Toe (band)

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toe
toe performing in Vancouver, British Columbia in July 2015
toe performing in Vancouver, British Columbia in July 2015
Background information
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresPost-rock, math rock
Years active2000–present
LabelsCATUNE, Machu Picchu, Topshelf Records, Big Scary Monsters
MembersYamazaki Hirokazu (guitar)
Mino Takaaki (guitar)
Yamane Satoshi (bass)
Kashikura Takashi (drums)

Toe (トー, Tō), stylized as toe, is a Japanese post-rock/math rock band from Tokyo. The group was founded in 2000, and consists of Kashikura Takashi (drums), Mino Takaaki (guitar), Yamane Satoshi (bass guitar), and Yamazaki Hirokazu (guitar).[1]

History[edit]

The band has its origins in 2000 when guitar player Yamazaki Hirokazu decided to quit an old band which he described as having a "scream-o emo sound", inviting the other guitarist Mino Takaaki, who played in another band. They were later joined by drummer Kashikura Takashi and bassist Yamane Satoshi.[2] In July 2001, toe began performing live,[3] and the next year, they released the EP songs, ideas we forgot, being actively touring ever since.[4]

In 2005, they released their first studio album The Book About My Idle Plot on a Vague Anxiety through the label CATUNE.[5] Soon after, they founded their own indie label Machu Picchu Industrias, alongside the bands Mouse on the Keys, Enemies, and Tangled Hair.[2][6] In 2006 they released their first DVD (RGBDVD), followed by the EP New Sentimentality the following year.[3]

In 2009, toe released a split EP with the band Collections of Colonies of Bees,[3] and in December 9 of the same year, they released their second studio album, For Long Tomorrow, which saw the band expand their sound using new elements like a Rhodes piano, acoustic guitars, and minor vocals. After the album tour, they released their second live DVD Cut_DVD in 2010.[7]

In 2012, toe released the EP the future is now, published by Topshelf Records in the US and Big Scary Monsters in the EU and UK.[8] Subsequently, Topshelf Records re-released most of the band's catalog on vinyl.[9] The group also released the DVD 8 Days EU Tour in 2012.[3]

In 2015, the band released their third studio album Hear You, which was met with positive critical acclaim. It was characterized by its more minimal and vocally-focused sound in comparison with past records, having some hip-hop influences as well.[10][11]

In 2018, toe released a compilation of non-album tracks and remixes titled That's Another Story, in January 24, and the studio EP Our Latest Number, in August 22. Their most recent album, 独演会 "DOKU-EN-KAI" was live recorded in the round at le Poisson Rouge in New York City in 2019, and it was released in March 6, 2021.[3][12][13]

In 2021, they contributed an original song to the soundtrack for the anime series Sonny Boy.[14]

Members[edit]

  • Yamazaki Hirokazu (山嵜廣和) – guitar (2000–present)
  • Yamane Satoshi (山根さとし) – bass (2000–present)
  • Mino Takaaki (美濃隆章) – guitar (2000–present)
  • Kashikura Takashi (柏倉隆史) – drums (2000–present)

Musical style[edit]

The vast majority of toe's music is instrumental, featuring a very dynamic drumming blended in with melodic, clean guitars.[15] Takashi's drumming has been specially revered among math-rock circles,[16] considered to be the main attractive of the band from their first releases.[7] The AllMusic review for The Book About My Idle Plot on a Vague Anxiety calls the drums "the star of the sound".[5] Lars Gotrich from NPR praises Takashi, deeming him "capable of Questlove-level precision and soul one moment, and a cyclone of controlled chaos the next", and explains that what makes toe different from other bands within the genre is their "ability to tell short, concise stories — ecstatic, noodly, complex pop songs that unfold in less than five minutes"[17] The group changed their sound in later records incorporating acoustic guitars, Rhodes piano, vibraphones and vocals.[7][15]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums

  • The Book About My Idle Plot on a Vague Anxiety (2005)
  • For Long Tomorrow (2009)
  • Hear You (2015)
  • 独演会 "DOKU-EN-KAI" (2021)

EPs

  • Songs, Ideas We Forgot (2003)
  • New Sentimentality (2006)
  • New Sentimentality "Tour Edition" (2008) Enhanced CDEP Limited to 1000
  • Toe/Collection of Colonies of Bees (2009)
  • The Future Is Now (2012)
  • Our Latest Number (2018)

Splits

  • Pele / toe (2002)

Remix albums

  • Re:designed (2003)

Compilation albums

  • That's Another Story (2018)

Live DVDs[edit]

  • RGBDVD (2005)
  • CUT_DVD (2010)
  • 8 Days DVD (2012)
  • DOKU EN KAI (2021)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Despres, Shawn (29 January 2010). "Math rockers Toe take it slow". Japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  2. ^ a b Ryding, Paul (4 September 2014). "Toe: Experimental Rockers' Simple Pleasures". www.thebeijinger.com. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e Simpson, Paul. "toe Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  4. ^ "toeのプロフィール・作品情報". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese).
  5. ^ a b "The Book About My Idle Plot on a Vague Anxiety - toe | Album". AllMusic.
  6. ^ "Machupicchu INDUSTRIAS". Machupicchu-industrias.com. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  7. ^ a b c Wu, Cadence (April 1, 2012). "Music Review: Toe - For Long Tomorrow". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Topshelf // toe". Topshelf Records. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Toe // Topshelf". Topshelf Records. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  10. ^ Gunst, Julia (29 July 2015). "toe - Hear You". Exclaim!. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  11. ^ Negron, Michael (8 August 2015). "Toe: Hear You". Inyourspeakers Media. Archived from the original on 2015-08-05. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  12. ^ Spincoaster (2 March 2021). "toe、NY公演収めた『独演会』Bandcampにてグローバル・リリース Apple Musicにて先行配信も - Spincoaster (スピンコースター)". spincoaster.com/. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Topshelf Records - toe - DOKU-EN-KAI". Topshelf Records. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  14. ^ "Madhouse's Sonny Boy Sci-Fi Anime Posts New Video, Visual". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  15. ^ a b "Topshelf Records - toe tour dates, merch, video, catalog & more". Topshelf Records. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  16. ^ Negron, Michael (2015-08-01). "Toe: Hear You". Inyourspeakers Media. Archived from the original on 2015-08-05. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
  17. ^ Lars, Gotrich (2 July 2015). "Songs We Love: toe, 'My Little Wish'". NPR. Retrieved 27 April 2024.

External links[edit]

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