LEFTOVERTURE

BOOM! The almighty Kerry Livgren launches the band to the stardom, composing 90% of the material on his own and providing not only a classic album, but one of the best songs in the history of rock music.
Let's do a track-by-track review:

1. Carry On Wayward Son - a Kansas classic - my favorite song of the album - best song by Kansas
Simple as that. The "best song by Kansas" tag speaks on it's own. Along with Dust in the Wind, this is the song that made sure Kansas would be a well known band around the world to the present day; it's actually much more famous than the band itself. In 2021 it still is one of the most played songs in rock radio stations around the world, and it's two official videos on YouTube assume a total of 220 million views. A timeless anthem!

2. The Wall - a Kansas classic
Who begins a song with a guitar solo? Kansas do! Less than 5 minutes long but yet clearly prog, it's the second most popular song of the album and a Kansas concert mainstay, part of the Top-10 most played live songs of the band. The lyrics are some of the best Kansas ever provided too, a journey to self-realization and peace of mind.

3. What's on My Mind
A good up tempo pop rocker that was rightfully chosen to be released as the second single of the album, after Carry On Wayward Son of course. It would shine better as part of Masque, but here in Leftoverture it gets overshadowed by almost the entire album.

4. Miracles Out of Nowhere - a Kansas classic
Another one of the Top-10 most played live songs of the band, it epitomizes the golden balance between prog and pop that Kansas achieved in songs from Leftoverture and Point of Know Return, building their entire career on them. Beautiful optimistic lyrics, great dynamics, a rare display of very nice acoustic guitar and a wonderful chorus. Two thumbs up!

5. Opus Insert - a Kansas classic
How can a song that short be so prog? Incredible skills by Kansas here, they switch from synth-driven pop rock to piano ballad to folk rock and back again with impressive ease, providing another "secondary" classic that elevates the overall level of the album to previously unknown heights. The only out of place thing is the title; "Life is a Precious Thing" or "A Message in Every Word" would be much better titles IMHO.

6. Questions of My Childhood - worst song of the album
When this one is the worst song of the album, then you know you have a masterpiece! Not a bad song in any way, it's just a simple optimistic pop rock song that feels less special than every other song of the album. It could work very well as a single and they realized that, making it B-Side to the Carry On Wayward Son single.

7. Cheyenne Anthem - a Kansas classic - most underrated song of the album
This is the sibling of "Song for America" (the song). A beautiful prog piece about the Cheyenne tribe who, as all native Americans, suffered by the colonization. Excellent in every aspect, I dare to say this is the second best track of the album. Different musical sections and dynamics tell the story in a way only Kansas could, and the arrangements are fantastic. If you read my "Song for America" (the album) review and find my complains about the arrangement, that's exactly what I mean. If the entire "Song for America" album sounded like this song right here, it would be marvelous!

8. Magnum Opus - a Kansas classic - most Prog song of the album
One of the most prog songs Kansas ever played, and a marvelous way to close this epic album. The song consists of six different acts and was originally entitled Leftoverture, as the acts were "leftovers" from other songs. They even have separate titles this time:
a. "Father Padilla Meets the Perfect Gnat"
b. "Howling at the Moon"
c. "Man Overboard"
d. "Industry on Parade"
e. "Release the Beavers"
f. "Gnat Attack"
The entire song, and especially acts a and f, fits with the Native American theme of the previous song creating an almighty Kansas trilogy: Song For America-Cheyenne Anthem-Magnum Opus. Kansas play parts of it (sometimes it's entirety) live quite often; back in 2005 they visited Greece and Magnum Opus was the second song of the set in a fantastic performance!

RATING:
Absolutely a 4,5 stars album, and only because I am a guy who keeps the 5 stars for extremely rare occasions. 8 songs with 6 of them being classics and one of them being the best song ever by Kansas?! Give me a break! Who can top this? Well, themselves!!! Just wait 'till the next album...