YOSO : ELEMENTS
Frontiers
I SO wanted to love and adore this album, honestly I did… but what a disappointment. On paper this should have been an absolute barnstormer of an album. Why? Because of the sheer incredible talent involved, but somehow, the magic just fails to spark or ignite. Talk about a whimper NOT a bang. So why did I expect so much? Check the stellar AOR/Prog talent involved: Bobby Kimball (vocals–Le Roux/Toto), Tony Kaye (keyboards –Yes), Billy Sherwood (bass guitars, vocals–World Trade/Yes/Circa), with Scott Connor (drums) and guitarist Johnny Bruhns. Originally the drum position was held by AOR legend Jay Schellen (Hurricane/Stone Fury/World Trade/Unruly Child/Circa/Conspiracy), shame he couldn’t be persuaded to stay really.
Maybe naively, I expected way too much, I had honestly thought that “Elements” would be rammed full of classy new totally modern material, instead we get a tired ‘run through’ of ‘classic’ Toto and Yes material, none of which come anywhere near to matching the originals in any shape or form, and half a dozen totally new songs, only ONE of which is strong in its own right. That song is “The New Revolution”, and at that point in time, you realise just how GREAT this album COULD have been… and that is a crime in itself!
The production is okay, but not full or powerful, and the biggest shock (for me anyway) is how badly Bobby’s once golden voice has deteriorated, my guess is Steve Lukather chose Joseph Williams over Bobby for that very reason. I want to hear Bobby wail like the soulful mofo he is, but here he’s just not coming near to hitting the high notes… and that is a crying shame. The musicianship is second to none, but sadly the overall feel and sound is very derivative of the two bands this outfit is named after. I just want to scream in frustration on hearing this, and sadly, (despite paying an OUTRAGEOUS £15.99 on UK itunes for it!!!), I can’t see it being an album that I will keep going back to. And that hurts.
69/100
SATANIC MUTTLEY
