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Artist: YOSO |
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Originally called AKA then changed to YOSO, the band are the formation pf Toto's Bobby Kimball and CIRCA members Billy Sherwood, Tony Kaye, which all started when CIRCA and Kimball were due to play together on an Italian tour in 2009, but the shows were cancelled, but from small acorns giant oaks are formed, so the seeds of AKA were planted as this merry band of musicians decided to get together and form a band. The change in name combines both Toto and Yes which is more catchy then simple AKA and is more fitting to both guys in the band and the sound they make together. 'Elements' is just a magnificent album, with the wealth of talent in the band you'd hardly expect anything less. With the first release they put together a double album which showcases the bands new material with a live album which consists of both classic Toto and Yes songs and of course new YOSO songs. But it's the new material that really shows the talent behind the band, as the album opens up with 'Yoso' and instantly you know what a class act this band are, with Kimball at his vocal best with the rest of the guys equally impressive with the keys of Toy Kaye and the bass rhythms of Sherwood just as pure as the vocals. This tremendous album continues with the gentle rock vibes of 'Path To Your Heart' and the ballad tones of 'where You'll stay', before one of my favourite tracks off the album, the great melodic tones of 'walk away'. This is what you'd expect when you first hear the mention of who is involved with the band, with elements (ahhh the light goes on!) of Yes and Toto at the forefront of this one. The tempo is picked up a notch or two with one of my favourite tracks off the album, the excellent 'New Revolution', with the guitars making more of an impact on proceedings, speaking of guitars, you've got to hear the soaring guitar work to 'To seek The Truth', this is a mix of soaring guitar with prog keyboards and a gentle back beat, a track very much in the Yes vein but with a bigger guitar sound. Things get a little on the west coast funk side with 'Only One', before we return to the more gentle side of melodic rock with the excellent 'Close The Curtain', again Kimball is at his best vocally. The gentle summer time rock, because that is what this album is, a great cruising album, the top down and the stereo blasting out some great tunes, the gentler side of rock is continued with 'Won't End Tonight' and 'Come This Far'. The tempo is picked right back up with 'Time To Get Up' before the first disc in this double disc album comes to a close with 'Return To Yesterday', again a track very much in the vein of the majority of the album, a gentle rock track with soaring guitar work from Kimball and a simple but effective back beat, which rounds off the first disc in true AOR style. The live selection on this album, disc two, is where this great set of musicians really show what they have created over the years with some great live versions of classic Toto tracks and Yes tracks from '90125', which was Kaye's main period during his time with Yes. So expect the likes of 'Rosanna', 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart' and the excellent 'Yes Medley' (Yours Is No disgrace / Heart Of The Sunrise / South Side Of The Sky / Starship Trooper / I've Seen All Good People). This is a great bonus to the first disc and the inclusion of new material really shows what this new material sounds like live. Definitely
one for both fans of Kimball as well as Toto and Yes, as well as CIRCA,
if you're into the more gentle side of rock, or just want an album to be
your summer sound track, then 'Elements' is for you! |
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| Tracklisting
- Disc 1:
1.
Yoso |
Tracklisting - Disc 2: 1.
Yoso |
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All content copyright of The Mayfair Mall Zine unless otherwise stated. |
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