Mindfields

Artist: Toto
Label: Sony
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 074646960721
EAN: 0074646960721
ASIN: B000034CXE

Release Date: 1999-11-16

Mindfields

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General

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Pop Rock

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Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)

| Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Cruel
Caught In The Balance
After You've Gone
Mysterious Ways
Last Love
Mindfields
Selfish
No Love
High Price Of Hate
Mad About You
Melanie
One Road
Better World (Parts I/II/III)
Spanish Steps

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Customer Reviews:

Welcome Return To Classic Sound!.......2006-06-26

It was a shock to hear that Bobby was back in the band. I wasn't expecting too much from them since the songs were written so quickly. However I was pleasantly surprised, not only by the quality of the songs, but by the direction the band were taking. According to the wishes of Simon Philips the band took a step into prog rock territory and the results were astounding. Image was never one of TOTO's strong points, but the concept and focus of this album musically gave TOTO a stronger focal point than it had had in years. This was also reflected in the cover art and subsequent tour. They could hold their heads high in the company of groups like Yes for the first time. Suddenly the idea of being a TOTO fan seemed like something you wanted to declare rather than hide. As for the music, now that TOTO's rightful singer was back in place I was expecting a harder edge and I wasn't disappointed. For the first time in ages Lukather delivered a non ballad in the form of the excellent soundscape that was After You've Gone. The title track was a welcome departure into pure mysticism and completely contagious. Apart from Caught In The Balance and the Joseph Williams penned Mad About You the real highlight of the album for me was the excellent High Price Of Hate featuring some of Lukather's most intense and fuzzed up, (turbo blues) guitar work for some time. This was the last time he would sound so good unfortunately as it was recorded just prior to his breakup with Paul Rivera after a lifelong friendship. Paul, if you're reading this, fess up about the ideas you stole and get back in touch.

Nice, Cool Stuff. But Is It A TOTO?.......2006-06-06

TOTO is no doubt one of the most popular AOR bands among Top Amazon reviewers. The band's full-fledged comeback album in 1999 featuring Bobby Kimball a legend voice during early days until TOTO IV scored huge success in Japan and Europe. American version sees the changes in track order because many of the tracks are so Toto-less and sounds as if TOTO changed its music direction toward Lynyrd Skynard styled earthy straight rock.

Some are pure TOTO such as MELANIE and MAD ABOUT YOU. And CRUEL still has classic TOTO taste. But many rock though not in a bad manner and they are actually really cool. CAUGHT IN A BALANCE in particular is one of the best they had done during 90s. It is somewhat similar in style of Dave Era Van Halen somewhat but it is well constructed and worth listening a number of times. HIGH PRICE OF HATE is really groovy blues flavored rock. Overall they finally started what they really wanted to do and need some time before it would be honed enought to appeal large number of music fans.

Verdict: Earthy Rock Stuff.
Rating: 81 out of 100
Recommended for: Music fans who also love blues flavored rock such as Lynyrd Skynard. And Toto fans who appreciate rock side of the band.

Toto didn't rock with, Jeff?.......2006-03-21

If there is any knock on Toto, as far as I'm concerned as that tend to have something on every album for everyone. I was diggin' "Kingdom of Desire" big time until track 5 when they brought layers of synthesizers back into the mix. But so what! I've worn out the first four tracks and "Jake to the Bone." They rock harder on the first four tunes than anything they'd done before or since. Guess who's playing drums on "Kingdom"? Not Simon Phillips. Who played drums on "All Us Boys" and "White Sister"? Jeff Porcaro rocked!

"Mindfields" has tracks I skip past. Most albums do. What is special about an album of 75 minutes, is that there are more tunes I can sink my teeth into. "Mysterious Ways" is an awesome rock n roll tune that is great fun cranked up. I can't help but move and groove to it. Luke even references a riff from it in the first couple minutes on his Paris DVD with Larry Carlton. "Selfish" is great rock tune. Someone wrote in their review that Toto can't play the blues in their criticism of "High Price of Hate". It's a classic 8 minute plus rock tune that proves Luke and David can play the blues and that Bobby can sing the blues. Awesome tune!

Us Luke fans couldn't wait for these last two Toto discs with his influence more prevalent. Yeah for us. It's too bad it took eight years for the next one. I'm not a big fan of Luke's solo stuff either, because he doesn't let it rip enough for my taste. His leads are a few seconds here and there. But then comes the "No Substitutions" disc with LC and their DVD together...nothing but a guitar jam fest.

Well, to be honest, there might be 45 minutes of "Mindfields" that I program to listen to and it's great rock n roll fun. I give those 45 minutes 5 stars. So what about the rest of it that the band recorded for you bubble gum pop Toto fans.

Man, What's the Problem Here..........2006-02-03

Reading some of these reviews crack me up...in a mad/sad way! How can anyone say they are a serious TOTO fan over the past 20 years and not like this recording? Jeff is dead...deal with it! Nobody is a bigger Jeff fan than myself...see my site dedicated to him: jeffporcaro.blogspot.com

The CD cover is awesome! Bobby Kimball has lost nothing and seeing him Live was brilliant...taking his place behind Steve Luk who has taken over the reins from Jeff. It was Jeff's band before and Jeff was so respected he never had to twist anyone's arm...he was the daddy of the group and it worked well.

I love the recording and it has all the TOTO signature tunes. Simon Phillips is also brilliant here. He is not Jeff...nobody is, but he does a great job on drums. These are NOT easy tunes to play. I'm a drummer and can tell you the precision Simon plays at is amazing. These guys are the best musicians and this is the most diverse band ever. They may not be the most popular, but no band is as diverse as TOTO.

About the complaints of the time at 80 mins...well, do you like every tune of every CD you buy? Of course not. There are going to be some that are not enjoyed as much. Again, deal with it. Every CD is like this. The sound of the recording is not 80's...where did that comment come from? Because TOTO does not totally capitulate to the new sound of today, which is not a rock sound at all IMO, but more of a blended hip hop/ R&B sound of wailing singers who all sound the same...another story here not worth getting into.

TOTO has lost it's US audience, but is still huge in Europe and Asia...they can tour there every year and sell out. Oh well...as Jeff said once, "Wonder Bread America just doesn't get grooves."

See them LIVE if you can!!!

boring.......2006-01-21

To me, all these songs sound the same. I hear one rock song with Bobby Kimball singing, who really does not have the most melodic of voices- and I want to skip to the next track. But on this collection, all the songs with him singing lead sound exactly the same to me, with the possible exception of 'mindfields'. Steve's lead vocal tracks are a mixed bag, but better than Kimball's. 'Melanie' is a melodic ballad that is really refreshing after the rockier tuneless stuff on here. I also like 'After you've gone' and 'Better world' is also a strong effort.

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