When Steve Lukather entered the studio to record his latest album, I Found the Sun Again, the premise was simple: Let’s do this like we did in the old days. No massive production. No takes beyond 2. No demos. Let’s just record a bunch of songs live and if people happen to like it, that’s a bonus. In my interview with him, Lukather made this abundantly clear. He has nothing to prove. For many artists at this point in the game, this approach could be eyebrow raising at best and a train wreck at worst. But Lukather is a consummate professional who surrounds himself with like minded musicians. It certainly shows on I Found the Sun Again.
While I Found the Sun Again is a Lukather solo album on paper, the Toto spirit runs strong throughout. He’s joined by Toto bandmates like co-founding keyboardist David Paich and longtime frontman Joseph Williams. Adding to the similarity is that, much like Toto’s studio releases, no two songs sound the same. Perhaps it’s this welcoming familiarity in approach that makes this album so strong. It’s what a Toto album would sound like if Lukather alone called all the shots.
The album opens with “Along for the Ride”: a hard and heavy riff driven rocker with that signature west coast flair. I can practically feel the beams of the California sun shine upon my pale midwestern body. When the weather eventually gets nice here in Chicago, and by “nice” I mean above 50, I’ll be blasting this from my car stereo alongside Toto staples like “Girl Goodbye” and “All Us Boys”. Speaking of Toto, their energy runs heavily on “Serpent Soul”. Is it jazz? Is it blues? Is it R&B? It’s all of the above and then some. And it’s memorable!
An instrumental entitled “Journey Through” serves as the album’s interlude. This majestically melodic cut is proof positive that Lukather is one of the most underrated guitarists of all time. You can hear touches of Jeff Beck and David Gilmour and Gary Moore in his playing. Rightfully so as these were his heroes growing up. However, Lukather took those nuances and molded them into his own unique playing style.
The album’s last two original tracks, the title track and “Run to Me”, are extra Beatles flavored, though on opposite sides of the spectrum. “I Found the Sun Again” channels the dark folksy psychedelia of Lennon somewhere between Magical Mystery Tour and The White Album. Meanwhile, “Run to Me” is a throwback to the Fabs’ early proto-power pop days and even features a guest appearance from the one and only Sir Ringo Starr!
Rounding out the album are three covers: Traffic’s “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys”, Joe Walsh’s “Welcome to the Club”, and Robin Trower’s “Bridge of Sighs”. Of these three, “Bridge of Sighs” is my favorite. Alongside Uli Jon Roth, Trower is my favorite guitarist of all time. It’d take a true titan of the six string to attempt one of Trower’s classics. Lukather does so with the valiancy of a gladiator. Instead of settling for a blatant note for note aping, he adds his own flavor which comes more from jazz fusion, whereas Robin’s comes from the blues.
For “an old guy having fun with his muso friends”, I Found the Sun Again is a lot stronger than it sounds on paper. I don’t even think Lukather may be giving it the credit it deserves. Then again, why should he? This is a guy who has played with everyone and anyone, sold zillions of records, and toured the globe multiple times over. He’s the guitarist’s guitarist, even if the adoration irks him. He’s making music from his heart and soul. And the fact that I like it just happens to be a bonus.
7 out of 10
Label: Mascot Records
Genre: Progressive Rock
For fans of: Toto, The Beatles, Gary Moore