TORO Y MOI - WHAT FOR? Vinyl LP
Opening to the scream of F1's speeding around a racetrack, and maintaining that intensity with booming guitar riffs and psychedelic effects throughout, the forthcoming album from Toro y Moi is definitely making a statement. But Chaz Bundick, the frontman and songwriter, is leaving it up to you to figure out what they are. While it is obvious that each song is crafted around a personally meaningful experience, Chaz seems to purposefully leave the lyrics just vague enough to let each listener mold it into something unique. What For? is a glimpse into the life of a guy trying to figure out what it all means. The music is influenced by bands like Big Star, Talking Heads, Tim Maia, Todd Rundgren, but it doesn't quite sound like any of them in particular. And it isn't trying to. It has that special something that Chaz imbues in every Toro y Moi album, his personal filter on the world he experiences. So whatever message you take from the album, don't forget that it's good.