KANSAS

Kansas started off strong right from the beginning. The album allegedly only took three days to record, but it ended up epic and great, a rival to Kansas releases coming after it, a truly strong debut album. The album came after two musical groups in Topeka, Kansas collided. Kerry Livgren and his followers meet up with the more southern-rock orientated White Clover, and the Kansas debut album was born.

"Can I Tell You" sets the pace for the band through the rest of their career. It has something fresh, it is upbeat, with prog and southern-rock influences. It is the perfect fusion of the two that made Kansas into such a huge hit. The song has double vocals, as well as lively violin and prominent organ, it starts off Kansas' debut with a statement-we are different, and that's ok, because you are going to enjoy every minute of it.

After this rather gutsy throwing down of the card, Kansas continues to surprise. "Bringing It Back" is catchy, though it doesn't really showcase Kansas in all its prestige. "Lonely Wind" once more emphasizes the beautiful place the violin has in Kansas' music. It has the beginnings of something one might see on Kansas' crowning achievement-Leftoverture. The organ and guitar parts in "Belexes" are well known, and Kansas fans will find them distinctly Kansas-like and the whole song is rather amazing.

Then the epics begin-"Journey From Mariabronn", "The Pilgrimange", "Apercu", and "The Death of Mother Nature Suite" really brining out the progressive side of Kansas. Amazing in themselves, the fact that such gems exist on their debut, without much time going into them, is credit to Kansas.

Anyone who has enjoyed Kansas in the past will recognize that Kansas was at its best even from the debut. If you really enjoyed the more well-known "Leftoverture" or "Song For America", I highly recommend this album. There should be nothing here to dislike. Not only did Kansas get numerous hits of this album, but they started a legacy to last forever in the annals of progressive rock.