Toto - Falling In Between (2006, Frontiers Records)
...I was the man of the hour / I would claw and scratch my way up / To the very top of the tower...
The Lowdown
After three albums of varying strengths and weaknesses since Jeff Porcaro's demise in 1992, everything came together for Toto in the middle of the new millennium: not only was Bobby Kimball back in action and doing pretty well, but even Joseph Williams was back on board and at the top of his game. Taking advantage of a creative momentum that had been building since the late 90's, Toto signed with international AOR superlabel
Frontiers Records and recorded
Falling In Between with the intention of creating an album that hit every cylinder and walked the line between experimental and accessible without excess bloat. And accomplish their goal they did, resulting in arguably their best album since 1988's
The Seventh One. Unfortunately (and despite how good the album was), ongoing health issues and other complications for a variety of band members afterwards convinced Toto to call it a day for the next couple of years after one last big tour in late 2006/early 2007. That is, until a contract obligation with Frontiers Records convinced everyone to give things a go for one last time as a unit...