TOTO The Seventh One - Unmatched tip

This album TOTO experienced on the (second) peak of their work (for TOTO IV). The Seventh One shows the band in perfect balance between mass compatibility and musical standards. The songs are all catchy and yet when listening very carefully one discovers many subtleties through which still remain thrilling songs for years.

In addition, Joseph Williams also proves here once again as an outstanding singer, whose voice is both the rock songs and ballads fits fantastically.

PAMELA is a great opener, setting the tone for the whole album at once. On the one hand it is an up-tempo number, but with an almost anthemic chorus and class exploitation. The elongated end is somewhat reminiscent ROSANNA (TOTO IV) and Pamela can also withstand the comparison.

YOU GOT ME follows on seamlessly from the opener, here agrees musically absolutely everything, sings of the cleverly built means Break on the horn parts, forcing the Song one to go along and Joseph Williams like a young god.

ANNA is a typical TOTO ballad as it seems guitarist Steve Lukather only way to shake out of his sleeve. Every time he sits down at the piano to compose, seem to invade him such wonderful melodies, on the other musicians all their lives desperately (and often in vain) to wait. In addition, his voice fits always good in the tone of a song.

STOP LOVING YOU also includes nearly 20 years after the appearance nor the live favorite fans. And it is not difficult to understand this, one need only listen to the beginning and already has one of the Groove by Jeff Porcaro (drums) assisted by his brother Mike (bass) and guitarist Lukather it.

Mushanga is the first (no longer so secret) secret tip on the CD. It's worth it alone again to enjoy the song on headphones and only pay attention to what Jeff Porcaro as performs on drums. One word: amazing! The song lives on the rhythm, the other instruments come only in bridge and chorus to their best advantage, also still in a wonderful short and crisp bass solo from Mike and the acoustic guitar solo by Lukather.

STAY AWAY shows TOTO then for the first time on this album from their rock side. A wonderfully straight rock song, with a catchy guitar riff and very little synthesizer or keyboard sounds. And Williams sings back the soul from the body (if it is supported also in the chorus of Linda Ronstadt).

With STRAIGHT FOR THE HEAT is an up-tempo number connects that comes along very happily. A cute little song, but certainly the weakest on the album. Which in turn speaks for the high quality of the remaining piece.

ONLY THE CHILDREN is again a rock song in the style of STAY AWAY with a fat guitar riff, very interesting bass work (especially the services of Mike Porcaro are all too rarely appreciated anyway) and a great chorus to sing along.

A THOUSAND YEARS slows then again the pace. With very discreet instrumentalization a wonderful enigmatic atmosphere is created, on which Joseph Williams then sometimes can sing out really quiet but full of intensity.

And with These Chains Lukather puts even a second piano ballad after, but not quite enough to ANNA, but still damn good.

There is then a true classic TOTO Finally: HOME OF THE BRAVE. For years, goes no tour on which this song is not played. HOTB is a true hymn to freedom. After the short intro carried the song increases in the verse, rather increases in the bridge again, before he explodes in the chorus - just amazing. And following the first chorus the same will happen again and rocking a like a wave higher and higher, before it turns into a fantastic instrumental part. A worthy conclusion to a true top album.

THE SEVENTH ONE is thus a thoroughly enjoyable album that certainly belongs with TOTO IV of the best CDs of the band. An absolute buy recommendation so.