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E-Dub 
Special Collaborator
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Joined: February 24 2006
Location: Elkhorn, WI
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 Topic: A Kansas Chill
Posted: May 25 2007 at 16:13 |
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Kansas was a band that when they nailed a song, it was perfection. Musically, sonically, lyrically...they could really pop you right in the forehead with that perfect moment.
I've got Point Of Know Return on in the car and just found myself really taken away by "Nobody's Home". It's flown under the radar for such a long time, but it's slowly becoming one of my favorite Kansas songs. The piano is played with such sensitivity, but exquisite in execution. And Walsh's vocals could be one of his greatest performances. Very powerful, but you could really get a sense of why he will be considered one of progs top vocalists. Anyone who has this disc, pop it in and listen to "Nobody's Home". It's just absolutely stunning.
Your goosebump moment with Kansas?
E
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StyLaZyn
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 22 2005
Location: United States
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Points: 4079
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Posted: May 25 2007 at 16:43 |
Hey E!
From Kansas "Two for the Show", the transition from "Excerpt from Lamplight Symphony" into "The Wall" always gets me. So smooth...seems natural.
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ClemofNazareth
Special Collaborator
Prog Folk Researcher
Joined: August 17 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 4659
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Posted: May 25 2007 at 16:48 |
 E-Dub wrote:
Kansas was a band that when they nailed a song, it was perfection. Musically, sonically, lyrically...they could really pop you right in the forehead with that perfect moment.
I've got Point Of Know Return on in the car and just found myself really taken away by "Nobody's Home". It's flown under the radar for such a long time, but it's slowly becoming one of my favorite Kansas songs. The piano is played with such sensitivity, but exquisite in execution. And Walsh's vocals could be one of his greatest performances. Very powerful, but you could really get a sense of why he will be considered one of progs top vocalists. Anyone who has this disc, pop it in and listen to "Nobody's Home". It's just absolutely stunning.
Your goosebump moment with Kansas?
E |
That's one of my favorite Kansas songs ever, and I'm as big a fanboy as you are so that's saying quite a bit. Walsh's voice is superb, and the violin on that song ranks as one of the most beautiful things Steinhardt ever did. Two of my three kids play violin and I have looked for sheet music for that song for several years but never found any.
I'm going to see Kansas next week - will be the 30th anniversary of Point of Know Return, and also the 30th anniversary of the first time I saw the band in Wichita Kansas. They were playing in front of 12,000 then and are only performing in front of a county fair crowd this time, but hey - time's getting on for all of us.....
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"Peace is the only battle worth waging."
Albert Camus
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Snakes & Arrows
Forum Groupie
Joined: May 06 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 95
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Posted: May 25 2007 at 20:31 |
"Across the galaxy to spreed the word and nobody heard, I came from nothing I`m alone ...and nobody's home" highly evocative and introspective lyrics with more than just your typical lets be "deep" attitude found in many other prog bands at the time ... Kansas were brilliant at what they did. If you have a spiritual experience listing to Kansas in their prime properly you are not alone it has been documented by other fans in the past. Sad thing is there is a blanket of ignorance concerning this band in the prog world but ... who cares .. their loss  My goosebump moments are many with Kansas probably the highlite is Miracles out of Nowhere but the violin part in Hopelessly human also is wonderful Kansas have many moments so many .. which is why I never understood them being treated with such contempt by sites like this ... oh yeah they are not British I forgot 
Edited by Snakes & Arrows - May 25 2007 at 20:45
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KansasRushDream
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Joined: October 08 2005
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Points: 74
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Posted: May 25 2007 at 21:09 |
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The biggest chill moment I'd say for me was getting Somewhere to Elsewhere, popping it in, and being astounded that the band was finally back in its classic prog form. I definitely would say that it's their most underrated album (although Audio-Visions is suprisingly good for not being truly progressive for the majority of the time). Magnum Opus would have to be the single song that gives me chills though. Howlin' at the Moon's laid-back blusey feel with the awesome vocals and piano soul just can't be beat. Another section of a song that comes to mind is the soft section in the middle of Child of Innocence. Very good stuff as well. Oh and I have to squeeze in Distant Vision (Somewhere to Elsewhere) too, because that has some great chill producing spots. In fact, that entire album has great chill factor areas. I think that'll be my next album of choice for rides in the car in fact.
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soundspectrum
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 14 2005
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Points: 201
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Posted: May 25 2007 at 21:31 |
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miracles out of nowhere and icarus 2 are so good
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WaywardSon
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 23 2006
Location: Brazil
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Points: 2537
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Posted: May 25 2007 at 21:41 |
There are so many songs, to name a few-
The Wall, The Pinnacle, Nobody´s home, Icarus 2 and Distant Vision, Lonely Wind (from Two for the show)
Probably the biggest chill moment is during Hymn to the Atman where Walsh sings "And growing old is only going back to where you come from"
Also on the DVD "Device Voice Drum" where Ehart does some incredible drumming on "Journey from Mariabron"
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prog4evr
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 22 2005
Location: Wuhan, China
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Points: 1455
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Posted: May 25 2007 at 21:48 |
WaywardSon wrote:
...Probably the biggest chill moment is during Hymn to the Atman where Walsh sings "And growing old is only going back to where you come from"
Also on the DVD "Device Voice Drum" where Ehart does some incredible drumming on "Journey from Mariabron" |
Yes, yes, yes! The quintessential Kansas gumpbump moment is as you say on Hymn to the Atman! Also, agree with you on Journey form Mariabron (the original has its own kind of 'moment' for me as well...)
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Jeff Schu
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 30 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 394
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Posted: May 26 2007 at 01:00 |
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Song For America... surprized that no one has mentioned this track yet.
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E-Dub
Special Collaborator
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Joined: February 24 2006
Location: Elkhorn, WI
Status: Offline
Points: 7910
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Posted: May 26 2007 at 01:01 |
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As Wayward Son mentioned, Ehart just punishes the drums on the D•V•D version of "Journey From Mariabron".
Another Kansas moment for me are Walsh's vocals on "Relentless" from the Audio Visions album. Not sure why this album gets snubbed, but I've always enjoyed it. "Relentless" embodies everything I have always liked about Walsh's vocals: The lovely tone of the verses, but when the song kicks in with the "...but a change has come upon me, and I'm really not the same," it showcases that gritty rocker side of him.
I've heard people pan Walsh because his vocals are 'too American'. Considering what the man was capable of (and still when you listen to "Rise" from Shadowman), I take that as a huge compliment. In his prime, it was hard to come close to Walsh, in my opinion of course.
E
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E-Dub
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: February 24 2006
Location: Elkhorn, WI
Status: Offline
Points: 7910
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Posted: May 26 2007 at 01:04 |
Jeff Schu wrote:
Song For America... surprized that no one has mentioned this track yet. |
I would've gotten there eventually, Jeff.
I love Ehart's drumming during the opening minutes. Nice snare/hi-hat interplay with Dave Hope anchoring. The live version on Two For The Show is my favorite.
E
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puma
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 15 2007
Location: Boston, MA
Status: Offline
Points: 484
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Posted: May 26 2007 at 01:18 |
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Those crescendoes on Song for America and Journey from Mariabronn are just astounding, goosebumps every time
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Ivan_Melgar_M
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Joined: April 27 2004
Location: Peru
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Points: 19557
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Posted: May 26 2007 at 01:37 |
Miracles Out of Nowhere to me:
1.- The dual vocal work between Steve and Robbie is outstanding
2.- The vioin - keyboaed interplay also.
3.- Great drumming
4.- Dramatic changes
5.- Strong melody
6.- Very sentimental
7.- Strong when it's required.
8.- Beautiful lyrics
A mastepiece IMHO
Iván
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Bupie
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 25 2006
Location: France
Status: Offline
Points: 140
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Posted: May 26 2007 at 03:46 |
KansasRushDream wrote:
The biggest chill moment I'd say for me was getting Somewhere to Elsewhere, popping it in, and being astounded that the band was finally back in its classic prog form. I definitely would say that it's their most underrated album (although Audio-Visions is suprisingly good for not being truly progressive for the majority of the time). Magnum Opus would have to be the single song that gives me chills though. Howlin' at the Moon's laid-back blusey feel with the awesome vocals and piano soul just can't be beat. Another section of a song that comes to mind is the soft section in the middle of Child of Innocence. Very good stuff as well. Oh and I have to squeeze in Distant Vision (Somewhere to Elsewhere) too, because that has some great chill producing spots. In fact, that entire album has great chill factor areas. I think that'll be my next album of choice for rides in the car in fact. |
So many goosebumps here too.
I will pick Lightning's Hand solo and No One Together : god, what a song !!!
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Jeff Schu
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 30 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 394
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Posted: May 26 2007 at 11:51 |
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Pretty much all of their Mini-Epics are brilliant IMO. I'd much prefer Walsh's voice to that of Peter Gabriel's early Genesis voice. *Wait's to be hunted down by an angry mob with torches and pitchforks*
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pogoowner
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 29 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 127
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Posted: May 26 2007 at 17:25 |
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Goosebump moments....
I guess I'll first have to mention my favorite Kansas song, Closet Chronicles for that. Another amazing piece of Kansas music that I never see mentioned is the violin solo in Apercu. That, in my opinion, is Robby's best work.
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And it might as well be raining, 'cause the sunlight hurts his eyes,
And his ears will never hear the children's cries
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Snakes & Arrows
Forum Groupie
Joined: May 06 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 95
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Posted: May 26 2007 at 22:30 |
Jeff Schu wrote:
Pretty much all of their Mini-Epics are brilliant IMO. I'd much prefer Walsh's voice to that of Peter Gabriel's early Genesis voice. *Wait's to be hunted down by an angry mob with torches and pitchforks* |
Walsh had a great voice 
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A Kansas Chill
