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KANSAS

Symphonic Prog • United States


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Kansas picture
Kansas biography
Founded in Topeka, Kansas, USA in 1970 - Continued activity with different line-ups - Still active as of 2017

Original members Kerry LIVGREN (guitar) and Phil EHART (drums) combined their two separate bands into one large band. Kerry's band was called SARATOGA, and Phil's was called WHITE CLOVER. The band changed its name to KANSAS. They were from the beginning just an ordinary rock band, but were quickly compared to other progressive bands in the 70's like GENESIS, YES and KING CRIMSON. Combining the musical complexities of British prog-rock with the soul and instrumentation of the American heartland, KANSAS became one of the biggest selling and most successful touring acts of the 1970s. With huge hits like "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust In The Wind", they helped define the sound of "classic rock". They are loved all over the world.

I- THE 1970s
The Early Days: Their self-titled debut album was released in 1974, but nationwide response was slow. Their second album, "Song For America", saw a softening of KANSAS' sound, with more classical influences evident. The third album, "Masque", featured more pop songs and lyrically quite dark. They suffered ridicule from people around the world, because they wore overalls and had a violonist, which made people think that they were a country music group.
The Best of Times: "Leftoverture", with the popular single "Carry On Wayward Son", became a signature piece and pushed the album to platinum success. The followup, "Point Of Know Return" (1977) contained the ever-popular acoustic "Dust In The Wind". During their tour, they recorded their first live album, "Two For The Show" (1978) and the next studio album "Monolith" (1979).

II- THE 1980s
Seeds Of Change: A year later, the band followed up with "Audio Visions", the last production of the original band lineup. WALSH left the band due to creative differences. "Vinyl Confessions" had Christian lyrical content. The next album, "Drastic Measures" (1983), had some hard rock material on it, including the song "Mainstream". In 1984, the band released a greatest hits compilation, "The Best Of Kansas", which featured one new song, "Perfect Lover".
The Second Generation: The group split in 1983, only to reform in 1986 with the albums "Power" and with "The Spirit Of Things" (1988). Sales of these two albums were not very strong. Thus, the second generation of KANSAS had...
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KANSAS discography


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KANSAS top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.01 | 716 ratings
Kansas
1974
4.15 | 829 ratings
Song for America
1975
3.68 | 623 ratings
Masque
1975
4.23 | 1293 ratings
Leftoverture
1976
4.18 | 893 ratings
Point of Know Return
1977
3.26 | 451 ratings
Monolith
1979
3.08 | 353 ratings
Audio-Visions
1980
2.78 | 280 ratings
Vinyl Confessions
1982
2.21 | 259 ratings
Drastic Measures
1983
2.71 | 281 ratings
Power
1986
2.81 | 239 ratings
In The Spirit Of Things
1988
3.21 | 256 ratings
Freaks Of Nature
1995
3.37 | 166 ratings
Always Never The Same
1998
3.48 | 322 ratings
Somewhere to Elsewhere
2000
3.81 | 335 ratings
The Prelude Implicit
2016
3.69 | 183 ratings
The Absence of Presence
2020

KANSAS Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.34 | 289 ratings
Two for the Show
1978
2.95 | 62 ratings
Kansas - Live at the Whiskey
1992
2.74 | 49 ratings
King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Kansas (1989)
1998
2.17 | 18 ratings
Live: Dust In The Wind
1998
4.04 | 81 ratings
Device, Voice, Drum
2002
2.29 | 14 ratings
Dust In The Wind
2002
2.18 | 12 ratings
Greatest Hits Live (Kansas)
2003
1.70 | 11 ratings
From The Front Row...Live!
2003
4.18 | 69 ratings
There's Know Place Like Home
2009
4.31 | 16 ratings
Bryn Mawr 1976
2014
2.72 | 10 ratings
Carry on for no Return
2016
4.56 | 47 ratings
Leftoverture Live & Beyond
2017
4.52 | 24 ratings
Point of Know Return Live & Beyond
2021
0.00 | 0 ratings
Carry On - Cincinnati '95 Syndicated Broadcast
2023

KANSAS Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

3.25 | 15 ratings
Best of Kansas Live (VHS) [Aka: Live Confessions DVD]
1982
4.21 | 77 ratings
Device - Voice - Drum (DVD)
2002
4.59 | 72 ratings
There´s Know Place Like Home (DVD)
2009
4.15 | 22 ratings
Miracles Out Of Nowhere
2015

KANSAS Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.58 | 88 ratings
The Best of Kansas
1984
3.84 | 54 ratings
The Ultimate Kansas Box Set
1994
3.09 | 15 ratings
The Definitive Collection
1997
3.29 | 52 ratings
The Best of Kansas (1999)
1999
1.44 | 10 ratings
Extended Versions
2000
3.94 | 41 ratings
The Ultimate Kansas
2002
4.09 | 11 ratings
Closet Chronicles - The Best of Kansas
2003
4.04 | 6 ratings
Dust In The Wind
2004
4.17 | 41 ratings
Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection 1974-2004
2004
2.97 | 9 ratings
On The Other Side
2005
2.59 | 10 ratings
Works In Progress
2006
4.42 | 24 ratings
Original Album Classics
2009
3.65 | 6 ratings
The Music of Kansas
2010
4.33 | 18 ratings
The Classic Albums Collection 1974-1983
2011
2.50 | 2 ratings
Another Fork in the Road - 50 Years of Kansas
2022

KANSAS Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.67 | 6 ratings
What's On My Mind
1977
3.95 | 11 ratings
Point of Know Return
1977
4.00 | 10 ratings
Carry On Wayward Son (Adelante, Hijo Descarriado)
1977
3.75 | 8 ratings
Portrait (He Knew)
1978
3.90 | 11 ratings
Dust in the Wind
1978
2.38 | 7 ratings
People Of The Southwind
1979
3.15 | 8 ratings
Hold On
1980
3.71 | 7 ratings
Play The Game Tonight
1982
3.00 | 6 ratings
Right Away
1982
3.00 | 6 ratings
Fight Fire With Fire
1983
2.30 | 8 ratings
All I Wanted
1986
3.11 | 8 ratings
Power
1987
1.57 | 9 ratings
Stand Beside Me
1988
2.60 | 5 ratings
The Light
2001

KANSAS Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Two for the Show by KANSAS album cover Live, 1978
4.34 | 289 ratings

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Two for the Show
Kansas Symphonic Prog

Review by Warthur
Prog Reviewer

4 stars The first Kansas live album is drawn from various shows on the Point of Know Return tour - but though songs from that feature heavily, a healthy range of selections from the previous four albums also feature on the setlist. It's an apt capstone to what is arguably their most widely beloved phase, and captures the band at a glorious peak - by this time Carry On Wayward Son has being a monster hit for them, giving the band the confidence to double down on their musical direction and make Point of Know Return an unabashedly progressive release, and that's exactly the side of their sound they showcase here.

The thing about peaks is that you don't stay there long - if you did they'd be plateaus. The Monolith album has its advocates for sure - but it's hard to deny that there's a bit more naysaying and a bit more enthusiasm about that one, a discontent that only becomes more pronounced once you push forward into Kansas' 1980s discography. Whilst their most loyal fans would stick with them through thick or thin, the good ship Kansas would undeniably face choppy waters after this - making it all the more valuable that they produced this live document of their imperial phase right as it reached its apex.

At the same time, I find that one double album of live Kansas is about all the live Kansas I feel like I have an appetite for; Kansas were always very capable when it came to capturing their best side in the studio, and so the original album renditions of these tracks generally feel more compelling than these live run-throughs, which are capable and solid performances but don't really offer much that make me see the compositions in question in a new light.

 Leftoverture by KANSAS album cover Studio Album, 1976
4.23 | 1293 ratings

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Leftoverture
Kansas Symphonic Prog

Review by alainPP

4 stars 1. Carry On Wayward Its direct entry with the tube which made me discover KANSAS on a K7 vulgurus and which made me far from it... what a beautiful lonely title on it, and almost 30 years later, or more, I takes me back to this album; the title that makes you think of no other group, therefore a musical standard space; the piano, the guitar riff, the velvet keyboard break from velvet; this declension which immerses you in the prog-yes as with MMEB when all of a sudden it drifts onto a space where the voice is silent to leave the combat of the instruments; the energetic cover before a second guitar-keyboard solo super fruity, vitaminized with this bonbom which vibrates in your speakers and the fast end which makes you miss 2. The Wall 3 years before the real... drinkable intro, I have the impression that listening to music finally makes me eat fruit, I'm talking about adjectives often reserved for cooking; good a ballad with his violin, KANSAS that's it, that's what made me move away from it, and now I find it not bad; in fact it is with a traditional instrument in SHAMAN that I changed tack and better accepted the classical instrumentation in a group, except for GENESIS whose flute I immediately liked; good the romantic ballad with a keyboard solo that eye on those of Tony from GENESIS precisely; US symphonic rock that stands out from UK rock, more nervous, more heavy rock 3. What's on My Mind or the consensual title where we especially notice this heavy riff sign of AOR rock afterwards; a sweetness and a nervous chorus to lift the stadiums, yes at the time when the stadiums were used to listen to real music; the sudden break that launches Rich and Kerry's solo right behind; short good but not great either 4. Miracles Out of Nowhere for a folk rock title stamped Robby, vocals and violin for the pack; bordering on grandiloquent for the air, the choirs and sympho-folk-prog for the rest; the end is worth it for the association violin which brings the guitar to do its taff, a singular sound which resembles only them, that gig of hell at the end and that makes good, the génesisien organ recalling that c is a demarcation of the dinos above all 5. Opus Insert... I don't even want to check if this track was on that damn best of - bad of!! the title where the too high voice sharpens the rhythm and where you have to wait for the keyboard break to settle down a bit; by far I prefer the more melodic STYX with enchanting vocals; short in view of 'Song for America' I am disappointed; otherwise I would have found it fresh and inventive, a bit complex, perhaps too much, good all the same much more than the too crazy GENTLE GIANTS 6. Questions of My Childhood in the same vein with violin and piano gently dueling; more pop-rock country than anything else, nice but I can't find the progressive fiber as I hear it 7. Cheyenne Anthem acoustic guitar intro, Robby again on vocals on this track, a slow rise; I find there by retro listening to the sound of STYX and SHADOW GALLERY an obviousness on this title; soft violin as on the SOLSTICE, the folk side in front, Occitan at MINIMUM VITAL, Breton or Irish; well it starts all of a sudden on a jerky, nervous, burlesque, festive break, proto Balkans, on the madness of the Charisma sounds, there it is finally great; it sends me back to the GENESIS of the 80 paradoxical that! Back to acoustics before yet another super-typical symphonic flight! 8. Magnum Opus in 6 parts, roll of drums, keyboards of 'Flash' and shots, intro which takes place; grandiloquent and symphonic with a stratospheric guitar solo and a vibraphone à la DIRE STRAITS, in short superb or how a tune can send you very high on the high ethereal layers; the break is provided, intense, it goes into all ranges; a deluge of synth notes above all; a slide of more or less improvised tunes, a sound which shows that there was not only YES to launch into fruity, dark, turlupine progressive drifts and a nothing on KING CRIMSON; in short it rocks this break you understood it well; most is the instrumental tirade that seems to never end .... VERY GOOD!( 4.5)
 Song for America by KANSAS album cover Studio Album, 1975
4.15 | 829 ratings

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Song for America
Kansas Symphonic Prog

Review by alainPP

5 stars KANSAS and the start of some epic albums!

1 Down The Road I don't know if they invented anything in rock, but it's well used... like it's been overheard; good the solo yes I'm on it already, very good, it turns in all directions; the voice yes nervous, but harder than prog, in short surely a prototype! In short I listen to this and I stop if I had not been forced! 2 Song For America ah it feels good finally to listen to it again; prog rock, sympho they say, a nice progressive opening; how could I have missed this? bad listening with a best of no [&*!#] and I put this group in the closet; Kerry assures the keyboards with a whirling solo, sympho; Rich assures the solos and Steve ben Steve on vocals, ah a real vocal there at least... and on the synths he sets fire; the violin solo... yes, some are the violin, other flutes, other cellos, here it's the violin, you have to get used to it; well I come back to this tune which alone is worth the trip of the said album! A marked grandiloquent side, prog that is far from YES with rock that is above all very punchy 3 Lamplight Symphony on the same US proto-prog rock tune; it's funny to remember that it was on BOSTON that I threw my ardor rather than KANSAS... Yes for the voice which I found too high; otherwise question orchestration it's just perfect, the vitaminized prog as we imagined it before it was named; much better than RUSH at the instrumentation level, a superb piece with the break and its wall of synths; it goes up, a bit nasty, even a lot nasty, then a second break with a crystalline violin and piano declination, yes very/too classic; at the time I was going on KISS, JUDAS PRIEST so the classical instrumentation balked me... when I say that I'm not perfect... well in my future chronicles of MYSTERY I could cite KANSAS as a landmark group! the final phew I get up for the second side, yes in K7 it still works! 4 Lonely Street begins softly, rocking, with a high voice, the guitar too... it sounds like KANSAS, you know, the US group that forged a specific drawer over time... how was it at that time? perceived? rock, prog, heavy prog? I come back to the sound, to the groove, it's well used, well aged... that doesn't mean it's bad far from it, we can hear Dave's bass and the sound like the SCORPIONS from the very beginning , a zest of JUDAS PRIEST from the ... very beginnings, yes it is well stamped future heavy prog rock, in short 5 The Devil Game ah the violin comes back, I was fine without it...well, we'll deal with it, and everything I've just written suddenly crumbles; finished the metallic side, although the solo of Rich rocks really well, quickly assisted by the keyboards of Kerry and Steve, it rocks; it spurts all of a sudden from all sides and the choirs amplify the air, the moog goes there on its side, a bit of violin quickly drowned out by the power of the other instruments, punchy this title.. it looks like KANSAS in fact! 6 Incomudro?Hymn To The Atman yes from GENESIS in the background, symphonic what; the gypsy violin sends nostalgia, the air is extraordinary; well I really missed it, that's the point of discussing; we come back to the piece we are of course on the symphonic declination which has its eye on certain classical authors, like a waltz tune all of a sudden, it really goes everywhere and it's well constructed; keyboards refer me to ELP here; like a Phil solo in the middle, you had to dare, it shoots in fact; we are not on the mule of DEEP PURPLE, it's drier, more rhythmic and it allows to amplify the grandiloquent air of this monstrous title; go violin before the vocal return and the final musical cavalcade that comes, one of the most beautiful musical orgasmic surges in my ears; ah a clap of thunder, I'm going to unplug .... but what did I enjoy!

Well what can I say, that I was wrong, yes! That I should have dug a little deeper at the time, surely; that I will love more and seek to acquire the albums that I miss, no! KANSAS released from its 2nd album a musical bomb, thank you Hubert, thank you Philippe!!

 Song for America by KANSAS album cover Studio Album, 1975
4.15 | 829 ratings

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Song for America
Kansas Symphonic Prog

Review by Progmin23

5 stars This was the album that got me into Kansas in the first place. The only "Kansas" I heard was the FM rotations of "Carry On Wayward Son" And "Dust In The Wind". When I picked up this album at the recommendation of my grandfather (same man who got me into Yes, Jethro Tull, and Pink Floyd to name a few) I was instantly blown away, and did not know how progressive Kansas let alone an American band could be.

The second album by Kansas stands as an extremely powerful representation of American progressive rock. The tracks on the album are balanced between straight-forward rockers, and sophisticated complex songs that are often overlooked by the prog community. One listen to "Down The Road" is enough to scare anyone looking for progressive rock on the album with its short run time, and relatively simple structure. This one takes on the hard-rocking energy and speed from their debut. However, the title track "Song For America" then proves that the album is in fact, some of the finest symphonic prog around with it's different structures, and of very a classical inspired piano interlude in the song's center. The synth leads are especially prominent here and often duel with the equally involved organ. "Lamplight Symphony" follows the same structure clocking in at 8 minutes. Here, a small section is dedicated to a piano/violin interlude that further cements Kansas in the symphonic prog hall.

"Lonely Street" is somewhat like "Down The Road" with its simple structure, but this time takes on a more bluesy approach. "The Devil Game" follows a similar formula, but is artsier even opening with a synth lead. This track prepares listeners for perhaps the band's longest achievement, "Incomudro - Hymn to the Atman" clocking in at 12 minutes. The synth tweaking and soloing on this track are perhaps my favorite (I'm a synth player/enthusiast if it wasn't obvious). Reissue owners like me are treated to a very butchered version of the title track clipped into a 3-minute song. A second and final addition is a high-energy performance of "Down The Road".

I think perhaps what surprises me the most is the band's jumping between two genres: both southern-tinged hard rock, and progressive rock. This is a trend that would continue on the band's next albums. I feel it gives the band some variety and is often why people knock off stars, and merely label them as "pomp-rock" Overall recording quality is not too bad, as someone who owns both the 75' record and the 2000's remaster, I can say the quality is slightly muddy at the times, but this does little to hinder the experience. I feel this record deserves the "Essential" rating, but I'm grateful it sits at "Excellent Addition".

 Two for the Show by KANSAS album cover Live, 1978
4.34 | 289 ratings

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Two for the Show
Kansas Symphonic Prog

Review by Dapper~Blueberries
Prog Reviewer

5 stars I was originally gonna get this review out on Thanksgiving, but due to family and stuff I couldn't. That being said, better late than never 'ey?

Prog Rock in the 70s was definitely dominated by Europe with King Crimson and or Gentle Giant raging through, though in the American continent there was still some hype around a good amount of bands. In South America there are bands like Bubu from Argentina, and Os Mutantes from Brazil. Canada got its fair share of Prog too with Harmonium and the well beloved Rush. In between them with America, most progressive acts were very centered on Jazz, most likely due to it being a big cultural thing in the 70s and 60s with acts like Frank Zappa, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Return To Forever supplying the more jazz focused music in the American region. Though for more general rock fans that want the more harder side of the genre were still in luck, especially in the Heartland area in states like Ohio, Indiana, and of course Kansas. The more American focused Prog in the Heartlands were less reliant on European classicalism and symphonics but more on a harder rock and even slightly country sound, though bands like Styx would sprinkle in some Euro influences in their music from time to time. These tropes and characteristics of American styled Prog can be seen most prominently with Kansas.

To me Kansas has never been my favorite band in my country, but that is compared to modern acts around my banks of expertise. Even though they may not be my favorite, they still have made some very amazing albums like Song For America and Point Of Know Return, and some very classic songs that I think even non Progheads love like Carry On My Wayward Son and Dust In The Wind. As an American I find Kansas to hit pretty close to home since I live in the Western Heartland area of the USA, though I was born in a coastal state. So with that being said, I absolutely adore this live album they put out in '78.

Two For The Show is one of Kansas' expertly crafted musical ventures, featuring songs from their first five records (Kansas, Song For America, Masque, Leftoverture, and Point Of Know Return.) and they picked out the best of the best for this live show in those respective albums, beginning with the awesome Song For America from its titular album and ending with the big 11 minute suite Magnum Opus from Leftoverture, with the songs in between containing amazingly placed numbers like Icarus and Journey From Mariabronn. No song here is bad, not even close, and for me a good live album should, for one, bring out new experiences to songs, and create for a lively and fun atmosphere. This album does not only do both, but exceeds my expectations in how live albums should be. The big and grand sound the band raises in this live performance in each song allows them to constantly feel fresh even after multiple listens with me noticing new things each time, especially with headphones.

I think the best version of the album to listen to is the 30th anniversary edition with another hour worth of content that continues the streak of amazing songs from Kansas' lineage. Not only do you get a mouthful of music from this edition, but so much good material that, even with its long 2 hour length, you cannot help but love it even more.

I just love the big and super radical sound Kansas exudes on this live venture, that I just want more of what they have to offer in this big adventure they set out on stage. The violin work of Robby Steinhardt is the soul part of the album for me, working hand in hand with Steve Walsh's keyboard works and Kerry and Rich's guitars. But, they do not compare with the immaculate bass work of Dave Hope. Again, listen to this with headphones and just listen to Dave's bass. It is so meaty, powerful, and poignant that it is a crying shame he doesn't get the spotlight in comparison to other bass legends like Geddy Lee and Les Claypool.

I also really like how sometimes the band would sprinkle in a bit of a melody in some cases where they interconnect the songs they are playing. You can see that with Portrait to Carry On My Wayward Son and Excerpt from "Lamplight Symphony" to The Wall. It just makes the album so much bigger and better, really solidifying the band's Prog status while retaining their hearty sound of music.

Pretty much all of this album, front to back, is a gemstone just waiting to be cracked into. 14 songs of pure progressive stasis, and 11 more just waiting to be eaten up in the anniversary edition. If you haven't heard this live album, do yourself a favor and listen to it since this album should be one everyone at least in some point should look into as it is one of the best live releases in my opinion. Such an amazing work of art from this band.

 Freaks Of Nature by KANSAS album cover Studio Album, 1995
3.21 | 256 ratings

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Freaks Of Nature
Kansas Symphonic Prog

Review by Sidscrat

2 stars Um?? not so much. With Livgren and Steinhardt gone from the band since the early 80's Kansas trues to sound like Kansas but only comes close on a few tracks off the next 3 albums this one included. At least the violin was back and never to leave again. David Ragsdale is a great musician and his work with Kansas has been great. He and Robbie are different in their approach but David holds his own. He had sent Ehart a tape back in the 80's offering his assistance but was never taken up until this album.

When I went and bought this album right after its release I had hoped for a great comeback but like so many, the writing was okay but nothing spectacular. Steve's voice on this album definitely shows issues and his fast living caught up to him. ClemofNazareth commented that the album's theme seems real depressing and that is so evident.

I Can Fly is an interesting song to start with and shows off the violin. The instrumental in the middle is just plain weird but in a good way and after that the song just fizzles out. Desperate Times sounds like a Kansas song and as usual Phil's drumming is top notch. Black Fathom 4 is probably the best track for me but again it is not anything too special. Under The Knife is also okay. The title track has some great driving places. Cold Grey Morning is just that: Cold. I know that was Kerry's song he tossed in but definitely not a Livgren type Kansas track. The ending song seems so very out of place on a Kansas album.

That is really what is interesting about the album. When the band started fracturing in 1980 it just wasn't the same Kansas anymore. Expecting any release to be like the old days is illogical. Though I will say their latest Absence Of Presence is not a bad album and only 2 originals remain. This one gets only 2 clicks. They get one for coming back.

 Kansas by KANSAS album cover Studio Album, 1974
4.01 | 716 ratings

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Kansas
Kansas Symphonic Prog

Review by Sidscrat

5 stars Bata Bam! Bata Boom! Bata Bing!!! Hot the jackpot! I bought this album in 1978 after having heard Leftoverture and I was blown away by the lush originality and amazing layering of instruments on this album and to this day it ranks at the top of my Kansas list with "Leftoverture" & "Masque" taking in their positions.

I was amazed at the huge difference from the first 3 tracks to the rest of then album. The big highlights start with "Belexes" which grabs you and rocks along. "Journey From Mariabronn" was a fantastic tune all the way through. The highlight for me is "Apercu" which runs from amazing section to section and the middle interplay with guitars, keys and violin are amazing.

The end of " Death Of Mother Nature Suite" wove its way intro my mind and heart from day one and is one of then greatest endings in prog music. The story behind this band getting their first record deal coming from small town wheat fields is pretty amazing and these musicians were already extremely well trained and practiced and this band would go onto score some fantastic albums.

I have to admit that I despise the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. They induct crap bands that had a few hit singles and didn't last anywhere near as long as bands like Rush and others. The fact that Kansas hasn't been inducted yet especially before the death of Robbie Steinhardt is a crime. It kills the credibility of that so called institution as they pass them up year after year in favor of so many bands that play only basic chords and got lucky.

This album is not perfect in every song but it is close.

 The Absence of Presence by KANSAS album cover Studio Album, 2020
3.69 | 183 ratings

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The Absence of Presence
Kansas Symphonic Prog

Review by Sidscrat

4 stars Now that's what I'm talkin bout!!!

I have been a massive Kansas fan since their beginnings. I can still remember putting on the first album on my turntable as a 17 year old closing my eyes and letting "Journey From Mariabronn" take me on a journey along with "Apercu" and "Belexes." I was hooked quickly and all the way through "Point Of No Return" they dazzled. As I pointed out in my past review of "Monolith", there is that time when a band starts drying up and losing its creative edge and that album was the start of the decline.

Don't get me wrong, that record, "Audio Visions" and Vinyl Confessions" had some good moments but not the caliber of their first 5 albums. "Drastic Measures" was too drastic and after Steve Walsh returned, his 3 albums were really lacking but since the songwriter who really defined Kansas was missing along with Robbie's voice and violin, it just isn't Kansas.

Fast forward to 2014, Walsh having had serious voice issues for many years and lacking desire retired as he had reached the end of his rope and I cannot blame him. He was the reason that no new studio albums had been released since 2000's reunion "Somewhere To Elsewhere" which honestly was a disappointment to me but maybe my expectations were too high. According to Rich Williams, Steve didn't see why they should record and as Rich stated if one person doesn't want to record you cannot do it.

So when Steve left this opened the door to "Prelude Implicit" in 2016. I had expected to not hear Kansas and wondered why they would do an album but I was pleasantly surprised by it. It was a pretty decent album but not spectacular. Rich had also stated that they weren't just a bunch "of old farts" doing one last gasp; they intended to record another album after "Prelude." So when they decided to go back into the studio I thought we would see something similar to that album.

Hold the press!! Oh, Em, Gee!!! I was in shock hearing this album as it rolled through the tracks. No, not every song is a zinger but no Kansas album hits on every single tune. I am a firm believer that you cannot recreate a band that has lost so many key members. But what happens when you only recruit people who are excellent and proficient musicians who love Kansas? You get "The Absence Of Presence."

I have always liked Ragsdale and he fits Robbie's shoes on the violin very well and he Billy Greer have been part of Kansas a lot longer than Dave Hope and Kerry Livgren were. The sound is classic Kansas at its best and no other group of that era sounds closer to the original than this set of guys.

So after babbling on about all this, what about the tracks? The title track starts out very well and the vocal harmonies work well. "Throwing Mountains" tears it up great and with the solos in the middle it kept me surprised. After you hear a band their songs become predictable and there are less surprise hooks but this album has many. "Propulsion 1" is one of my favorite tracks not just on the album but in the Kansas library. This one screams classic! It is a great kicking instrumental. "Circus Of Illusion" has a few surprises on it as well. The start of "Animals On A roof" reminds me of something on "Leftoverture" and it is also a strong track. The final track, "The Song the River Sang" was a great way to end this jewel and is my favorite vocal track.

My only issue with the band is the lack of a clear second vocalist like Robbie. Greer does a good job but the wider range would be better. But if that is the worst part, I can live with it. I cannot imagine these guys following this up with anything better but I could never have guessed this would be so good. They only have Ehart and Williams from the glory days and they aren't really songwriters. Brislin, Rizvi & Platt wrote this music and it is obvious they have that Kansas blood. The instrumentation is amazing and nothing less than astounding. Phil's drumming never ever is anything less than stellar.

This album has so many great moments that I have to rank it just behind their first 5 albums. I liked it better than "Monolith" and "Audio Visions" and that is saying a lot! Sadly Rizvi dropped out after the tour and Kansas really does better with a dedicated 2nd guitarist and he did some great solos. Rich Williams is a great guitarist but solos are not his strong suit and Ragsdale is just a rhythm player. They have lost one of their songwriters so if they do another one hopefully they hang onto Brislin and Platt and add a new lead guitarist.

 Drastic Measures by KANSAS album cover Studio Album, 1983
2.21 | 259 ratings

BUY
Drastic Measures
Kansas Symphonic Prog

Review by Sidscrat

1 stars If "Vinyl Confessions" was a shot across the bow of the USS Kansas, then "Drastic Measures" was a head on torpedo hit! The dude in the middle of the front cover was smiling but if he was Kansas he turned the big gun on himself. I was in college when this album came out and after watching one of my all time fav bands slowly go downhill starting with "Monolith" I was very curious what would come next after Vinyl.

I was not prepared for what this album held. Oh Em GEE! Seriously!? John Elefante stepped in and searching for a new direction, settled on this. It is obvious that John was still a rookie Kansasian. Very little of this album even sounds like Kansas and more like John & Dino's Hit Parade!

"End Of The Age" was one of only 3 songs Kerry wrote and that is the only song that has the Kansas sound. John sent the band into Commercial City with most of his entries. It was obvious Kerry was burned out on Kansas and mentally was on his way out into solo land. When I first heard this album I knew right there Kansas would not survive. No violin, only MTV rated hits. That being said, I have to admit??? um??. that I did like some of the tracks?.. Okay, I said it! In a strange sort of way, some of the songs were good. BUT, I didn't listen to it as a Kansas album. I heard it as a new artist.

I found myself somehow liking "Fire With Fire". "Mainstream" was Kerry's attempt at saying "This album really sucks!" and I liked it as well. The middle section was a nice surprise. The track that stood out for me the most was "Going Through The Motions" and I have to tip my hat to John on this one.

In summary, only 4 songs on this album were enjoyable but again this was not a Kansas album. So if you listen to it, act like it is a different band.

 Vinyl Confessions by KANSAS album cover Studio Album, 1982
2.78 | 280 ratings

BUY
Vinyl Confessions
Kansas Symphonic Prog

Review by Sidscrat

3 stars 6 Members; 3 born again Christians and 3 secular walked into a bar?? Okay but it did seem like the start of a good joke. This album is no laughing matter though. It was pure irony that put this album together. After Kerry's Christian lyrics turned off Walsh, especially since he would be singing things he didn't believe in, Steve walked away and sadly the band was broken up. Dave Hope now also catches the Christian bug.

I do think that Elefante was the right pick to replace Steve with his similar range but Steve Walsh is one of a kind. What is funny is that Kerry & Dave had no clue John was also a born again! What are the odds? Divine intervention!?

Regardless, they headed back into the studio and what came out was in my opinion an album that had better songs on it than the last 2 with Walsh. As I stated in my review of Audio Visions Kerry really should have reserved his Christian songs for his solo work since Kansas was a democratic 6-member band. His decision to integrate this way led to the fracturing of this band. I am a born-again so I can say it would be best to defer to the majority in the band. It was a mistake that destroyed the band. Robbie left after this tour due to the fact that they now had 2 sets of fans: The old school and the Christians and those silly born-agains chose to use the lyrics to put them in evangelical tracts and gave them out at concerts. Bye-bye priceless violin and amazing singer.

As far as the album is concerned it sounds fresh in places but way too commercial. With the first wave of prog fading away in the late 70's which turned my favorite prog band Genesis into a bad rendition of Hit Parade! What a tragedy??. But that's another sobfest. I have to admit I am not much intro lyrics. I am very much an instrumental music lover and classic Kansas has some of then most amazing and complex instrumentation of any band which is the definition of true musical talent. Anyone can play an instrument but with prog, you have to be incredibly proficient to be successful.

I sensed more flavorful instrumental passages on this album than Audio Visions. I could do without the hit "Play the Game Tonight" but it did make Kirshner more happy. The first side of the album for me was a complete waste of vinyl. Side 2 redeems the album much better. I liked Face It and John shows his Walshy abilities as he hit a great high note rolling intro the solo.

Windows is probably my favorite track and it is one of the better songs they have done since "Point Of No Return". I wish they had done more with the middle solo section as it could have been a great prog song. "Play On" was good with its beat and flow. "Crossfire" was another back to Old Kansas kind of song and obviously has Kerry written all over it.

Audio Visions marked the end of Kansas as we knew it and this album solidified that end. Robbie's violin got them a record contract and his contributions in the studio and on stage as the MC can never be discarded. What Kansas was about to face was a head on collision with disaster.

Thanks to ProgLucky for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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