Toe (band)

{{infobox musical artist

| name = Toe

| image = 06072015Toe.png

| caption = Toe performing in Vancouver, British Columbia in July 2015

| background = group_or_band

| landscape = yes

| alias =

| origin = Tokyo, Japan

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| years_active = 2000–present

| label = {{flatlist|

CATUNE
Machu Picchu
Topshelf
Big Scary Monsters

}}

| associated_acts = Pele, The Hiatus

| website = {{URL|www.toe.st|toe.st}}

| current_members =

Hirokazu Yamazaki
Satoshi Yamane
Takaaki Mino
Takashi Kashikura

}}

{{nihongo|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).{{cite web|author=Despres, Shawn|date=29 January 2010|title=Math rockers Toe take it slow|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2010/01/29/music/math-rockers-toe-take-it-slow/#.XCdbhc9Kg1I|website=Japantimes.co.jp|access-date=29 December 2018}}

History

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. In July 2001, toe began performing live,{{cite web |last1=Simpson |first1=Paul |title=toe Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/toe-mn0002605963 |website=AllMusic |access-date=27 April 2024 |language=en}} and the next year, they released the EP songs, ideas we forgot, being actively touring ever since.{{cite web |title=toeのプロフィール・作品情報 |url=https://natalie.mu/music/artist/994 |website=音楽ナタリー |language=ja}}

In 2005, they released their first studio album The Book About My Idle Plot on a Vague Anxiety through the label CATUNE.{{cite web |title=The Book About My Idle Plot on a Vague Anxiety - toe {{!}} Album |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-book-about-my-idle-plot-on-a-vague-anxiety-mw0000357626 |website=AllMusic |language=en}} Soon after, they founded their own indie label Machu Picchu Industrias, alongside the bands Mouse on the Keys, Enemies, and Tangled Hair.{{cite web |last1=Ryding |first1=Paul |title=Toe: Experimental Rockers' Simple Pleasures |url=https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2014/09/03/toe-experimental-rockers-simple-pleasures |website=www.thebeijinger.com |access-date=26 April 2024 |language=EN |date=4 September 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.machupicchu-industrias.com/ |title=Machupicchu INDUSTRIAS |website=Machupicchu-industrias.com |date= |accessdate=2020-03-16}} In 2006, they released their first DVD (RGBDVD), followed by the EP New Sentimentality the following year.

In 2009, toe released a split EP with the band Collections of Colonies of Bees, 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.

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.{{cite web |title=Topshelf // toe |url=https://www.topshelfrecords.com/words/posts/2631-topshelf-toe |website=Topshelf Records |access-date=27 April 2024 |language=en |date=4 September 2012}} Subsequently, Topshelf Records re-released most of the band's catalog on vinyl.{{cite web |title=Toe // Topshelf |url=https://www.topshelfrecords.com/words/posts/2604-toe-topshelf |website=Topshelf Records |access-date=27 April 2024 |language=en |date=1 February 2013}} The group also released the DVD 8 Days EU Tour in 2012.

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.{{cite magazine|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/toe-hear_you|title=toe - Hear You|magazine=Exclaim!|date=29 July 2015|accessdate=27 April 2024|last=Gunst|first=Julia}}{{cite web|url=https://inyourspeakers.com/content/review/322-toe-hear-you-08012015|title=Toe: Hear You|publisher=Inyourspeakers Media|date=8 August 2015|accessdate=27 April 2024|last=Negron|first=Michael|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805093109/http://inyourspeakers.com/content/review/322-toe-hear-you-08012015|archivedate=2015-08-05|url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite web|author=Spincoaster|date=2 March 2021|title=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)|url=https://spincoaster.com/news/toe-release-live-movie-doku-en-kai|website=spincoaster.com/|accessdate=4 August 2023}}{{Cite web |title=Topshelf Records - toe - DOKU-EN-KAI |url=https://www.topshelfrecords.com/products/693466-toe-doku-en-kai |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Topshelf Records |language=en}}

In 2021, they contributed an original song to the soundtrack for the anime series Sonny Boy.{{Cite web|title=Madhouse's Sonny Boy Sci-Fi Anime Posts New Video, Visual|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-06-17/madhouse-sonny-boy-sci-fi-anime-posts-new-video-visual/.174087|access-date=2021-10-01|website=Anime News Network|language=en}}

In 2024, toe released their fourth studio album, Now I See the Light.{{Cite web |title=Topshelf Records - toe - NOW I SEE THE LIGHT |url=https://www.topshelfrecords.com/products/809332-toe-now-i-see-the-light |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Topshelf Records |language=en}}

Members

{{nihongo|Hirokazu Yamazaki|山嵜廣和|Yamazaki Hirokazu}} – guitar
{{nihongo|Satoshi Yamane|山根さとし|Yamane Satoshi}} – bass
{{nihongo|Takaaki Mino|美濃隆章|Mino Takaaki}} – guitar
{{nihongo|Takashi Kashikura|柏倉隆史|Kashikura Takashi}} – drums

Musical style

The vast majority of toe's music is instrumental, featuring a very dynamic drumming blended in with melodic, clean guitars. Takashi's drumming has been specially revered among math-rock circles,{{cite web|url=https://inyourspeakers.com/content/review/322-toe-hear-you-08012015|title=Toe: Hear You|publisher=Inyourspeakers Media|date=2015-08-01|accessdate=2015-08-06|last=Negron|first=Michael|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805093109/http://inyourspeakers.com/content/review/322-toe-hear-you-08012015|archivedate=2015-08-05|url-status=dead}} considered to be the main attractive of the band from their first releases.{{cite news|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Music-Review-Toe-For-Long-Tomorrow-3454367.php|last=Wu|first=Cadence|title=Music Review: Toe - For Long Tomorrow|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|date=April 1, 2012|accessdate=27 April 2024}} The AllMusic review for The Book About My Idle Plot on a Vague Anxiety calls the drums "the star of the sound". 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"{{cite news |last1=Lars |first1=Gotrich |title=Songs We Love: toe, 'My Little Wish' |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2015/07/02/419181798/vikings-choice-toe-my-little-wish |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=NPR |date=2 July 2015}} The group changed their sound in later records incorporating acoustic guitars, Rhodes piano, vibraphones and vocals.{{Cite web |title=Topshelf Records - toe tour dates, merch, video, catalog & more |url=https://www.topshelfrecords.com/roster/toe |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Topshelf Records |language=en}}