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Lukather, Steve: Transition

Toto guitarist/vocalist Steve Lukather returns with his seventh studio album Transition, which follows 2010's All's Well That Ends Well and is another in a fine line of star studded albums that the virtuoso has cranked out in his career. Stylistically speaking, Transition, or any of his previous solo releases for that matter, don't differ much from Toto's output of the last two decades, other than the fact that Lukather basically runs the entire show here. Joining him are guests CJ Vanston, Nathan East, Lee Sklar, Tal Wilkenfeld, Gregg Bissonette, Chad Smith, Lenny Castro, and many others, while 'Luke' handles all the lead vocals and guitar work.

All you Toto fans will probably remember that the band took a darker, bluesier, more hard rock turn with their 1992 release Kingdom of Desire, which was due to a greater presence of Lukather in the songwriting, playing, and vocal department. Since then any Toto studio material (they've been dormant as a studio band since 2006) sounds very close to 'Luke's solo work, but it's a 'win-win' for the fans either way. Transition is another solid affair from top to bottom from the acclaimed guitar virtuoso. No surprises mind you, but a solid, melodic rock album. "Judgement Day" and "Creep Motel" start things off in fine hard rock fashion, complete with catchy hooks and plenty of guitar firepower, while "Once Again" and "RIght the Wrong" are poignant, tender ballads, featuring Steve's soaring vocals and some catchy choruses that will please any Toto fan. The guitarist shows his love for Jeff Beck on the searing title track, a great mix of intense jazz fusion, pop, and progressive rock, while "Last Man Standing" is another Toto styled hook laden melodic rock number with some great riffs from Lukather. The breezy pop of "Do I Stand Alone" is again highlighted by some strong guitar work, and he unleashes his blues side on the smoky "Rest of the World". The album closes out with "Smile", another Beck styled number complete with dreamy whammy bar melodies and soothing keyboards. It's a nice little instrumental to end this CD, but it's a shame it wasn't longer.

Transition is another solid solo album from Steve Lukather, but maybe that's part of the problem. As good as some of these songs are, there's a 'safeness' that permeates throughout the whole album, as if Lukather seems unwilling to step outside his comfort sound and try something really daring. For those wanting to hear more of his legendary guitar work, Transition might have a few too many ballads and catchy pop numbers, but those missing the hook laden melodic rock of Toto will feel right at home here. While I also would love to hear a balls to the wall guitar fest from Steve one of these days (he's come close on occasion) Transition will do just fine for now.


Track Listing
1) Judgement Day
2) Creep Motel
3) Once Again
4) Right the Wrong
5) Transition
6) Last Man Standing
7) Do I Stand Alone
8) Rest of the World
9) Smile

Added: January 31st 2013
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:
Related Link: Artist Website
Hits: 2041
Language: english

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Lukather, Steve: Transition
Posted by Steven Reid, SoT Staff Writer on 2014-11-01 15:18:51
My Score:

For Toto guitarist and respected session musician Steve Lukather, his 2010 solo album All's Well That Ends Well was a release far from as positive as its title would suggest. Dark in subject matter and deep in musical thought, it was an album that didn't even try to disguise the demons its creator was suffering from, a party lifestyle finally beginning to catch up with a musician who has been a stalwart of the AOR and Westcoast scene for the best part of four decades. Good though the album was it is a reason to rejoice for Lukather and his many fans that Transition finds the hugely talented guitarist in a far happier, dare I say healthier state of mind. Something that shines through on each and every one of the nine tracks on this album.

Oozing into view through a relaxed, lazy, languid introduction, "Judgement Day" ebbs Transition into life with a vibe similar to that Kip Winger employs on his solo work. Keenly crafted arrangements adding depth and clarity to a considered atmosphere that becomes clearer with repeat visits. It is a compelling opening that immediately grabs the attention, something that the classy Westcoast of "Creep Motel" and the almost Bruce Hornsby like "Once Again" reinforce strongly. Unsurprisingly considering how many years he has been associated with Toto, the touch of his main band is never a million miles away. However rather than classic AOR such as "Africa", think the more mature Tambu or Kingdom Of Desire era of Toto, where Steve was really in full control of his band's destiny.

A plethora of guest stars lend their talents to the songs as they glide by, with Def Leppard's Phil Collen, Red Hot Chilli drummer Chad Smith and percussionist extraordinaire Gregg Bissonette being amongst the best known. However the influence more strongly felt is that of Lukather's long-time co-writer and keyboard player C.J. Vanston, whose production skills also enhance an album that crackles with atmosphere and intrigue. The title track employs ever changing, shifting time signatures and a stunning mix of keyboards and clever guitar touches to offer up a coming together of Latin, jazz and something altogether more Jan Hammer like, although a dreamy section of swooshing dives and stabs actually reminds more of the theme to the X-Files! Oddly it all works tremendously well and even as an instrumental, stands tall and proud as the best song on this album. "Last Man Standing" broods enigmatically, before the similarly sentimented, but completely differently approached "Do I Stand Alone" brings a Journey like vibe headlong into Def Leppard bombast - very nice!

Transition while living up to its title in terms of where this album's creator finds himself in life, sounds far from an album stuck between where we were and where we'd like to be. Instead coming across as though the change needed has already fully taken place, oozing confidence and sounding all the better for it.



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