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Problem #1: Over one half of the songwriting team is gone. This is a similar story to Supertramp when Roger Hodgson left the band and they released their next album without him. Ironically that occurred the same time Kerry Livgren left Kansas. Sure, Rick Davies wrote some of the band's hits but Roger's songs were the ones that catapulted them to fame. After Hodgson's departure, Supertramp was but a shadow of its former self and everything that was put out was weak. With Kansas, they also lost the songwriter that wrote their biggest hits. Like Supertramp, Walsh wrote some of the bands memorable songs but it was Kerry's songs that really defined the Kansas sound. That is not just my opinion; Walsh said that himself.

Problem #2: Key instrument is now missing. With Robbie Steinhardt's exit due to similar reasons as Walsh, Kansas lost its key instrument that got them signed to a record deal in the first place. Without that violin this album and the one that followed ("In The Spirit Of Things") just do not sound like Kansas.

They would have been better off releasing it under a new name. I went out and bought it right after its release to only be disappointed. The only songs I cared for on the album were "We're Not Alone Anymore: and "Musicatto". I love Steve Morse not just for his playing but also his personality and demeanor. He fills in the second guitar section very well even though his style is not Kerry's. Rich Williams is strong in his own way but Kansas is a 2 guitar band.

But again, that empty first violin chair is incredibly noticeable. In 1983's "Drastic Measures", Robbie was missing and that album was even more so NOT a Kansas album save one song that Kerry wrote. He only wrote 3 on that album since he was obviously through.

We would have to wait for the year 2000 and the release of "Somewhere To Elsewhere" before we would see a reunion of the classic lineup but that album was only decent. Again, on that record, Kerry was the only one who wrote songs. We really need that Dynamic Duo of Walsh / Livgren + Steinhardt to really consider an album to be worthy of the name Kansas. I will note that the 2021 release of the "Absence Of Prescence" was surprisingly good.

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