JOSEPH WILLIAMS – Denizen Tenant (2021)

Frontman of Toto since the ’80s, JOSEPH WILLIAMS new solo album ”Denizen Tenant” can’t deny a real ‘Toto-feel’ all over it, featuring fellow band members David Paich & Steve Lukather and a cast of all-star musicians like Simon Phillips, Nathan East, Michael Landau, Jeff Babko, Lenny Castro, Leland Sklar, etc – most of whom enjoyed tenures in Toto – are also featured players on the album.
Williams and Lukather are releasing their new solo albums the same day. Lukather opted for a played-live sounding diverse record that prioritized spontaneity and expediency. Williams, on the other hand, has opted on “Denizen Tenant” for a more meticulously produced and assembled recording.
Toto records have typically walked the lines between rock and pop, and whereas Lukather’s solo record reveals the rock throttle, Williams’ demonstrates a more sedated side. What some might write off as easy listening, another would call a polished, accessible experience steeped in the West Coast AOR tradition with some modern recording touches.

The record opens with “Never Saw You Coming,” with Williams himself handling piano, synths, drums, bass and vocals duties. Despite this fact, the slow rolling, slinky track sounds surprisingly organic, and props go out to Lenny Castro on percussion and Mike Landau on guitar for making this sound very much like a song that could have comfortably fit on a classic Toto record.

Williams deftly displays age-defying vocal diversity and range, as well as strong production skills. Sonically, the record sounds really well-recorded and mixed with layers of tracks and effects revealing themselves with both clarity and depth.

The second track, “Liberty Man,” also has a classic Toto vibe to it, with an appearance from former Toto drummer Simon Phillips, who always brings a rock-solid groove and a booming sound on the kit. Bass is handled by the legendary Leland Sklar, who filled in on bass for Toto when Mike Porcaro had to depart. Like much of the record, this song is a spotlight for Williams clever harmonies and layered vocals, which sound smooth one moment and strong the next. It’s a pleasant listen in part due to its deft execution.
“Denizen Tenant” is an odd track, both in title and tone. The lyrics are cryptic, and the song structure is more work to take in initially. Additional listens reveal the creative vocal work, with Williams mimicking a horn sound in sections. This track feels more ‘self-made’, which moves away from the Toto vibe and into more experimental territory for Williams.

Following up with another cryptic track title is “Wilma Fingadoux,” more modern pop and less classic Toto, but this track is instantly accessible and sounds like it would belong on the airwaves of today’s top radio stations. It’s a simple track, with some modern production techniques, plus the unexpected addition of a cello, that results in a safe, smooth rock&pop listen.
“Black Dahlia” has a different sound to all that’s come before, perhaps in part due to it being arranged and produced by Jay Gruska, rather than Williams. A song that spotlights Williams harmonies in a shiny format that hint at a Steely Dan vibe. Toto founder David Paich makes an impressive contribution on the Hammond B3 here.

Next up is a Peter Gabriel cover, “Don’t Give Up.” Williams’ treatment makes the song less eclectic and a bit brighter and more hopeful than the melancholic original. The original Kate Bush lines are handled solidly by Williams’ daughter, Hanna Ruick.
“The Dream” has a pretty classic West Coast feel with a bit more drive that still remains glossy. In fact, it would play really well with the top down driving along the PCH in a sunny, breezy afternoon. Easy rolling, fun and light. Once again, Williams’ multi-layered background vocals reveal a smooth, signature sound.

“Remember Her” returns listeners to the Toto mood, not only due to its structure, but more notably the strong contributions of Steve Lukather on guitar and Lenny Castro on percussion. This catchy tune rolls more than it rocks, a tribute to Williams’ songwriting prowess, which is taking center stage on this recording.
“No Lessons” is a style shift, piano based ballad written by Gruska, with some interesting lyrics written by Jay’s wife Denise, who Williams claims were practically autobiographical. It’s a “turned inward” reflective tune that laments the unexpected hard knocks of life that don’t always provide learning opportunities.

“Mistress Winter’s Jump” is a Steve Overton composition, who also co-wrote “Denizen Tenant,” and it shares a bit of that song’s quirkiness that Williams refers to as an Irish swashbuckling vibe. Lenny Castro’s percussion holds this thing together and the lyrics are more of a puzzle than most of what’s on this record.
Next up, Williams takes on another cover, this time The Beatles’ “If I Fell” with additional vocal support from band pal Steve Lukather. These two pair very well vocally and much like the magic they have created in Toto and on some of Lukather’s solo efforts, their voices compliment each other throughout this short, well paved tribute to Lennon and McCartney.

Wrapping up the record is “World Broken,” one of the strongest tracks that showcases Joseph’s voice and once again features contributions from Castro and Lukather that swing this more toward the AOR side of Toto in a pleasantly familiar way.

Taken in light of Steve Lukather’s companion solo effort, Williams and Lukather represent the ying and yang of Toto’s classic AOR / pop&rock sound. Williams certainly brings more AOR than rock to this record, making this a potentially a lighter listen than some may prefer, but his clever vocals and pristine production make this is pleasant contribution that is more consistent and personal sounding than most of his past solo efforts.
“All aboard the good ship Toto!” when it hopefully leaves port and we get back to enjoying live music again. Lukather and Williams still have something worth seeing.

01 – Never Saw You Coming
02 – Liberty Man
03 – Denizen Tenant
04 – Wilma Fingadoux
05 – Black Dahlia (feat. David Paich)
06 – Don’t Give Up (feat. Hannah Ruick)
07 – The Dream
08 – Remember Her (feat. Steve Lukather)
09 – No Lessons
10 – Mistress Winter’s Jump
11 – If I Fell (feat. Steve Lukather)
12 – World Broken

Pre Order:
www.amazon.co.uk/Denizen-Tenant-Joseph-Williams/dp/B08MSHCG16