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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
Genres
Years active2000–present
Labels
Members
  • Hirokazu Yamazaki
  • Satoshi Yamane
  • Takaaki Mino
  • Takashi Kashikura
Websitetoe.st

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

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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. 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]

In 2024, toe released their fourth studio album, Now I See the Light.[15]

Members

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

Musical style

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The vast majority of toe's music is instrumental, featuring a very dynamic drumming blended in with melodic, clean guitars.[16] Takashi's drumming has been specially revered among math-rock circles,[17] 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"[18] The group changed their sound in later records incorporating acoustic guitars, Rhodes piano, vibraphones and vocals.[7][16]

Discography

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Studio albums

Live albums

  • 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

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  • RGBDVD (2005)
  • CUT_DVD (2010)
  • 8 Days DVD (2012)
  • Doku en Kai (2021)

References

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  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. ^ "Topshelf Records - toe - NOW I SEE THE LIGHT". Topshelf Records. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  16. ^ a b "Topshelf Records - toe tour dates, merch, video, catalog & more". Topshelf Records. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  17. ^ Negron, Michael (2015-08-01). "Toe: Hear You". Inyourspeakers Media. Archived from the original on 2015-08-05. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
  18. ^ Lars, Gotrich (2 July 2015). "Songs We Love: toe, 'My Little Wish'". NPR. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
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