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Circa HQ – album review – Billy Sherwood

retroDan — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:13:02 +0000

I’m relieved to hear that prog-supergroup Circa is currently working with ex-Toto lead singer Bobby Kimball for an upcoming album. The vocals happen to be one of the weak points on Circa’s recently released HQ album.

The group is made up of stellar musicians including two former Yes members – Billy Sherwood and Tony Kaye, guitarist Jimmy Haun (who played on Yes’ Union album) and current Asia/GPS/John Payne drummer Jay Schellen. These guys are phenomenal players that would make any prog/rock-fan proud. But the album lacks memorable material and Sherwood’s vocals are weak, thin-sounding and limited in range. Perhaps if the album consisted of all-instrumental music, I would have viewed it differently but the fact remains that the sound of Sherwood’s voice really ruined it for me. It’s very disappointing because I like these guys and think Sherwood is a great musician and producer. The recording sounds fantastic and the sound palette is pleasantly reminiscent of Yes without crossing the line into parody. But until you reach the last two songs on the album (”All Intertwined” and “Remember Along the Way” ), it just seems like a group of musicians lost, trying desperately to find a hook or a distinct melody line. The chops are clearly there – Haun with his fluid, tasty guitar lines, Kaye with his Hammond organ and Sherwood sounding a bit like Chris Squire with his Rickenbacker bass. But it all doesn’t really come together until those last two songs. And even though those two songs last a total of twenty minutes, they can’t save the album as a whole.

I was expecting a lot more from musicians of this caliber and lineage. Well, at least we have another project to look forward to now that Bobby Kimball is fronting the group.

retroGrade : C-

artist: Circa
album title: HQ
label: independent
released: 2009

HQ TrackList:
1. If It’s Not Too Late (10:50)
2. Haun Solo (1:18)
3. False Start (5:08)
4. Chasing After Ghosts (7:05)
5. Set To Play (1:49)
6. Ever Changing World (4:18)
7. We Can Last (9:16)
8. Twist of Fate (5:17)
9. All Intertwined (7:29)
10. Remember Along the Way (12:36)

Circa:
Billy Sherwood: bass and lead vocals
Tony Kaye: keyboards
Jay Schellen: drums, percussion and vocals
Jimmy Haun: electric and acoustic guitar, vocals

Lukather ends Toto

retroDan — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:34:36 +0000

Steve Lukather finally does the right thing and announces the end of Toto. This is definitely a good move for Lukather in my opinion. frankly, Toto never got any sort of respect from music critics, the media or even music fans in general. Lukather should have distanced himself from Toto long ago. even though his name isn’t as recognizable as the “Toto” brand, most of the remaining Toto fans were probably only following the band due to his involvement anyway. so, good for you Steve!! it’s time to work on that solo career of yours!

check out Lukather’s post on his website. [click here for the original post]

In several interviews and blogs Lukather made some (little) allusions to the end of Toto. The die heart fans got the message, BUT a lot of people didnâ€™t got the clue and wouldnâ€™t believe that Toto is over before they read it loud and clear from Steve Lukather himself. Here’s Luke’s announcement about the end of the Toto era.

Steve Lukather: “I would like to make a formal annoucement as I have been barraged by e-mails and speculations on various websites.

The fact is yes I have left Toto. There is no more Toto. I told the guys before the last leg of our tour.
We had some differences in how business was being done. The other fact is that I have been the only guy who was at the first rehearsal till the last gig a month or so ago. When Jeff died part of us all died with him. We pursued it and had some great times. Simon was a champ replacing Jeff at a most difficult time. Bobby was out of the band for 16 years and then came back and you know the other singer stories. Other than Bobby, Joe was the only guy that really fit with us cause he was a high school buddy as well. No offence to Bobby at all.

When Dave retired that was REAL hard for me cause we started the band together. Hell its 35 years if you count High School where the core all met. When Mike fell ill and had to leave that was it for me. If there isnt a Paich or at least one Porcaro how can we even call it Toto? It was bittersweet cause I finally got to tour with my dear friend and musical legend Leland Sklar whom I have known since I was 19 years old. We had some laughs and great times
Honestly I have just had enough. This is NOT a break. It is over. I really cant go out and play Hold the Line with a straight face anymore. I was 19 when we cut the record. I am 50 now.

I have only the deepest respect for the guys that have been in and out of this band over the years. We had a great run and I owe an awful lot to the experience and the success we had. We hung in there hard despite being the most hated band in the world by most so called “rock critics”. We took the punches and kept going. Our old label President Donnie Ienner ruined us in the USA by not releasing our records and not letting us out of our contract for over 10 YEARS! And that really set us back. Why? You have to ask the man himself cause we never knew why. He just didnt like our music or us personally I guess. We will never know.

The USA turned there backs on us and it was very hard for me to keep smiling thru it all. It just sort of festered inside me and I was hurting myself in the process and eventually I had to be honest with myself and I was not happy at all. The guys in the current line-up could not be more different individuals and the only real thing we had in common was music. This was NOT the high school band of brothers that we started in the 70’s. We had a magic thing and the same sense of humour and the same views on life. Somehow that was lost. Its not the new guys fault. It is what it is.

I just cant do it anymore and at 50 years old I wanted to start over and give it one last try on my own. As the only original member that had NEVER ever left or missed even ONE gig or recording I figured I might as well do it myself now while I can still get out and do it and have a new record that just came out and a new band that is unreal and a tour booked that will take me thru the end of summer 2009 and beyond. The title of my record says it all. Ever Changing Times.

Today I confered with my soul brother and founding member David Paich on this matter. He wrote me back and he said “We are FREE”! I laughed out loud. I dont think he thought this was Toto anymore either.
There are no bad feelings from me to the other guys at all. I wish them only the very very best and all the good things in life and I am sure we will run into each other here or there and it will be hugs and all, hope so anyway.
So, there you have it. I hope you will come out to one of my shows and thank you for 31 years of friendship.”

Mix Tape: The Replacements

retroDan — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:07:59 +0000

to celebrate Arnel Pineda’s successful debut fronting Journey last night in Chile, I thought I’d put together a mix tape of various songs by legendary rock bands with replacement singers…

- the (New) Cars without Rick Ocasek??? his replacement? why Todd Rundgren of course!! yup, it’s still a head scratcher…: More
..I thought I had kicked, kicked it out of my bloodstream, but there’s nothing I can do…

- Journey with Steve Perry who stepped in for Robert Fleischman: After the Fall
..So now love is gone I can’t go on, love is gone
I want to say Now it’s just too late, waited far too long…

- 80’s supergroup Asia with John Payne filling in for John Wetton: Who Will Stop the Rain
..This problem is insoluble, the answers seem impossible
The logic ceases to exist, emotion is the beat we miss..

- Survivor with Jimi Jamison instead of Dave Bickler: Didn’t Know it was Love
..It felt so easy in the morning sun
When love was in season I was on the run
I was lookin’ for trouble and the thrill of the chase
Love was lookin’ at me eye to eye, face to face…

- a syrupy Chicago ballad without Peter Cetera?? yup, that’s Jason Scheff singing: King of Might Have Been
..What have I done? and why do people run away from what they really want?
She… she was the one, I know it now, just like a blind man
Feels the setting sun...

- Toto with Joseph Williams instead of Fergie Frederiksen (who only lasted one album): Stop Loving You (also featuring Jon Anderson)
..Reflections in my mind, thoughts I can’t define
My heart is racing and the night goes on…

- and finally, nerdy, thick glasses wearing Trevor Horn fronting prog-rock group Yes without Jon Anderson: Tempus Fugit
..Born in the night, she would run like a leopard
That freaks at the sight of a mind close beside herself..

Have a great weekend!!