Three states: Kansas, California, Illinois

Of course there are many more states that I could choose for album names, but I wanted to keep this short and I have listened to all three albums. Choose the album for you between these three albums. I will include a couple songs from each album for those not familiar with the albums. Since Kansas is so well-known, I listed a couple of, I think, lesser-known tracks.

Kansas - Kansas (1974)





Mr. Bungle - California (1999)





Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (2005)





Here is each albums full playlist:

KAnsas

California

Illinois

I would expect that most would go for Kansas here, but for me it's between California and Illinois. Love both, but going Illinois as I have been very into that of very late.

I prefer the experimental art rock and surf vibe of California, as well as the Indie folk vibe of Illinois, to the hard pomp rock of Kansas.

I have to say those Early Recordings by Proto Kaw that pre Kansas band with Lyn Meredith on vocals is my favourite of all the Kansas related albums.Sounding more like VDGG than Kansas.

Edited by Mellotron Storm - May 12 2024 at 02:50

Kansas debut is probably my fave of theirs actually

Kansas - Kansas (1974)

Kansas, I have many memories listening to thie debut album.

Kansas stands out here. I do like some stuff by Mr Bungle (tracks, not whole albums) and although I like what I hear from Sufjan Stevens he's too much on the poppy side of things for me (not adventurous enough, maybe). Nice, but not as captivating as the Kansas album.

Thanks for all of the responses.

suitkees wrote: Kansas stands out here. I do like some stuff by Mr Bungle (tracks, not whole albums) and although I like what I hear from Sufjan Stevens he's too much on the poppy side of things for me (not adventurous enough, maybe). Nice, but not as captivating as the Kansas album.

I'd say he's pretty complex (say, with arrangements), ambitious, and adventurous when compared to most pop (or folk/pop) and when compared to a lot of Prog, but, important to me, I find his music beautiful and it can genuinely touch me. I find him to be so wonderfully expressive and evocative. I love folk music, including really simple folk, but I love the contrasts and changes in his music and how expansive his sound palette can be. For instance, how his music shifts from contemplative, plaintive or wistful, to grand and bombastic. I was listening to Illinois the other day in my the car with my wife where she mentioned something about how pretty the melodies were and we compered it to the kinds of pop on American Idol. As "John Wayne Gacy, Jr." (the clown serial killer from Illinois) came on, I thought this sinister subject matter would be a bit much for that show (just a silly recent recollection).

Lewian wrote: Three good albums, but I'm with Sufjan Stevens.

I expected you would be. :)

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I had wanted to do one of those top ten type songs lists for Sufjan Stevens here, but I guess judging from the responses here that there aren't enough here who really like him. At least not any longer as I used to see considerable appreciation for Sufjan Stevens at this forum (there were more regulars then), which is how I first discovered him. So far, the albums of his I have listened to in full are Michigan, Illinois, The Age of Adz, Carrie and Lowell, and Javelin (which is one of my very favourite albums of 2023).

Logan wrote: Thanks for all of the responses. suitkees wrote: Kansas stands out here. I do like some stuff by Mr Bungle (tracks, not whole albums) and although I like what I hear from Sufjan Stevens he's too much on the poppy side of things for me (not adventurous enough, maybe). Nice, but not as captivating as the Kansas album. I'd say he's pretty complex (say, with arrangements), ambitious, and adventurous when compared to most pop (or folk/pop) and when compared to a lot of Prog, but, important to me, I find his music beautiful and it can genuinely touch me.