Toto
Hydra

THE REVIEW

The premature passing of the great J.Porcaro on August 5th, 1992, was like a bolt from the blue for me at that time. Honestly, I don't want to express my views on the causes of his death; I just want to dedicate this review to this particularly talented drummer.

The name Toto is inspired by the dog from The Wizard of Oz, although a few days ago Shooting Star pointed out to me that the real name of B. Kimball is Robert Toteaux, pronounced "Totò," and it is from this name that the musicians drew inspiration to name the group. Regardless, after the release of their first album "Toto" in 1978, the group released "Hydra" the following year. The lineup consists of J.Porcaro (drums & percussion), S.Porcaro (vocals & keyboards), D.Paich (vocals & keyboards), S.Lukather (guitars & vocals), D.Hungate (bass), B.Kimball (vocals). The album consists of eight tracks, totaling about forty-one minutes.

The musical and compositional differences on this second album are few but decisive. First of all, this album features more Hard sounds with some progressive inserts, particularly in the long piece "Hydra," the title track. Essentially, it is a Rock with more "driven" sounds and excellent, albeit brief, instrumental excursions. Throughout the CD, Porcaro's drumming stands out, as does Lukather's guitar, which engages in a series of remarkable and inspired solos. "Hydra" is the most varied and longest piece with an intriguing and well-structured musical layout. Kimball's voice is crystal clear and possesses a good vocal range. A little curiosity about this track is that after the list of the names of the six musicians, "Otot Music" appears, which read backward becomes... "St. George And The Dragon" seems simpler and more immediate, yet always well-played and with valid guitar solos. Perhaps the track I prefer is "99," a slow, almost ballad-like, excellently conceived piece that I enjoy listening to often. The instrumental closure is refined and delicate, in short, a classic of Toto. The seemingly calm and melancholic start of "Lorraine" turns out to be an irresistible song with rapid and immediate Rock tones. The ending, in my opinion, is a bit too repetitive. Another perfect example of Toto's Rock is "All Us Boys," with Jeff's drumming highlighted. Lukather's guitar in this track provides solid support on the percussive base. In my opinion, the positive aspect of this band is the remarkable sonic and artistic cohesion of the musicians, along with good human harmony. "Mama" almost feels like a slow song, highlighting an excellent vocal performance by Kimball and Paich on the piano. The brief piano intro of "White Sister," on the other hand, heralds another rather charged and highly exciting Rock track. Kimball's voice is excellent, while in the closure, Steve's splendid guitar stands out, always elegant and convincing. The CD ends with "A Secret Love," which, in my opinion, is a little pearl of sensitivity and depth, despite being just a simple song sung with only the accompaniment of keyboards and piano.

The cover, so to speak, "foggy" is nonetheless valid, with tones ranging from royal blue to phthalo green-blue. In this image, a man appears to almost touch a sword (an object or symbol that will also appear on other Toto covers) perhaps ready to fight or perhaps ready to rest after a battle. The booklet is well done, with some artistic black and white photos depicting the various band members. Among them stands out one with J.Porcaro and especially the girl who is embracing him...

In conclusion, a recommended album for all Toto enthusiasts but also a bit (if I may) for the "detractors" of this worthy group.