With their first album, they had success right out of the gate with the single Hold The Line, so when the band recorded this they wanted to stretch themselves musically. They did, but the record company weren’t that impressed as there was no obvious singles (even though the track, 99, had moderate chart showing). That shows you how record companies work – even when you give them an album as good as this, they want more.
This album has a more progressive feel to it, in the same way that Kansas albums feel. Still high on melody with great hooks, and the musicianship is off the charts at times. Give sessions guys free rein and this is what they come up with. They had all worked together on all sorts of projects, and had worked with anyone who was anyone in the business – and it shows. My two favourite Toto tracks are on this album, namely opener Hydra which is an incredible track with Steve Lukather really giving it the beans on guitar, and the incredible White Sister – quite possibly Toto’s finest hour in rock band mode. Of course they had huge chart success with IV with Africa and Rosanna, but for me, when Toto rock out, boy do they shift through the gears.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
