with the emphasis being on coherent songwriting rather than stupid gimmicks that have very little to do with the music itself. Unsurprisingly, Lukather still adheres to the tried and true songwriting tenets of the decades gone by and brings us a rather pleasing collection of 1980s-tinted yacht-rock schlagers.
If there is one musical trick that instantly triggers flashbacks of this ambiguous decade, it is the peculiar mix of the blues aesthetics and the compound 12/8 meter in a mainstream pop/rock song. Here, the album’s titular track, “Burning Bridges” echoes the bluesy shuffle of the 1989 Alannah Myles blockbuster, “Black Velvet,” pretty nicely. It’s certainly among the best this album has on offer, so of course, the song will go straight to my Spotify playlist when it’s online!
Rewinding a bit, “Far From Over,” opening the album, is another absolute highlight. For some reason, however, neither of these bangers were released as the leading singles; the honor has fallen to the tracks, “When I See You Again” and “Someone.” Both tracks traverse quite deep in the mid-tempo AOR terrain but without stepping all-in into the ballad realm. Pretty decent soft-rock numbers as they are, I still think my choices for the leading singles would have been different. As luck would have it, Lukather goes easy on the balladeering – there are just two songs of that sort and, quite frankly, I could have done without either one.
Well, perhaps the album closer, “I’ll Never Know” should be deemed a ballad of sorts too, but there’s something really quaint about it that makes me feel reluctant to think of it as a genuine ballad. Yeah, the tempo is remarkably slow but, nonetheless, Lukather‘s guitar chops somehow elevate the song from being yet another mandatory ballad in the selection. I guess this thing for ballads is in the blood of these old-time rockers. All the vintage rock albums from the 1980s used to have this one particular trait in common – there was always a shit-ton of ballads, most of which you just ended up skipping, and in the vinyl era all this maneuvering about the turntables had a habit of becoming really annoying over time. In comparison with “Forgotten Toys,” I’m afraid “Bridges” draws the shorter straw: Paich‘s solo was a tad less liberal with the ballads – and perhaps more versatile, overall. Obviously, the album’s appeal is all that much greater if you are one of those who happen to find TOTO‘s greatest achievement very pleasing to your ears. Neither Paich nor Lukather can outrun the towering legacy of their past – and why should they? There’s a good deal of that distinct TOTO vibe also on this album, in Lukather‘s signature riffs and legatos, especially. If it’s your cup of tea, you’re in for a good ride.
In conclusion, maybe skipping the ballads, I do find Lukather‘s new endeavor a worthy selection of 1980s-tinted soft-rock schlagers. “Bridges” is quite a pleasant nostalgia trip into the aesthetics of that pastel-shaded decade – and if you can top the listening experience off with a pair of those mirror-lens aviator shades placed firmly on your nose, all the better.
Written by Jani Lehtinen
Tracklist
- Far From Over
- Not My Kind of People
- Someone
- All Forevers Must End
- When I See You Again
- Take My Love
- Burning Bridges
- I’ll Never Know
Lineup
Steve Lukather – guitars, vocals
Simon Phillips – drums
Shannon Forrest – drums
Leland Sklar – bass
Jorgen Carlsso – bass
Steve Maggiora – keyboards
Trev Lukather – guitars
Label
The Players Club / Mascot Label Group