MASQUE

Failing to achieve significant sales with their previous two albums, they tried a more commercial approach in this one, but they would need another try to really make it work. Non the less, Masque contains one of the Top-5 Kansas songs ever!
Let's do a track-by-track review:

1. It Takes a Woman's Love (To Make a Man)
Another catchy opener on a Kansas album, the third in a row. This is a radio friendly Southern rocker that was chosen to be released as the album's single, without significant success. It's a fun song with nice piano, but not so special after all.

2. Two Cents Worth - worst song of the album
This one sounds like a rehearsal, like a demo version of a song in the works for it's final version. I don't get how Kansas would release such a simplistic song at that point of their career and use it as the second song of the album. Maybe the most insignificant song of their career thus far.

3. Icarus - Borne on Wings of Steel - a Kansas classic
Now we're talking! A great Southern rocker with prog elements, very popular among fans and part of the Top-10 most played songs in Kansas gigs. They should trim this one down to 3-3,5 minutes and release it as a single, it would perform a hundred times better than "It Takes a Woman's Love (To Make a Man)"!

4. All the World
A very interesting prog-ish ballad that sounds wonderful, but lacks the "it" factor to become a Kansas classic. Non the less, this might be one of the best Kansas "deep cuts" out there. Be sure to give it attention, it's rewarding!

5. Child of Innocence - a Kansas classic
A-Class hard rocker with perfect riffs, fast and compact, it has no flaws and stands right up there with the top "pop" songs by Kansas. Imagine a Single being A-Side: "Icarus - Borne on Wings of Steel (single edit) / B-Side: "Child of Innocence". That would sell more than the album itself! It's also one of the most fun Kansas songs to be played live, every live version of it I've ever listened to sounds fantastic!

6. It's You
A very fast and short song (only 2:32) with nothing particularly significant except Robby Steinhardt's clever and inspired usage of violin. It never gained too much attention by fans and you can't blame them, Kansas have offered dozens of better songs!

7. Mysteries and Mayhem
I don't do that, but if I had a "most overrated song of the album" tag to give, I would give it to that one. It's a kinda flat song, it's fast and the pace fits the lyrics but there is almost nothing memorable about it. I don't understand why Kansas play that one live semi-regularly but they almost never play the MASTERPIECE that follows!

8. The Pinnacle - a Kansas classic - best song of the album - most Prog song of the album - most underrated song of the album - my favorite song of the album - my favorite song by Kansas
"I've so much to say, and yet I cannot speak". The opening line of the song fits me perfectly, as I'm writing and deleting for more than five minutes now. No need for many words though, I will tell you this: with the legendary Carry On Wayward Son and Dust In The Wind out of the equation, I consider The Pinnacle the best song ever recorded by Kansas. Simple as that. I'm begging Kansas to make it a concert regular after all those years. People love it, it's by far the most streamed song of the album after "Icarus - Borne on Wings of Steel" on YouTube and the top most streamed on Last.fm. PLEASE Kansas, it should be a a regular 45 years now!!!

RATING:
The album has 3 Kansas classics including the iconic "The Pinnacle", but overall it's a clear step back from the previous two albums. The step back they needed to gain momentum for the launch to stardom with Leftoverture, a year later. 3 stars do a fair judge for it.