Intricate and deft touches you find in Toto XIV.

[MarcelJordan]

Great Expectations: Bell tower sound at 1.40 and repeated at 2.47

Chinatown : 1.56 Kieth brushes the cymbals uniquely as Dave says " a woman pours the absinthe..."

Just to start it off.

Love to hear from others anything else so everyone can bask in the greatness that is Toto XIV.

MJ

[MarcelJordan]

Don't all reply at once!

Fortune: 1.34 : Female electronic voice says "oww!" when Joseph says "cuts you like a rusty knife" (and that too) shows Joseph's smooth vocal inflection when he says "knife". at 1.33. So two in one, so to speak.

MJ

[MarcelJordan]

Maybe XIV isn't much of a big deal.

I'll continue..talking to the wall.

Great Expectations: 6.12 : Steve P. and his wizardry- From right to left there is a cascading sound (similar to the chime in a percussion set up) while the last verse is said. Love that touch.

MJ

[yulog]

Meow!

[MarcelJordan]

Running out of Time: BG vocals are tight yet smooth. It's Joe, Luke and Jamie Savko (if you want to know this guys voice see this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJkL_H9mY0E ) So at 1.22-25 You can actually pick up each of the guys' voices as the words "you'll be on your way" are sung. Luke is clearly the guy who stresses "be" for instance. Topping it off, the interplay of Keith's drumming in this particular section, is awesome here too. Should be a dandy when they do it live... in the coming months.

BTW, Love the line "....dream of only riches beyond avarice at night" (a touch of Steely Dan lyrical style imo)

MJ

[DracIsBack]

Maybe XIV isn't much of a big deal.

Begone!

[MarcelJordan]

Intentionally or not, All the Tears has the same tempo and beat structure of Human Nature.

MJ

[r@y]

Intentionally or not, All the Tears has the same tempo and beat structure of Human Nature.

MJ

The chorus part of All The Tears reminds me of verse sections of Borrowed Time (the acoustic guitars).....


Ray

[The_Noble_Cause]

Don't all reply at once!

I think the lack of participation in this thread is partially due to how Steve Porcaro's wizardry defies words. I really don't know HOW to describe the synth splashes and bells and wizards he usually adds.

[MarcelJordan]

Don't all reply at once!

I think the lack of participation in this thread is partially due to how Steve Porcaro's wizardry defies words. I really don't know HOW to describe the synth splashes and bells and wizards he usually adds.

Thanks for making sense. You are absolutely spot on about the difficulties in describing about Steve Porcaro's prowess. That said, the rest of the guys have all gone up a notch. I have a lot more to say about this album. Each time I listen I catch something new.

Not to forget Keith Carlock's drumming also creates the vibe on this album. He's got serious chops. I just dig all the little beat changes he does, high hatting, moving around the drum kit I can say boatloads about it (but I might fail miserably on stating the exact jargon that should describe it properly ).

NC, try to pick out something particular you dig. Love to know what else your ears catch. Thank you and Ray for trying.

MJ

[MarcelJordan]

Intentionally or not, All the Tears has the same tempo and beat structure of Human Nature.

MJ

The chorus part of All The Tears reminds me of verse sections of Borrowed Time (the acoustic guitars).....


Ray

Im not familiar with stuff beyond Toto as a whole. Thanks for getting my attention to BT. You're right.

BTW, did you see my PM?

MJ

[r@y]

Don't all reply at once!

I think the lack of participation in this thread is partially due to how Steve Porcaro's wizardry defies words. I really don't know HOW to describe the synth splashes and bells and wizards he usually adds.

My sentiments exactly, TNC !

SP's touches in XIV is truly amazing, I must say. the whole record has this 'rich' sound and sound textures, you hear something new at every listen.

Furthermore, with CJ also being in most tracks, I really can't tell where SP starts and CJ ends, or vice versa...Haha


Ray

[MarcelJordan]

Great Expectations is said to be a tribute to Yes, Pink Floyd, ELP, Genesis and so on. Who agrees and where/which parts respectively?

MJ

[The_Noble_Cause]

Months later, I still give XIV regular rotation. More replay value than FIB, which has great songs, but XIV is a better overall effort imo.

[WalrusOct9]

Months later, I still give XIV regular rotation. More replay value than FIB, which has great songs, but XIV is a better overall effort imo.

I wish I could say the same. But it has nothing to do with the quality of the music, my ears just bleed when I listen to it. I picked up a used copy of the vinyl, but haven't had a chance to make a digital rip of it yet. It's still not very good-sounding, but hurts the ears a little less. Still can't comprehend why this was mastered so loudly, to the point of clipping/distortion.

[LtVanish]

Months later, I still give XIV regular rotation. More replay value than FIB, which has great songs, but XIV is a better overall effort imo.

I wish I could say the same. But it has nothing to do with the quality of the music, my ears just bleed when I listen to it. I picked up a used copy of the vinyl, but haven't had a chance to make a digital rip of it yet. It's still not very good-sounding, but hurts the ears a little less. Still can't comprehend why this was mastered so loudly, to the point of clipping/distortion.

I agree, plus it makes the whole record sound muddy as hell. I hope it gets remastered someday.

[WalrusOct9]

I agree, plus it makes the whole record sound muddy as hell. I hope it gets remastered someday.

There's so much texture and Steve Porcaro-ing going on, and it's all just lost in there. I would pay good money for a flat transfer of the studio master, without any mastering or compression applied.

It's too bad bands can't/won't offer two versions, digitally through HDTracks or something, since it costs virtually nothing to produce and distribute. A "consumer" version brickwalled/compressed to death like most albums, and an "audiophile" version for people who care about such things. I know McCartney has done that with his reissue series, and the 'full dynamic range' versions sound very, very good.

[Ehwmatt]

I agree, plus it makes the whole record sound muddy as hell. I hope it gets remastered someday.

There's so much texture and Steve Porcaro-ing going on, and it's all just lost in there. I would pay good money for a flat transfer of the studio master, without any mastering or compression applied.

It's too bad bands can't/won't offer two versions, digitally through HDTracks or something, since it costs virtually nothing to produce and distribute. A "consumer" version brickwalled/compressed to death like most albums, and an "audiophile" version for people who care about such things. I know McCartney has done that with his reissue series, and the 'full dynamic range' versions sound very, very good.

I'm an amateur guitar player whose dabbled with recording (not to mention chased a lot of guitar tones as a guitar player), so I'm more attuned to this stuff than the average listener. That said, man, I'm glad I'm not as perceptive as you are about all of this. A true piece of audio shit like Vapor Trails (Rush) or Generations (Journey) bothers me, but XIV sounds just fine to me. Glad I don't notice this stuff like you do - would hate to lose my enjoyment of this stellar (IMO) album.

[WalrusOct9]

I'd rank this almost as bad as Vapor Trails, honestly. The only difference is that Vapor Trails was even more ear-bleeding just because the actual music was heavier. Believe me, I wish I wasn't particularly attuned to this, but it's hard not to be. All the instruments just seem jumbled and squished together, with almost no clarity, which is really unfortunate for something so musician-y (technical term ) like Toto.

[Ehwmatt]

I'd rank this almost as bad as Vapor Trails, honestly. The only difference is that Vapor Trails was even more ear-bleeding just because the actual music was heavier. Believe me, I wish I wasn't particularly attuned to this, but it's hard not to be. All the instruments just seem jumbled and squished together, with almost no clarity, which is really unfortunate for something so musician-y (technical term ) like Toto.

To each his own, man. I'm neurotic about enough things in life (including certain aspects of my music fandom), so I won't try and become attuned to these issues!

[The_Noble_Cause]

I don't hear it myself. I am no audiophile. Burn sounds a little murky, but I think that's intentional. Songs like Chinatown and Great Expectations sound as sharp as a bell.

[Ehwmatt]

I don't hear it myself. I am no audiophile. Burn sounds a little murky, but I think that's intentional. Songs like Chinatown and Great Expectations sound as sharp as a bell.

I listened to a few XIV tunes last night and I think I hear the loud mastering to a certain extent now that he's highlighted it. Doesn't bother me, though. Compare XIV to Generations - noticeable difference. Generations truly sounds horrible.

[DracIsBack]

It's a little muddy,but I find the sound complaints a bit over-melodramatic