Search - Toto :: Absolutely Live

A Frustrating Release

Brett Simpson | Auckland, New Zealand | 09/05/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This CD should get 5 stars. The music is excellent, the songs are as good as they ever were and the crowd atmosphere works its way very easily into the living room.This CD should get 1 star. The song selection is virtually identical to the "Past To Present" compilation, there's 83 minutes spread very thinly over two discs, and it was taken from a show lasting around 3 hours.So I give it the in between grade of 3 stars. But really, this CD has no use for anybody...1999s "Livefields" is the essential live TOTO album. Casual fans might want live versions of some of the better known songs ( most of which are not on "Livefields"), but they're unlikely to want to shell out for a double disc that could almost fit onto a single disc. If this had included more of the songs that were played that night ("I'll Supply The Love", "If It's The Last Night", "Angel Don't Cry", "Never Enough" etc, etc) then this could have been a great release. As it is any interest left in it beyond the inclusion of a fine cover of "With A Little Help From My Friends" is the documentary value of hearing Simon Phillips drumming with the band shortly before he became a full band member.If you have a chance to pick this album up cheaply, then you should. However nobody but the most ardent die-hard fan should actively bother to seek it out - you'll only be frustrated by the thought of what it could have been."

At Last

Kevin Landry | U.S. | 06/21/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"At last Toto has been recorded live. Toto is considered by many critics, peers, and fans -including myself- to be one of the best live bands ever. The original line-up was quite possibly the tightest band ever. The new line-up is still well above average. The cd opens up with the cut "Hydra". It's nice to have a live version of the song but without Bobby Kimball's incredible vocals it just doesn't quite sound the same. Actually, that is the only fault of the cd... the vocal parts of Kimball being handled by a female vocalist on the tracks "Rosanna" and "Africa". The remainder of the cd is superb. If it were not for the crowd noise and applause you wouldn't know it wasn't a studio recording. These guys are hot. Paich,Lukather,Porcaro,and Phillips are a tour de force on this album. Highlights are the jazzy "Don't Stop Me Now" and "Georgy Porgy" with an interesrting variation on the solo by Lukather. "Kingdom of Desire" and "Don't Chain My Heart" sound a little flat but are still worth the listen. Overall this is a 4 & 1/2 star album. A must have for all Toto fans and as close to being in the front row as you're probably going to get now that the band is touring almost exclusivly in Europe. Red Hot Buy!"