Tag Archives: Toto

Album review: TOMI MALM – Coming Home

Posted on October 10, 2020 by jason

Website [Release date 16.10.20] “Coming Home” is the second album from Finland’s classically trained writer/ producer/ musician, Tomi Malm. Three years after his highly successful “Walking On Air” album, he again recruits some of the best in the Westcoast Rock … Continue reading →

Album review: CHRIS ROSANDER – King Of Hearts

Posted on May 10, 2020 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 26.06.20] Christian Rosander is a 22-year-old musician and songwriter from Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Since he was 14 years old, he’d been writing songs in the AOR/Melodic and Westcoast genre. To be fair you’d been pretty certain the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, AOR, AOR Heaven, Chris Rosander, King Of Hearts, melodic rock, review, synth pop, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review: CHAMPLIN WILLIAMS FRIESTEDT – 2

Posted on May 5, 2020 by andynathan

Black Lodge [Release Date 15.05.20] In that genre of the softest and smoothest AOR given the shorthand ‘West coast’, CWF are something of a superstar collaboration. Former Chicago singer and keyboard player Bill Champlin and Joseph Williams, singer with Toto … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, AOR, Champlin Williams Friestedt, Chicago, CWF, Michael McDonald, soft rock, Toto, West Coast | Leave a comment

Single reviews: THE DARKER MY HORIZON, MILTON HIDE, ALLAN CLARKE, CWF, THE LICKERISH QUARTET

Posted on May 3, 2020 by jason

THE DARKER MY HORIZON Carpe Diem Another band utilising their lockdown time wisely are the Darker My Horizon, who made the video with help from their fans with all proceeds going to the NHS charities. Nice riff-tastic tune with lyrics … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Allan Clarke, AOR, classic rock, CWF, folk, Jellyfish, melodic rock, Milton Hide, modern rock, New releases, pop, power pop, review, rock, singles, the Darker My Horizon, The Hollies, the Lickerish Quartet, Toto | Leave a comment

Book review: ON TRACK…Toto/The Solo Beatles/Steely Dan (“Every album, every song”)

Posted on February 19, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Pubishing [Publication date January/February 2020] Liked and loathed in equal measures by the music press in the 1970s and 1980s, ultimately the band may have had the last laugh. As author Jacob Holm-Lupp reiterates, their latest offering – XIV … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, book, classic rock, Donald Fagen, fusion, George Harrison, Jazz rock, John Lennon, melodic rock, On Track, Paul McCartney, pop, review, Ringo Starr, Steely Dan, The Solo Beatles, Toto, Walter Becker | Leave a comment

Album review: KING OF HEARTS

Posted on November 6, 2019 by jason

MelodicRock Records [Release date 22.11.19] King Of Hearts are another band making a comeback many years after their first shot at musical stardom back in the late 80s. However, their label at the time didn’t release their debut album which … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, AOR, Bruce Gaitsch, Chicago, CJ Vanston, Eagles, King Of Hearts, melodic rock, review, Timothy B. Schmit, Tommy Funderburk, Toto, West Coast | Leave a comment

Album review: RINGO STARR – What’s My Name

Posted on November 6, 2019 by jason

Universal Music Group [Release date 25.10.19] The world’s most famous drummer doesn’t need to keep bringing out new albums and could rest on his laurels and enjoy the fruits of his past labour but no, here is a man who … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, classic rock, Colin Hay, drummer, Edgar Winter, Joe Walsh, John Lennon, Paul McArtney, review, Ringo Starr, rock, Steve Lukather, The Beatles, The Eagles, Toto, What's My Name | Leave a comment

Gig review: TOTO – Royal Chelsea Hospital, London, 13 June 2019

Posted on June 19, 2019 by andynathan

In the ever more crowded gigging season, a fresh trend over the last few years has been for London’s finest historic settings to be used for concerts. Following in the footsteps of Hampton Court and Greenwich is now a short … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain, gig, Joseph Williams, Justin Hawkins, live at Chelsea, melodic rock, review, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, The Darkness, Toto, Warren Ham | Leave a comment

Album review: CANNONBALLZ – 8Ballz2Many

Posted on April 9, 2019 by jason

MelodicRock Records [Release date 10.05.19] Andrew McNeice and his MelodicRock Records label have released some top quality AOR releases in recent years including Don Barnes and the excellent comeback album from Boulevard, now you can add to this Cannonballz. Who … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged 8Ballz2Many, album, AOR, Cannonballz, Jazz rock, melodic, melodic rock, MelodicRock Records, review, Robbie LaBlanc, Toto | Leave a comment

Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 2)

Posted on January 30, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

John Verity - GIANTS OF ROCK - Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 2)

Day 2 – Saturday John Verity opened up shop on a damp Saturday with a thoughtful blues rock set, not overplaying his own solo material (new album: Blue To My Soul) and treating us to some familiar standards including ‘Cocaine’ … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 27 January 2018, blues, Bobby Kimball, Boston, Butlins, classic rock, festival, Fran Cosmo, Giants Of Rock, Hawkwind, John Verity, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, melodic rock, Minehead, progressive, Somerset, space rock, Toto, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

News: For Your Listening Pleasure…January 2018 – Toto, Judas Priest, Narrow Plains

Posted on January 7, 2018 by jason

A new monthly page where we give a brief mention and/or review to new lead songs from upcoming albums and more… Judas Priest are back with ‘Lightning Strikes’ off their upcoming album ‘Firepower’ which is due on 9 March via … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, All Posts, Editorial & Opinion, NEWS | Tagged albums, Alex James Brierley, Fiction Syxx, Judas Priest, Kayak, melodic, melodic rock, metal, New releases, new songs, pop, prog rock, rock, Simon Lewis, singles, the Darker My Horizon, the Narrow Plains, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review: SIMON PHILLIPS – Protocol 4

Posted on December 29, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Phantom Recordings [Release date 27.10.17] We couldn’t resist ‘Protocol III’ with its fusion flavours and great musicality but arguably it is edged by the latest iteration. This time Simon Phillips (best known for his work with Toto) brings in guitarist … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, Dennis Hamm, drummer, drums, Ernest Tibbs, funk, Greg Howe, jazz funk, jazz fusion, Protocol 4, review, Simon Phillips, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review: BOULEVARD – IV Luminescence

Posted on August 19, 2017 by jason

MelodicRock Records [Release date 22.09.17] Here’s a band I thought I’d never hear new music from and I am very glad to be proved wrong. Boulevard are a Canadian band who released two albums – 1988′s self-titled debut and 1990′s ‘Into … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, AOR, Boulevard, Chicago, IV Luminescence, melodic, review, rock, Toto | Leave a comment

Gig review: SUMMERFEST – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, 28 June-9 July 2017

Posted on July 25, 2017 by andynathan

In a world of constant change in popular music, for a festival to celebrate its 50th year, as Milwaukee’s Summerfest did this year, represents a lifetime. I’d been to the festival certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s biggest … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged AOR, Bad Boy, Blackberry Smoke, Bob Dylan, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Dennis De Young, festival, Foghat, gig, Greta Van Fleet, Huey Lewis and the News, Jason Isbell, John Waite, July 2017, June 2017, melodic rock, Milwaukee, Paul Simon, Peter Frampton, progressive, REO Speedwagon, review, rock, Sheryl Crow, Shinedown, Soul Asylum, Summerfest, Tesla, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Toto, Wisconsin | Leave a comment

Album review: BOBBY KIMBALL – We’re Not In Kansas Anymore

Posted on April 27, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra Records [Release date 21.04.17] For many, Bobby Kimball is the definitive voice of Toto and performed with that band during the halcyon years of 1978-1984 (rejoining and touring 1998-2000). Since that time he has forged a semi-cabaret existence … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, AOR, Bobby Kimball, Derek Sherinian, melodic rock, review, soft rock, Toto, We're Not In Kansas Anymore | Leave a comment

Album review: LIONVILLE – A World Of Fools

Posted on February 9, 2017 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 24.02.17] Lionville are back after an extended break (their second album came out in 2012) and they are on a new label as well. Lionville’s main man Stefano Lionetti is still on board, plus Work Of Art’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged A World Of Fools, album, AOR, Frontiers, Lionville, melodic, review, rock, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review: MECCA – III

Posted on September 22, 2016 by jason

MelodicRock Records [Release date 14.10.16] It seems ages since the last Mecca album came out, ‘Undeniable’, although in fact it came out in 2011 and not that long in some bands eyes. However, this third album has been recorded over … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, AOR, David Hungate, III, Joe Vana, Mecca, melodic, MelodicRock Records, review, rock, Shannon Forrest, Toto, West Coast | Leave a comment

Album review: CULVER KINGZ – This Time

Posted on July 14, 2016 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 24.06.16] Culver Kingz maybe a new name, however the ideas for the musical pairing started back in 1983 when Michael Thompson and Billy Trudel planned a band called Slang. Sadly this never came to fruition and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, AOR, Billy Trudel, Culver Kingz, melodic, Michael Thompson, R&B, review, rock, soul, This Time, Toto, West Coast | Leave a comment

Album review: CHAMPLIN, WILLIAMS, FRIESTEDT – CWF

Posted on October 18, 2015 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 26.10.15] CWF is a West Coast AOR supergroup teaming up Toto’s Joseph Williams with former Chicago vocalist Bill Champlin and guitarist/producer Peter Friestedt. The trio have released a live DVD already and Williams & Friestedt released … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, AOR, Bill Champlin, Champlin, Chicago, CWF, Friestedt, Joseph Williams, melodic rock, Peter Friestedt, review, Toto, West Coast, Williams | Leave a comment

Album review: RADIOACTIVE – F4ur

Posted on April 9, 2015 by jason

Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Release date 17.04.15] This is indeed as the title suggests album number four from Radioactive, the first in nearly ten years. Radioactive is the brainchild of guitarist/songwriter Tommy Denander and on each album to date he has … Continue reading →