KANSAS 'Kansas' CD

Very spirited and diverse.....
Reviewer: MITCHELL L. GUSTAFSON

I believe that "Kansas" is one of the top 25 rock albums of all time and the equal of any other Kansas' album. The diversity and spirit in this music is unmatched and you can feel the passion and incredible hard work that went in this these songs.

Now let us clarify something for a minute. Even though this album was released in 1974 the music that comes from it and the influences of it are from years earlier. Kansas was a contemporary of early genesis, yes, elp and skynyrd. It's inaccurate than to say that they were ever trying to sound like them. And as they say on the sleeve this band had 50 combined years of musical experience at the time this first Kansas' album was recorded. They began in 1970 and by the time this was released they were a mature polished band though probably almost penniless. That's why this album is so important. "Our music has many faces and many moods like the land we live in" is how the band describes the music and it is true.
The first song "Can I tell you" is a simple energetic anthem to freedom. "Prove that you deserve it, help us to preserve it for being free will just be words and nothing more." That's solid rock punctuated with some violin flourishes. Then we have "Bringing it back" a jj cale song about ganja running indicative of the times. It's fast paced southern style rock with a fantastic violin solo. The third song "Lonely wind" is a ballad that is both beautiful and haunting. After the first 3 songs one would be inclined to peg Kansas as a country rock fiddle band but that all changes. "Belexes" is ultra high octane rock. Steve walsh's vocals soar but are restricted somewhat by poor mixing which make his voice sound like he's in a tunnel. "Journey from mariabronn" is a love song synphony a truly progressive classical like arrangement. "The pilgrimage" is a truly uplifting song of hope and joy. "Apercu" is kerry livgren's exploration into hinduism and reincarnation. Listen to these lyrics. "Each man has a memory, much more than the eye can see. But while others linger deep inside you haunting thoughts of joy and pain divide you. Look into your eyes, at the dark and the moody skys." Nothing unwieldy about those lyrics but of course livgren would later reject them and become a born again christian. The final cut "death of mother nature suite" also suffers somewhat from poor production but the power of the song comes through in a big way.