“YOSO: An Inspired brand name for a new 2% fat yoghourt  / salutation by a tourist on a Greek island / The brand new Super Group consisted of former TOTO and YES members, in specific Bobby Kimball (and his moustache), Billy Sherwood and Tony Kaye.”

I believe that nobody can remember that some time during 2009, Kimball and Sherwood (among other associates and fellow travelers) decided to create their own super band and do an Italian tour, performing old TOTO and YES hits. And it is only natural not to remember, since that tour never happened.  However, they decided not to bury the project and this is how YOSO were born (a “brilliant” combination of the TOTO and YES brand names) after they changed 2-3 unspeakable names like AKA and CIRCA.

The Elements album was recorded in 2009 and was accompanied by three (!) dates in Mexico (!!) during which, the band performed the songs in the album plus an extended selection of old TOTO/YES classic hits. For the later, they decided to stick, mainly, to the YES West period. This period might not be the favorite of the die-hard fans of their most progressive era, however it is still the most successful, commercial YES era.

The twelve songs contained in the album, of course, do not present any novelty or evolution of the traditional sound of either member. They might be agreeable to all those fans that still believe that TOTO and YES still have things to offer, however, no track even comes close to the inspiration of their greatest hits, not even of the secondary ones. The path they chose is quite obvious. Tending to sound more melodic than progressive and if this is expected of Kimball, it is evident that Sherwood and Kaye insisted on the YES West period (1983-1988). Therefore, all compositions keep all the appropriate TOTO melodic lines exactly as Kimball always loves to do, and relies more on the 80s AOR sound, keeping exactly what Kaye kept out of the original YES sound for the 90125 album.

Of course, the good musicians never forget their craft. All songs are masterfully performed and the sound production is crystal clear. It is simply the fact that the second CD in the package (live performances of classic TOTO/YES greatest hits) is, still, much, much more exciting.