Steve Lukather is not only one of the best guitar players of my generation, but also one of the best session players as well. His list of “appeared ons” is incredible. This is his seventh solo studio album and was released in 2021, it is pretty much what I would expect him to do. A superb sounding record with some super cool tunes that float in that west coast vibe, but with some monster playing from all involved.
The opening burst of Along For The Ride is a superb track to open proceedings. Luke is on vocals as well as ripping on guitar, and the vibe is quite groovy. Serpent Soul is up next and the vibe is a well funky jazz/rock groove that Toto do so well. A cover of Traffics Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys follows, and man this sounds so cool. I love that laid back feel that this track just oozes. Journey Though follows and it’s an instrumental, the vibe feels like something Jeff Beck would do. Welcome To The Club is a cover of the Joe Walsh tune and it sounds incredible, so clear. Luke’s playing is superb!
The title track is next: a slow ballad type of tune but it sounds oh so cool. I know Luke plays in Ringo’s band but it must be a huge honour to have him play on your album, and that’s what happens with next track Run To Me. The album closes out with a cover of Robin Trowers’ Bridge Of Sighs, the album of which is in my top five albums. A monumental sound that is quite different to the original and yet does it justice in all the right ways. Safe to say the guitar playing is par excellence.
Well done to Mascot Records for making this a double album and giving the songs space so that the album sounds a s good as it does. Such an awesome record!
10/10 from The Grooveman.
