Time for Kansas to retire ?

I just relistened to The Prelude Implicit last night and I think that's a great album with awesome production and intensity, kinda in the same vein as modern spocks beard (ted leonard era) in a way. With This Heart, Visibility Zero, Voyage of Eight Eighteen, Rhythms in the Spirit, Camouflage, all great songs. 

Cristi wrote: Enchant X wrote: Its not kansas we are listening to anymore its more a cover band of Kansas , without Steve Walsh and Kerry Livgren the heart and soul has gone, what we are left with is predictable songs with shallow meanings.  Steve Walsh unfortunately cannot sing anymore. Livgren was doing some christian rock/AOR at some point, quite bland and uninteresting.  I liked the new album, quite enjoyable.

verslibre wrote: Cristi wrote: Enchant X wrote: Its not kansas we are listening to anymore its more a cover band of Kansas , without Steve Walsh and Kerry Livgren the heart and soul has gone, what we are left with is predictable songs with shallow meanings.  Steve Walsh unfortunately cannot sing anymore. Livgren was doing some christian rock/AOR at some point, quite bland and uninteresting.  I liked the new album, quite enjoyable. Listen to Kerry Livgren's first solo album, Seeds of Change. It's anything BUT bland and uninteresting. There are a number of great vocalists contributing, like the late, great Ronnie James Dio (two songs), Steve Walsh, Davey Moire (Frank Zappa's recording engineer!), Ambrosia's David Pack, Le Roux's Jeff Pollard, and even Kerry himself sings one song. Phil Ehart and Barriemore Barlow play drums. Kerry's instrumental album One of Several Possible Musiks is an Eighties classic!

verslibre wrote: Cristi wrote: verslibre wrote: Cristi wrote: Enchant X wrote: Its not kansas we are listening to anymore its more a cover band of Kansas , without Steve Walsh and Kerry Livgren the heart and soul has gone, what we are left with is predictable songs with shallow meanings.  Steve Walsh unfortunately cannot sing anymore. Livgren was doing some christian rock/AOR at some point, quite bland and uninteresting.  I liked the new album, quite enjoyable. Listen to Kerry Livgren's first solo album, Seeds of Change. It's anything BUT bland and uninteresting. There are a number of great vocalists contributing, like the late, great Ronnie James Dio (two songs), Steve Walsh, Davey Moire (Frank Zappa's recording engineer!), Ambrosia's David Pack, Le Roux's Jeff Pollard, and even Kerry himself sings one song. Phil Ehart and Barriemore Barlow play drums. Kerry's instrumental album One of Several Possible Musiks is an Eighties classic! I know Seeds of Rage. I was not talking about it.  I did say AOR/christian rock after all. Change, not Rage. And the songs therein qualify as both AOR & Christian rock.

Edited by Cristi - September 26 2020 at 12:13

I think it's only underwhelming if you think they were going to create something in the vein of SFA. Someone, possibly you, posted a poll before the latest album's release with answers related to how progressive/AOR would the album be. One of the choices was a mixture of AOR and progressive rock, favoring the former, and I think that pretty much sums it up. It's a decent album, and the first two songs and the instrumental are awesome, "The Song the River Sang" is a piece I wasn't expecting, and I'm quite pleased with it. If The Absence of Presence was anything like Yes' Heaven & Earth, then I would be more sympathetic. Also, Kansas is still a great live band. (They even play Song For America, and it's glorious!) I hope they are able to eventually come to Australia so you can see them as you would not be disappointed.

progaardvark wrote: I don't know what the situation is like in Australia for buying CDs/LPs or if you are able to listen to it online. Were you able to listen to it online before buying? $42 (AUD) seems like the price for a small box set. This is about $30 (US). I listened to it a couple weeks ago on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG3sKYOVDEGOT5UO9Hee5eU67CdPeFLvZ I think I would rate this around 3.70 out of 5. At that rating it will be on my list of things to get, but won't be a priority. Sometimes waiting a year or two, the prices drop.

Nope - 

Enchant X wrote: Blacksword wrote: Either they retire, OR you could stop listening to them and they could carry on doing what they enjoy.  for your arrogance ... I`ll never stop listening to them they are my favorite band but I will stop blindly rushing in and buying their new material without hearing it first

In a word, yes.