Kansas vs Marillion
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Polls
Forum Description: Create polls on topics related to progressive music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38242
Printed Date: June 14 2025 at 19:46
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Topic: Kansas vs Marillion
Posted By: Big Kansas Fan
Subject: Kansas vs Marillion
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 00:14
I realise that Marillion have been producing some great material lately but I just wanted to find out if Kansas still had the ability to make this poll a contest. I hope you judge this poll on the entire body of works and the influence that the works produced may have had on progressive rock over the years.  |
Replies:
Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 00:17
You can't compare Kansas to a 80's Genesis Tribute band.!!!  ------------- http://darksideofcollages.blogspot.com/ http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Darksideof-Collages/ |
Posted By: GoldenSpiral
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 00:53
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Kansas was an actual prog band. Marillion always was, and always will be an imitator band.
------------- http://www.myspace.com/altaic" rel="nofollow - http://www.myspace.com/altaic ALTAIC "Oceans Down You'll Lie" coming soon |
Posted By: Tommydouglas
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 01:26
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C'mon, you guys are a bit tough on Marillion. The Genesis comparison is a bit of a worn-out cliche. Regardless, think about Fish's lyrical brilliance--Misplaced Childhood. Rothery's excelllent intricate guitar work, Trewavas' underrated bass-work, the unique drum-style and behind it all Mark Kelly's great keyboard work. Hogarth also has a powerful voice. I don't think Kansas can match them in any of these spheres. ------------- "I'm not really spiritual, just religious." |
Posted By: Big Kansas Fan
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 01:51
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Tommydouglas wrote:Posted By: Atomic_Rooster
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 02:03
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Kansas is far superior to Arkansas. I've got some relatives there and its an overall awesome state/band: great harmonies, lots of wheat, excellent musicianship, tornadoes ...
------------- I am but a servant of the mighty Fripp, the sound of whose loins shall forever be upon the tongues of his followers. |
Posted By: theBox
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 02:12
there is a general pattern aplying to progarchives. Any given "neo"
band compared to a "symphonic" or "art" or whatever of the same (give
or take) caliber, is bound to loose. Big time!. My vote goes to kansas
as well!
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Posted By: iguana
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 03:45
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absolutely MARILLION – no comparison whatsoever. KANSAS may have had
a longer run and probably were the more original and individual band from the outset, but it is without doubt who of the two are more relevant to the progression of music at the moment. MARILLION keep releasing albums that push the(ir) musical boundaries as opposed to KANSAS, who you can expect to see at some country fairground somewhere or elsewhere regurgitating the same songs over and over again for an audience that stopped listening about 20 years ago... ------------- progressive rock and rural tranquility don't match. true or false? |
Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 04:53
Or, indeed, Marillion...
*sigh*
That simply isn't true - there is only one song that could back up that statement, and it's not even on an album - it was a "B-Side". ------------- The important thing is not to stop questioning. |
Posted By: iguana
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 05:02
GRENDEL, eh? how very true. i still listen to it from time to time, just for a laugh. ------------- progressive rock and rural tranquility don't match. true or false? |
Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 05:11
| I think these bands do deserve to be compared. What they have in common is that both had a few too many pop and rock tendencies for many proggers to be completely comfortable listening to them. Personally, I love Kansas. Marillion, well I like Script, but the rest of their stuff is not for me. |
Posted By: white_russian
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 05:26
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marillion by far
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/white_russian"> 
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Posted By: heavyhery
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 06:59
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kansas by a long mile ------------- heavyhery |
Posted By: Norbert
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 07:42
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I like Marillion a lot more. |
Posted By: Gog/Magog
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 07:51
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Marillion, as I prefer prog rock to soft rock! -------------  |
Posted By: proggy
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 08:17
| TWO WORDS FOR FISH - PETER GABRIEL.....KANSAS. NOT EVEN CLOSE...... |
Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 08:18
That would be because you, like me, appreciate Fish's sense of humour in his brilliant interpretations of Beowulf, right?
On second thoughts, you may not want to answer that  ------------- The important thing is not to stop questioning. |
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 08:30
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I've gone for Marillion.... but its a close run thing for me... ------------- Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson |
Posted By: iguana
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 08:44
that's OK speaking of, i still have an old live version somewhere on tape
from reading festival 81 or 82 – not bad at all! to keep to the subject – i quite like a few kansas things but this is like comparing apples to oranges. for my dose of kansas (once a year at the most) i listen to the “live at the whiskey“ CD, which is a raw, emotional and in-your-face disc, despite or even enhanced by steve walsh's VERY knackered vocals. ------------- progressive rock and rural tranquility don't match. true or false? |
Posted By: WaywardSon
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 09:07
| For their entire body of work, I voted Kansas, but I also love the Marillion era with Fish. |
Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 09:17
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I love both, but have to go with Marillion.
E ------------- 
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Posted By: akin
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 09:26
| I like both bands, but I vote for Kansas because Leftoverture and Song for America are in a level that no Marillion album can compare. |
Posted By: Jgbrum
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 10:53
| No doubt.... Marillion!!!!! |
Posted By: debrewguy
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 11:15
Kansas is soft rock ? I begs to differ ... go take a listen to the first 5-6 Kansas albums. There's a reason that Steve Walsh wore gym shorts on stage. He jumped & hopped to the music. I wonder if the only Kansas song you may have heard is Dust in the Wind. ------------- "Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case. |
Posted By: elpprogster
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 11:22
Like everything its a matter of taste or opinions... Anyway KANSAS rulez 
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Posted By: Snakes & Arrows
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 11:41
  << Steve Walsh from Kansas doing a headstand on his keyboard 
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Posted By: Zargus
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 11:43
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hmmmm.. i dont know much about any of em.. Kansas (the name) sound like some kind of bad country band, and Marillion.. i was planing to buy that misplaced childhood album but the cover is so ugly so i dont wana tuch it. ------------- 
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Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 11:48
Not buying an album based solely on an album cover and a band's name? Pretty open minded. 
E -------------
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Posted By: Snakes & Arrows
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 11:50
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Posted By: bhikkhu
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 12:00
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This is the way I see it.
Marillion with Fish > Kansas Marillion with Hogarth = Kansas ------------- a.k.a. H.T. http://riekels.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow - http://riekels.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Snakes & Arrows
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 12:02
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Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 13:16
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Taking both bands in their prime Marillion was by far beter ------------- "One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. " |
Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 13:27
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I like both bands, but prefer Marillion. ------------- RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! |
Posted By: chessman
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 16:26
Marillion, easily! 
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Posted By: bhikkhu
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 17:34
I am no stranger to Kansas, or "Magnum Opus." I stand by my earlier response. ------------- a.k.a. H.T. http://riekels.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow - http://riekels.wordpress.com |
Posted By: BroSpence
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 17:36
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Well I'm not fond of Marillion. Fugazi is great, but didn't like anything else I've heard of theirs. Kansas grew on me after a while. Their first album, Leftoverture, Point of Know Return are all great albums. |
Posted By: Melomaniac
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 17:41
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Whoa, tight poll !
I won't vote because I only know Marillion (well I have Fugazi, Script for a Jester's Tear, Misplaced Childhood and Clutching at Straws and heard a few Hogarth era albums) and think they are OK (nothing more)...
What Kansas album would you recommend for me to start with ? ------------- "One likes to believe in the freedom of Music" - Neil Peart, The Spirit of Radio |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 19:20
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Incredible poll... Not much relation between the two, but a very close fight.... I don't LOVE Kansas style, though I like their music, just not that much. MArillion has three albums that crush anything by Kansas: MisChi, CluAtStr and Brave... That's enough for me. Marillion. ------------- 
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Posted By: Snakes & Arrows
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 19:45
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Leftoverture, Point Of Know return, Song For America are all highly recommended Ive been a fan of Kansas for years I mean decades and the same goes for Marillion , I`ll defend both bands if ever they get any flak that said I think me being spiritually inclined with a passion for drums and keyboards Kansas wins , but not by much its very foolish to claim that Marillion crush Kansas etc |
Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 20:02
Masque, Leftoverture, Point Of Know Return...you can't go wrong with these discs. Maybe Two For The Show, as it will give you an overview of their early stuff. E -------------
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Posted By: Spacemac
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 20:20
| Marillion |
Posted By: Bupie
Date Posted: May 25 2007 at 06:01
I second E-Dub : you can't go wrong with the three albums he mentioned
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Posted By: TheLamb
Date Posted: May 25 2007 at 13:38
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Both are great, its a matter of taste...
I see Kansas as a band with a less pretentious attitude...
Maybe it's only me but it sounds like Marillion are trying too had sometimes, compared to Kansas who just seem to be alot more easy going. It dosen't seem like Kansas think that much of themselves or try to be something they are not... they just play music... I just see these bands a two great bands with very different attitude towards music... I love marillion too though...
Voted Kansas.... ------------- 
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: May 25 2007 at 15:19
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Interesting. Pop-prog vs Neo-pop-prog. It is interesting that those that disparage Marillion by calling them Genesis wannabes. It seems to me that that was always the knock on Kansas, that they were an American band trying to be a British band. I have seen Kansas live twice and have many of their albums. They are a great band. I am also a card carrying member of the Marillion fan club. It is a race that is about as close as the Preakness, but I think that for me, Marillion edges out Kansas by a nose hair. Probably because they are more active than Kansas at this point. ------------- 
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Posted By: prog4evr
Date Posted: May 28 2007 at 07:04
While I agree in most instances with you, Phil Ehart (Kansas drummer) actually holds his own quite well with Ian Mosley (Marillion drummer). As a drummer myself, this is only my humble opinion...
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Posted By: sircosick
Date Posted: June 24 2007 at 14:25
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Only seconded by "Camel v/s Rush"'s poll, this one is the most tough choice between two bands........ But I'll go with Marillion, mostly because of the superb singer. |
Posted By: BroSpence
Date Posted: June 24 2007 at 20:03
| Kansas does it for me. Great music. Marillion just bores me, except Fugazi which was an awesome album. |
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: June 24 2007 at 20:07
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Marillion. Kansas has a few great records, but their style of folky, ragged jamming seems to have little variation apart from the few distinguishable and masterful hits we all know.
------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: Dim
Date Posted: June 24 2007 at 22:43
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I just got Brave and it's excellent, and besides carry on my wayward son, and dust in the wind, I havent heard any kansas. Therefore I cannot vote. ------------- 
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: June 25 2007 at 08:32
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wow... voting for a neo group... Marillion.. though I love the Kansas debut album. |
Posted By: Nightfly
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 16:44
| Marillion. Why run Marillion against Kansas though as they're totally different. |
Posted By: markosherrera
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 18:12
| I prefer Kansas,but I like Marillion |
Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 19:20
| Have to vote for Marillion. Kansas has never done anything for me except for Point of Know Return. |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 19:43
Lets see:
My vote is easy, Kansas by ten miles. Iván ------------- 
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Posted By: Dim
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 19:45
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ummm
I'm pretty sure Marrillion did A LOT more for neo, then what Kansas did for symphinic Ivan! -------------
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Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 19:52
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Um Kansas is a HUGE influence on more new American prog bands than Marillion. Maybe they have an influence on Genesis based bands but Kansas are as original as they come.
What Ivan said is that they were an original prog band not a neo band. Again, I stated elsewhere Kansas music started developing in 1970 not 1974 when the first album came out.
------------- 
"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: jimmy_row
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 19:54
couldn't agree more (though I do like Marillion).
Kansas deserve their rightful place with the very progressive rock bands, they just happened to do it in their own way (gasp....as AMERICAN prog band? No way!)
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Posted By: jimmy_row
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 19:55
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Posted By: Proletariat
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 19:56
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Band that started out great and then became mediocre (kansas) as opposed to a band that started out mediocre, with little compotition and so became famus but still arnt that good (marrillion) at least Kansas had a great period ------------- who hiccuped endlessly trying to giggle but wound up with a sob |
Posted By: progadicto
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 20:13
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MARILLION!
I love some Kansas albums but I prefer Marillion neo prog stuff, Fish performances and Hoggarth poetical madness... And of course the music! ------------- ... E N E L B U N K E R... |
Posted By: The Miracle
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 20:13
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Kansas is one of those few prog bands I just don't like... Marillion on the other hand is masterliness. And I see them as very original; even though they borrowed a lot of classic symphonic elements I don't hear any ripping off from a particular band on any studio album of theirs, they developed their own sound unique enough to start a whole genre. So in a way Marillion were more innovative in their field than Kansas who were far from the first and IMO nowhere close to being the best 70's symphonic band.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ocellatedgod" rel="nofollow - last.fm |
Posted By: Sckxyss
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 20:23
| For me, Kansas wins by default. I've only heard Leftoverture, but that was enough to beat anything by Marillion. |
Posted By: cookieacquired
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 20:59
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Cool I'm the 100th vote
Kansas all the way!!!!!!! ------------- 
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Posted By: Minimalist777
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 21:04
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I see that Marillion is winning, not surprisingly. To be honest I find Kansas to a bit boring, sort of a lame attempt to mix prog with southern rock. If I want to hear that Ill listen to Liz Reed or Hot Lanta by the Allman Brothers thank you very much.... Besides Marillion if one of my favorite bands so this is a no brainer for me. ------------- WWOSD? What Would OliverStoned Do? |
Posted By: Hyperborea
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 21:12
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Why is Kansas pronounced (sh*t) as is..but Arkansas is pronounced Arkansaw.
Anyway,,,,who have Marrilion inspired? Neither are very good, but Marrilion get it, because Fish Is Scottish, the rest of their stuff is guff. Kansas, wheres the saw. ------------- As i race o'er this beautiful sphere, Like a dog who is chasing his..... |
Posted By: vannaroth
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 21:18
| Definitely Kansas. The Pinnacle has got to be one of the best songs ever written. |
Posted By: 1800iareyay
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 21:19
| Who have Marillion inspired? They kinda heralded the return of prog. The Fish days are classic, but the band has progressed a lot more under Hogarth. |
Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 21:35
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Both have inspired plenty of people, but I'll take Marillion. Fish just brings the whole thing home.
------------- "One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. " |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 21:50
I disagree respectfully, during the 80's Prog was dying, most Prog fans believed it was already dead, I like some Neo Prog bands but they just kept barely alive the flame, everybody was ashamed or frightened to admit they were Prog
The renaissance of Prog came in the 90's with the fundation of the Art Rock Society by Par Lindh, they went against normal evolution, the Swedish bands were at least as complex and elaborate (If not more) than most 70's bands, if it wasn't for this Swedish movement, Prog would be dead today.
And Kansas, they started in 1970 as Garion said, there were few Prog atists from whom to borrow anything, they dared to be original, they managed to give the violin the exact same importance as the keyboards, they were not embarrased to add Hard Rock or their native Country, it's their root and they were proud of it, but some people say lover British bands blending their folk music but say it's crap if a USA band adds tgheir own folk.
At least until Two For The Show, all the albums by Kansas are outstanding, they had a short POP fundamentalist period, but they returned to their roots, honestly I can't stand a Marillion album without Fish.
Script is almost a masterpiece but honestly nothing else calls my attention (this is subjective I know), i believe Kansas, Masque, Song for America, Leftoverture, Point of Know Return and Two for the Show are all near the status opf masterpieces and absolutely unique.
Don't use the excuse of Dust in the Wind, it's just a song, Marillion had Kayleigh that it's even softer, I would dare to say DITW is a good song, but overplayed and if there is something Progheads don't forgive is popularity.
Marillion on the other hand was derivative of Genesis as most Neo Prog (people deny it, but it's obvious, even Fish mentioned them as their main influence in a DVD of The Fish Yesars interview), they did nothing new, inovative, they just softened Symphonic to get more audience and to survive during the 80's.
That's my opinion and why I choose Kansas, they dared to be one in a kind.
Iván -------------
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Posted By: Dim
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 22:32
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I do respect Kansas and Ivan's opion majorly, but I feel Kansas, though artistic, had their minds more on mainstream success after "carry on my wayward son", then for real progressive and msical stardom. And of course Kansas completely lost they're balance between popularity and artisticness after POKR.
Marillion on the other hand were a bunch of guys with an avid love of prog (and Genesis) who knew the genre was dying so they aimed for a more crowd pleasing sound while still holding the same progressive ties, to show more people that prog is not dead! -------------
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Posted By: jimmy_row
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 23:06
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 23:19
I again disagree Schizoid, after carry on My Wayeard Son came Point of Know Return, check the album, only Dust in the Wind was a erally popular track, but it was good, they had the luck of being popular, what the hell, ink Floyd was even more popular.
Songs like Closet Chronicles, Hopelessly Human, Portrait are some of their best tracks.
Now, I understand your point of view, is respectful and well elaborate, but I read some nonsenses from other guys like as writing "they were an American band trying to be a British band"........For God's sake, since when is prog a national thing, what more USA band they want Kansas to be if they added COUNTRY MUSIC ELENMENTS!!!!!! Please!
Now the problem in Kansas is not that they lost the balance between being popular and artistic first they had a weak moment as every band inthe late 70's,buit the main the problem of Kansas decadence is that Kerry Livegren lost the balance between being a Rock Band and a Christian Fundamentalist band, Steve left, Kerry recruited the Christian musician and producers John and Dino Elefante, then they scared Robby also, it was Kansas no more.
But as soon as the Re-born members left, they went back in their steps, never reached the peak again, but it's because they time had passed.
Iván
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Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 00:24
FYI - most people from Kansas pronounce that like R-Kansas (as in 'Our Kansas'), not Rkinsaw. ------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: zbida
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 08:24
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I'm afraid I should support Marillion in this poll |
Posted By: Mlaen
Date Posted: August 21 2007 at 14:20
| Marillion by a light mile. |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: August 21 2007 at 16:07
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Fish's Marillion by a mile.... I think Kansas is a good band. Leftoverture a very good album, but neither that one nor POINT OF KNOW are truly 100% prog in my view.... And, anyway, I don't like my music more when it's prog than when it's not by default...It's just that I think Fish's Marillion really crushes anything Kansas ever did... (not that I've heard everything they did, though
 ).....Now, if we face Hogarth's Marillion vs Kansas, I'd prefer Marillion ONLY for Brave and Marbles.... but anything between AFRAID OF SUNLIGHT and ANORAKNOPHOBIA would lose against Kansas
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