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Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope left Kansas to form the christian rock band AD since they shared the same vision about religion. Therefore, the way for Walsh's return opened wide and there is also the addition of the guitar GOD Steve Morse who, obviously, is a totally different guitarist and composer than Kerry Livgren. Billy Greer (Walsh's bandmate in Streets) took over the bass duties and the question was what the outcome would be. Well, it was a bit better than Drastic Measures but not....drastically. The 80s spirit still permeated the album. All I Wanted was the single of the album and it is nothing more than a typical 80s ballad both lyrically and musically which on the other hand makes me wonder why it didn't become a huge success (on side B there was We're Not Alone Anymore, my two least favourite songs of the album). There's also another ballad Can't Cry Anymore which is more or less along the same lines, it just features a decent short instrumental section. Morse brings on the table his impeccable technique which goes always hand in hand with quality and the band makes sure to bring this asset immediately up front with the opener Silhouettes in Disguise. There are a few shreds of the past in the instrumental Musicatto and in Taking in the View and also Secret Service combines nicely the 80s spirit with unexpected Kansas changes on the instrumental section. So here's the uncanny result: although the 80s vibe doesn't sit too well with me, it's an album I somewhat like. Maybe because of my age the 80s are more familiar to my ears and they don't wreck completely the outcome, maybe because Kansas is an extraordinary band and whatever they do, they can do it tastefully. Naturally it is not even close compared to their glorious output in the 70s, but there is some genuine quality for me here.

"Not so bad and definitely non essential" is closer to my view of the album.

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