Customer Reviews

Hydra (Sl)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If Toto ever recorded a "dark" or "edgy" album, this one would be it. The mood on almost all of the songs are introspective, dark, and edgy. This album I think departed from their "feel-good" first album, self-titled debut Toto, into a thematic other-worldly vision. I've found myself listening to this CD several times over, enjoying the clarity and production that was put into this project.

I was once told this was "bubblegum rock" by a headbanger...guess he just didn't know what good, quality music was, being so deaf :o)

Favorite songs on the CD include:

99 / Mama / White Sister / Secret Love

Peace Out.

TOTO's second album in 1979 shows more rock aspect of TOTO than their self-titled debut in 1978.

Opening track HYDRA has progressive hard rock edge with very dynamic intro and excellent combination of grooviness and heaviness. With the exception of the title track the album as a whole is nicely produced melodic hard rock album somewhat like Asia, Kansas and Foreigner. Unlike their first album that has too varied in music direction, Hydra is much more consistent and showing that they are gradually acquiring their original music style. David Hungate's bass guitar has given a quite a role in heavier edge. ALL US BOYS and ST.GEAORGE AND THE DRAGON in particular are excellent melodic pop rock gems. While they are trying hard to be progressive and hard, soft songs like 99 and MAMA glimmer. 7th track WHITE SISTER, and last SECRET LOVE are not that impressive and I feel this album is still incomplete as I have known their great works after that.

Recommemded for late 70s melodic/progressive hard rock fans and Journey/Survivor/Boston/Styx/Kansas fans.

Toto is in rare form on this album. Lukather guitar playing is mind blowing. Jeff Porcaro drumming is phenomonal. David Paich and Steve Porcaro are wizards on the keyboards. David Hungate lays down a wicked bass. This one rocks harder than most other Toto CD's and proves that these are the best musicians in rock today. White Sister is the best track with Hydra and Lorraine a very close second and third.

Your enjoyment of 'Hydra' depends greatly on which version of Toto you prefer.Are you more of a fan of the psychedelic,fusion-inflected prog rock side of Toto or the soulful,poppy and at times even funky stylings heard on tunes like "Georgy Porgy" and "Africa"?Personally I fit into the latter type of listener. As one reviewer point out this is a darker,surreal "concept" album with a lot more spikey rock influences then on the debut. As for my favorite music style of Toto that can be found in "99"-now it's in keeping with the darker Pink Floyd-esque concept but the style is more fusion then prog rock so it definately has more a musical appeal for my ears. My favorite tune on the album has to be "Mama",which not only emphasizes Toto's jazz backround but it sure would sound great right alongside Steely Dan's "Babylon Sisters" from about the same time. So why are those the only tunes I mentioned? Well the others while well performed have this feeling of fitting into any prog rock album by an ELP or Styx album of the same period. Luckily one thing that all the progressive rockers had in common (especially Toto and Rush) were that the musicians within the band were all extrodinarily talented,even if they all too often felt the need to show those talents off-one of the main complaints detractors of prog rock will tend to have. But at the very least Toto weren't afraid to mix it up a bit,

Hydra was Toto's sophmore project. Given the success of their first self titled debut album it would be difficult to surpass it, but Toto did just that. The band went for an edgier sound instead of the pop sound that was their first album. White Sister and All Us Boys are my personal favorites as the band tears it up hard rock style. The musicianship and production are first rate and this is an album that you can listen to, forget and go back and it still sounds fresh. This was their most consistent album from song to song but probably the least appreciated. Unfortunately for most listeners who purchase a greatest hits album will miss what is the bands best effort and shows that these guys can rock. As a side note, I got to see Toto in concert when they were touring this album and I have never seen a band as tight as these guys were. The musicianship and sound were awesome. It was music played with raw power and great talent.

A worthy, although different, follow up to the self titled debut album. Hydra opens with three superb tunes (Hydra, St George and the Dragon, 99) and then, on track 5, dives into possibly Toto's worst song committed to disc (All Us Boys) which sounds like a Kenny Loggins discard.The rest of the album can't quite sustain the momentum of the openers but Mama has aged gracefully with a measured Bobby Kimball lead vocal and funky jazz rhythm track. St George and the Dragon shows a songwriter (David Paich) in rare form. A song with many textures and hooks - one of Toto's best.

I never had this item before but after reviewing this product I certainly say that I am a Toto fan. Thank you again Amazon.

Donald Woodson

Toto's first album was filled with quality songs, but many of the songs wound into jams that didn't seem to go anywhere in particular. At that stage in time, this group of top-notch studio musicians seemed to be struggling with the ability to see a song from beginning to end as one cohesive package. On "Hydra", there were no such worries. As the title track progressed into a monstrous epic, it pulled back into the quiet mode of its starting point - and the studio musicians were now a superb band. "99" draws out elegantly, whereas on their first album it would have done so aimlessly. "Lorraine" and "White Sister" are also highlights. Critics of Toto love to pick at "All Us Boys" as a nothing song; maybe it's genuine. But the rest of this album ranges from epic progressive rock to smooth lush soul, a combination that was almost never heard in the 1970's. For this, Toto should be regarded as far greater pioneers than they are...and this album should be regarded as much more of a landmark than it has been.

This album was released WAY ahead of its time. This album contains the greatest Toto song "99", the best song in 1979. This is my favorite Toto album, great musicianship and songwriting.

I have all the TOTO albums and this is the best. One of my favorite songs of all time is Hydra...I have friends that still remember me playing that song and we all jammed to it..