Album review: TOTO – XIV

TOTO - XIV

Frontiers [Released 20.03.15]

Toto are back for their first new studio album since 2006′s ‘Falling In Between’. Since then the band have undergone a few changes with Joseph Williams back in the band since 2010 (he sang on their  mid/late 80′s classics ‘Fahrenheit’ and ‘The Seventh One’) and original bassist David Hungate back in the fold.

They join the ever present Steve Lukather, along with David Paich and Steve Porcaro. They even have a new drummer with Keith Carlock (Steely Dan) who joined the band last year after Simon Phillips spent over twenty years with the band.

Those inlay sleeve anoraks like me will also spot a few familiar names in the backing musicians include percussionist Lenny Castro, Lee Sklar (who has been a member of the touring band) and Michael McDonald lends a hand on backing vocals.

The music is classic Toto, obviously recalling the two albums Joseph Williams appeared on with opener ‘Running Out Of Time’ a catchy AOR tune the band do so well. ’21st Century Blues’ has a chilled groove, Williams vocals take centre stage backed by sax/horns and some stylish guitar solos from Steve Lukather.

‘Chinatown’ is an older song given a spruce up and shows the band’s jazzier leanings with neat keys/guitar interplay. ‘Orphan’ was chosen as a lead off song and rightly so as it is made for radio. A sparse piano/vocal leads into a big guitar riff and we are off on another Toto AOR adventure! The guitar outro is pretty damn fine too.

The band never shy from tackling contentious subjects like on ‘Unknown Soldier (for Jeffrey)’, recalls ‘Home Of The Brave’ off ‘The Seventh One’ in its epic feel and vocal arrangements. ‘Great Expectations’ starts off slowly before throwing everything in musically and then some. Toto do epic songs so well and the listener never loses interest as they keep melody at the heart of everything they do. Joseph Williams really belts it out on this one and I’m really digging those piano parts, plus each of the band’s vocalists gets a chance to sing solo.

The musicianship of this band really sets them apart from their peers and although most of the critics never liked the band, us the fans love them and that’s what counts. For me I’d rank this album in my all time Toto top five albums, yes it is that good and each play reveals a couple more musical nuances. 

Hopefully the band will do at least one more album, however if they do bow out here then they have ended on a musical high. If you like Toto and good quality music just buy this album!  *****

Review by Jason Ritchie


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 25 February 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 27 February 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 4 March 2024

COLLATERAL Glass Sky (Big Shot Records)
THE ZUTONS Pauline (ICEPOP)
THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS Rise Above It All (Mascot)
MATT PEARCE & THE MUTINY From Here To The Moon (indie)
THE BLACK VULTURES Never Say (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 4 March 2024

09:00-12:00 LEE AARON Tattoo Me (Metalville)
12:00-13:00 THE END MACHINE The Quantum Phase (Frontiers)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply