FREAKS OF NATURE

The last two Kansas studio albums were IMO the poorest ones of the band (both one star on my scale of value). Surprinsingly, they released three years before this studio album a rather good live album ("Live At The Whiskey"). Walsh had the good idea to add again a violin player in the line-up : David Ragsdale. Although I am not able to judge his skills as a musician, what I can say is that it was nice to have this instrument back in the band.

So, it was with a good feeling that I discovered this album. From the very first number, I was overwhelemd with joy. "My" Kansas was back again, some fifteen years after what I consider as their last decent studio album : "Audio-Visions" to name it.

Well, at least musically since Walsh on the lead vocals sounds absolutely terrible on "I Can Fly". But the sound of the band is the one I have been missing for such a long time : rocking like crazy (good old days are back). The structure of the song is complex; it is probably the most elaborate of the album with several tempo changes. It will include brilliant and peaceful violin break (almost classic) in the middle section should please any Kansas fan.

The second number "Desperate Time" is very pleasant : wild chorus and very good instrumental parts (although I find that the short drum solo in the middle part could have been skipped). "Hope Once Again" is a rock ballad. I have never believed that this was the best side of Kansas, but one of their greatest hits (if not their greatest) was of that vein, so I guess they tried to reconduct the formula. I must say that attempt is not the worse in the genre.

"Black Fathom 4" is a great hard (even heavy at times) rock song : Walsh's voice is getting better and resembles again as the one we were used to. Kansas trademark is definitely back. A strong rhytmic section, good vocals and nice violin. I can't honestly ask for more. Fifteen years of misery and boredom have been erased. A "Miracle out of Nowhere", really.

Of course, the compositions are not as brilliant as in the early days, the format of the songs is somewhat shorter than before but the typical music that Kansas had provided was back again and I guess that this only makes it a worthwhile album. The lyrics of "Under The Knife" refer to resurrection. It is indeed a resurrection : nice melody and overall good unity in the band (if you except the new Ragsdale on the violin, the quintet is playing together for quite some time). "Need" is maybe sub-par : a mellowish rock song, almost a ballad at times. Not impressive.

We'll go back to the hardest side of the band with the title track : a brilliant intro which will not be confirmed throughout the number. A bit incoherent in its instrumental parts (one can even distinguish some similiraties with "Watcher Of The Skies"). The heavy "Cold Grey Morning" is just a filler, but there are not so many here, so we'll have to live with it.

The closing number "Peaceful and Warm" starts... peacefully indeed. Nice acoustic guitar and very light (almost unoticeable) violin play. Here and there some piano touches. Yet, the mellow pace is a bit lenghtly. The track takes off for the last two minutes.

It's so nice to hear that Kansas can still compose good songs again. They took their time to do it (to say the least) but they are back. Ragsdale violin play is omnipresent and this is fine with me. I missed this so much that I can only applaud. Three stars.