Like Fate’s ‘Matter Of Attitude’ album, Danish band Toys Of Joy are about as close to North American FM radio-friendly AOR as you can get.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Toys Of Joy
ALBUM: One Of These Days
LABEL: Olafsongs
SERIAL: OCD019
YEAR: 1990
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Denmark
LINEUP: Henrik Launbjerg – vocals * Hans H Egestorp – guitars, keyboards, drum programming
TRACK LISTING: 01 Watching Your Moves * 02 Hold On * 03 Bring On The Night * 04 One Of These Days * 05 Some People * 06 When The Rain Falls * 07 Can’t Get Nobody Else * 08 Make A Difference * 09 Let It Out * 10 Leaves
Background
Like Fate‘s ‘Matter Of Attitude’ album, Danish band Toys Of Joy are about as close to North American FM radio-friendly AOR as you can get.
It amazes me that Danish talent like this is better than the real thing, personal opinions aside of course. A glorious mix of Mr Mister and Stage Dolls, with lots of subtle guitar, punchy bass lines and keyboard interplay.
TOJ are basically a duo-project with Messrs Launbjerg and Egestorp showing the rest of the masses how to play the ultimate style of soft stylish melodic rock.
The Songs
There is hardly a weak moment on here opening up with the AOR’tastic ‘Watching Your Moves’. Some funky overtones a la Planet 3 come to the fore on ‘Hold On’. Jay Graydon could have a field day on this one.
The pace is picked up slightly with ‘Bring On The Night’ which is a dead-ringer for Swedish AOR’sters Time Gallery, while the title track ‘One Of These Days’ heads off into Marc Jordan territory.
Probably my favourite moment on the album is ‘Some People’ which is quite moody and atmospheric during the majority of the song but the chorus is magic. The keyboard solo is pretty good too, as are those sweeping pulse laden bass lines.
‘When The Rain Falls’ is as close to ballad perfection as you can get. Then there’s ‘Can’t Get Nobody Else’ another slice of AOR heaven which is like a very smooth Stage Dolls song.
The guitar run at the end is great too! ‘Let It Run’ is very much like Marc Jordan circa ‘Talking Through Pictures’ and the album signs off with the luscious ambience of ‘Leaves’.
In Summary
Toys Of Joy released a follow-up a couple of years later in 1995 called ‘Still Be’ which was slightly different to ‘One Of These Days’. In fact, TOJ followed a path not dissimilar to Keven Jordan, one legendary AOR album followed up by album with a slight change of direction.
Toys Of Joy on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
