KINGDOM OF DESIRE marked in many respects a turning point in the history of TOTO. First, it is the first album without lead singer. For guitarist Steve Lukather takes over exclusively to singing (and he makes damn good). Secondly KINGDOM OF DESIRE marks a departure from the AOR-influenced rock, of the TOTO sound previously accounted. On this album, the quartet rocks (because in addition to the singers had TOTO henceforth dispense with keyboardist and sound tinkerer STEVE PORCARO who could no longer endure the stress of rock star-existence and since then as a hit-supplier, among other things Michael Jackson works). Third, it is unfortunately the last album with Groove God Jeff Porcaro on drums, because these - even before the album release - died on 5 August 1992. The album is the sound dominated by harsh guitars and driving drums, the songs have become very bleak for TOTO ratios (almost like a premonition of impending tragedy) .This but may be also due to the time since the early 90s had the Time of glossy bands one end and the more melancholy and more aggressive sounds of grunge (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and ALICE IN CHAINS or even heavy metal bands such as METALLICA and MEGADETH) dominated the popular music scene. Since it seemed appropriate that TOTO also modified their sound. The album starts directly with the perhaps the toughest and most direct song TOTO have ever written. "GYPSY TRAIN" It is omitted incoming chorus passages, the play lives a lot more of the straight guitar riff and the almost galloping rhythm the drums. These can "GYPSY TRAIN" LUKATHER plenty of time to make his solo skills to the test. With "DO NOT CHAIN MY HEART" followed by a bluesy tinged song, which is supported by bass and drums. The keyboards keep at the beginning almost completely from the play out before they slowly more and engage more space. The guitar controls in verse only small sprinklers in, so that the song takes over more and more drive. It shows LUKATHER that he may interpret rock songs very well next to ballads. With "Never Enough" and "How many times" followed by two very straight rock songs. It particularly impressed "Never Enough" can inspire towards the end with a great increase. The percussion of Lenny Castro used the time together with CHRIS TRUJILLO (also percussions) something like an unofficial permanent band come again strengthened -member was. "How many times", however, is catchier than "Never enough" but I can not really keep up after the final of the previous songs. Overall, the sound of the two pieces is very raw and dry. In "2 Hearts" puts the CD first musical pause. A typical almost Lukather ballad where you can but hardly get enough. The song starts very anthemic with large (in terms of sound great) chords. Like so often based ballads of LUKATHER mainly on the piano and build through the use of slightly distorted guitar in the chorus then a new mood on. The only weak point of the song is the fact that the song will disappear too early, because LUKE plays in the fade-out one of his typical outstanding solos, which one would have liked to hear all. The following "WINGS OF TIME" is a very atmospheric song that very lives of the atmosphere that is created by the interplay between long-drawn (almost fluent) guitar and keyboard chords and the up-tempo game bass. The music gets this much room to breathe and the song gets a very calming effect. "She Knows the Devil" is one of two funky songs ("Kick Down The Walls" is the other) that prove that musical spectrum have the guys on it. The pieces also underscore that TOTO are always willing to take musical risks, thereby also certainly demand from their fans something. Because "She Knows the Devil" and "Kick Down The Walls" are both to play and to listen rather strenuous songs. Where "KICK DOWN THE WALLS" not comes with such a rocking attitude as "SHE KNOWS THE DEVIL" for a lot more synth interjections can boast. "THE OTHER SIDE" is the second ballad on KINGDOM OF DESIRE, very worn, dominated by piano and keyboards without much guitar work. Even the bass is here mixed rather decent, although the game of Mike Porcaro on KINGDOM OF DESIRE is otherwise very concise. In "Only You" is TOTO quote then for the first time himself (what other musicians such as Sting also very happy and do well). The song is based on chords and melody line of "Take My Hand" from the soundtrack to David Lynch's cult film "DUNE "to the TOTO then wrote the music. Since the film at that time in the cinema rather flopped and the soundtrack was not a huge success, TOTO operate here in parts of their own songs. The title track "Kingdom of Desire" is an unusually gloomy for TOTO ratios that builds up slowly and an almost apocalyptic mood spread (in the background dominated by heavy chords, while almost hypnotically repeats the main riff in the acoustic foreground and also the solo spread an almost fearful mood). The best one could describe the sound as TOTO meets BLACK SABBATH. Nevertheless, "Kingdom of Desire" became an excellent song, though a bit atypical. The album then concludes with a song that even today is one of the must-pieces of each TOTO gigs: "JAKE TO THE BONE" TOTO Thus final approval of the claim (or setting the record company) radio-ready music. making. "JAKE TO THE BONE" combines musical performing arts at the highest level between jazz and rock. Here you can prove (including JOSEPH PORCARO and CHRIY TRUJILLO on percussion) any of the six musicians he masters his instrument even in difficult situations (and there are some in this fireworks). It is the gentle listener never boring. Also in the 1000 cycle, there are still new and exciting to discover. Unfortunately dies with the last notes of "JAKE TO THE BONE" also the incomparable groove of Jeff Porcaro But a more dignified farewell (at least on disk) as this piece you can not have as Richard Marx once aptly remarked to death by JP:.. Our loss is heaven's gain!
