...well, now you guys know where my avatar comes from. But hey, cool covers are cool covers. And when the music happens to achieve excellence too...just icing on the cake, baby. Specifically, this particular late-era release from the smoothest rock band out of late 70's L.A. marked the closest thing to a full-blown reunion of their classic lineup after nearly two decades of new people coming in and out like a revolving door (especially in light of the death of drum god Jeff Porcaro in 1992). But best of all, the first album featuring Bobby Kimball since 1982 also ended up being a killer AOR record, albeit a very eclectic and at times head-scratching journey into Toto's experimental side.

Contrary to what some of you might have picked up in trivia pursuit, Toto's name have nothing to do with the dog from The Wizard Of Oz. It's Latin for "all-encompassing", referring to the band's ability to juggle a variety of genres and styles within the realms of hard rock, funk and R&B without losing sight of the songs. But even knowing that, I'm sure nothing could have really prepared your typical listener for the sheer enthusiastic level of ecleticism that defines Mindfields. From epic sitar-led excursions The Beatles would have been proud of ('After You're Gone'), spazzed out blues rock ('High Price Of Hate') 70's-styled progressive rock ('Better World') some surprisingly good 90's sounding pop-rock ('Melanie', 'Mad About You'), and even a punchy funk number here and there ('Cruel') this was a reinvigorated Toto that was willing to swing for the fences to show people that great bands (and great music) doesn't die or become irrelevant just because you aren't a zeitgeist to the masses. Trends come and go, but those fanbases that eventually become long-term always converge and support the real talent wherever it may be.

While it is true the 90's aren't well know for having a whole lot of post-80's style classics from the former heavyweight champions, you can always count on Toto to be interesting and even vital even as others fade into pure nostalgia machines for the housewives of yesteryear. They aren't just an AOR band: they're THE band, and the evidence can be found at your local record store, an Amazon vendor, Spotify stream or Pandora station near you.