Falling in Between

At this point in their career, Steve Lukather and Toto really have nothing to prove to anyone in the rock & roll community. They've accumulated more Top Ten hits with their ballads alone than most bands have their entire career, to say nothing of rock anthems that became cornerstones of arena rock during the '70s and '80s. And while it's been nearly a decade since original material was issued (2002's Through the Looking Glass was an album consisting of cover versions), Falling in Between sounds like a band trying to find itself during a midlife crisis. The title track, while adventurous by Toto's standards with its mixed-metered time signatures and Middle Eastern influences, sounds exactly like the prog rock heroes they aspire to emulate (confirmed by the track-by-track commentary provided in the liner notes). "Dying on My Feet" sounds like a cross between '80s-era Chicago and Foreigner, thanks in no small part to Chicago's James Pankow contributing horn arrangements and playing trombone on the tune. Things do get better along the way. The band finally finds its footing midway through, delivering well-polished performances, and Lukather's voice has stood the test of time surprisingly intact, especially when compared to some of his contemporaries. And while there's no new ground being trodden here, the band sounds fantastic thanks to amazing production values, delivering material that can stand up to some of their best stuff. — Rob Theakston.