Ranking The Studio Albums
Hello guys 👋
Today I decided to rank every studio albums and give some thoughts on why I place them where I do! Let's go:
- Turn Back - I just don't like the production on this one
It feels like the only Toto record with poor drum sound and a flat production overall. Goodbye Elenor is a pretty amazing track but apart from that I also just don't think they created anything super memorable on this one either. (3/10 bc of Goodbye Elenor)
Old Is New - Some great tunes on here for sure (Alone is awesome, Chelsea feels super classic toto and Spanish Sea is great as well) but overall less exciting record to me which isn't an issue since they were like 40 years into their career at this point. Still good tho (5/10)
Toto XX - Slightly better than Old Is New imo since there are just higher highs on this album. Goin' Home is one of my absolute favourite Toto songs, Last Night is absolute single-worthy imo and In a Word is a super groovy track as well. (5.25/10)
Falling In Between - Definitely gets elevated by having Bobby Kimball on the vocals. Compared to the previous Kimball album this is much worse tho. The song writing just doesn't catch me that much and it doesn't feel super interesting to me. Still some good tunes on here with King Of The World, Dying On My Feet, Taint Your World and No End In Sight tho. (6.5/10)
Hydra - Considering this album actually has some of my absolute favourites from Toto this might seem like a weird placement but it also has some of the weakest and most forgettable Toto tracks with Lorraine, All Us Boys and A Secret Love imo. The other songs are all absolute gems. 99 is super viby, Hydra is incredible, White Sister and Mama completely rock and St George And The Dragon is a crazy masterpiece imo. (7.75/10)
Toto IV - This might be the biggest hot take in this list but hear me out; Rosanna is an absolute masterpiece, Africa is one of the most well-written tracks of all time and songs like Lovers in the Night and Waiting for your Love are fantastic groove jams. I Won't Hold You Back is also one of my more favoured Lukather Ballads tbh. But the rest? Really not much else actually interests me on here. It's not bad but surely worse than the consistent Top 7. Keep in mind: my opinion xD (8/10)
Fahrenheit - First Joseph Williams Album and he absolutely delivered. An amazingly written, more pop induced album to follow up the rockier Isolation, most stuff on here works perfectly to me. The album just tends to lean too much into the poppier Toto side for my liking that's all. It also doesn't provide an absolute stand out track to me even tho being pretty consistent from start to finish. Could This Be Love, Can't Stand It Any Longer and Somewhere Tonight are probably my favourites tho. (8.25/10)
Kingdom Of Desire - This is my dad's favourite album and it is also a fan favourite I think. I definitely understand that since it's different from most other Toto stuff. It hits harder but still has some softness. I do prefer Lukathers other lead-album (Tambu) over this because I somehow don't vibe with the hard rock side of this album as much as I'd want to. Some songs like Never Enough, How Many Times, the Title Track or She Knows The Devil are definitely hitting the right spot for me but it doesn't fully click on other tracks idk. Still an amazing record, clearly showcasing Lukathers range as a lead singer. (8.5/10)
Tambu - I prefer this slightly over KOD cuz I just like the more experimental side on here. Some of the riffs, melodies and chord progressions on here are peak Toto. Drag Him To The Roof is a masterpiece and songs like Time Is The Enemy or Baby He's Your Man show how versatile the band really was back in the 90s. It's a bit ballad-heavy and slow at times but incredibly written all the way through imo. (8.75/10)
Mindfields - Absolutely overlooked album pretty late into their career. Bringing back Kimball was a huge upgrade, he had an absolutely amazing power in his voice on this record. The production is probably my favourite on any Toto Album. Mindfields has a beautiful mix of Rock, Ballads, experimental stuff and poppier songs. It's insanely well written with some of their best hooks on here imo. Standouts to me are definitely Mad About You, Caught In The Balance, One Road, Selfish and Mysterious Ways but it's one of their most consistently strong records tbh. Maybe a bit too long and Better World and Spanish Steps are pretty weak imo. (9/10)
Isolation - Their most underrated album by far. Fergie Frederiksen had an amazing voice (maybe a bit too high-pitched at times but still), his range perfectly fits this full on record album. It's their most straightforward and least experimental album tbh. Absolutely consistent from start to finish no weak tracks on here. It just doesn't deliver the highlights that No. 2 and No. 1 have to offer. Endless has one of their best hooks and Angel Don't Cry, Isolation, Carmen and Mr. Friendly are all absolute bangers. (9.25/10)
The Seventh One - This is where Joseph Williams reached his peak. This album is what I think of when I hear Toto. It's full of magic, fire and still so heart-warming and touching. Beautiful production, incredible song writing, perfect performances from everyone especially Jeff, David and Luke but Mike is a beast as well. AHH so good hahaha. Best songs are surely Mushanga, Stop Loving You, Pamela and Straight for The Heart but the slower more experimental tracks on here like A Thousand Years or Home Of The Brave hit just as hard to me. (9.75/10)
Toto - It's just the classic. The production, the song writing, the riffs, the melodies, Bobby's vocals, the energy and groove from all the Porcaro brothers and obviously the huge amount of absolute bangers and masterpieces of here. Starting with one of the best album intros ever with Child's Anthem and ending with soul-warming sweet ballad. Everyone gets their time to shine on here, even Steve gets a lead on Takin' It Back lol. Hold The Line is my favourite song of all time, Girl Goodbye is an absolute masterpiece, Georgy Porgy has the most undeniable groove ever, I'll Supply The Love is an absolute rock gem, You're My Flower completely blows my mind for being so well written and the rest just flows super well. (10/10)
What do you think? Pls let me know ur opinion in the comments and give me ur own ranking with some thoughts as well!