SONG FOR AMERICA

"Song for America" is an album that should be listened by those who claim KANSAS is an AOR group, they would surely change their minds if they really listen to the music with open mind, because the band offers us a great combination of styles, sounds, moods and atmospheres, blending with great skill Hard Rock, Blues based Rock, Country Music and of course pristine Symphonic Prog.

The album is open with "Down the Road" a typical Blues Based Rock track, unlike most KANSAS tracks the violin is used as a Rock instrument rather than as a Symphonic element, Robby's vocals are also weird for the band, he dares to be aggressive in a different way, taking elements of Blues, Southern Rock and Country, a lost gem that should be played more frequently by the band on their concerts.

"Song for America" must be one of the best structured songs of the band, any person can discover easily that they have a clear introduction, a first transitional instrumental break and the body of the song that goes though radical changes and dramatic passages, now we are before a pure Prog track and a musical piece that flows perfectly from start to end.

If we add the excellent vocals of Steve Walsh at his peak, the excellent vocal interplay with Steinhardt and the solid drumming of Phil Ehary in an extremely complex trackl for any percussionist, we are before a masterpiece that sounds even better when played years later in "Two for the Show"

"Lamplight Symphony" is everything I can expect from a Prog band, a pompous introduction, excellent vocals, dramatic keyboards and interesting instrumental breaks where the violin adds that nostalgic sound so characteristic in Kansas, just perfect from start to end.

"Lonely Street" has a soft Blues introduction by Steve and Dave Hope with the bass, and without leaving the Blues territory they add different elements that make the sound much more elaborate, with a Rich Williams proving he's not just a guy who plays the guitar, but a skilled musician....Again can't understand why "Lonely Street" has been forgotten. Special mention to Steve Walsh who does an outstanding vocal performance.

With "The Devil's Game" we return to Prog territory, the song presents dissonant elements that collision one with the other in a wonderful cacophony that makes sense, closer to Hard Prog than to Symphonic, another excellent song with Rich Williams doing a fantastic work.

The band selected "Incomundro - Hymn to Atman" to close the album, and what a great choice, after a pompous intro and a nostalgic violin, Steve Walsh jumps into the track transmitting all the possible feelings to the audience as a vocalist should do.

But suddenly,. the song starts to grow in intensity and the first climax reaches, with the organ making desperate cries and the violin as a relief, they move to a piano and keyboards passage of unusual beauty, the organ with a late psyche feeling supported by Robby and his violin create a sad depressing and mysterious section only broke by a quasi Baroque section, would be hard to describe the rest of the track (I'm in the fourth minute from twelve) because the changes are extremely complex and radical will only say that is honey for the lips of a Progressive Rock lover.

There's little more I can say, a fantastic album that marks the beginning of the maturity of KANSAS and an essential release for those of us who love the genre.

Five stars without doubts.