POINT OF KNOW RETURN

At the time of this review Point of Know Return is #412 on the PA album chart. I have a hrad time understanding that. I listen to this album and feel sheer enrgetic joy from beginning to end. The arrangements are beautiful, the vocals are outstanding (something you can't say for most of prog rock), and the musicianship is stellar. In my mind, I attribute the lack of a higher ranking to two factors: 1) Kansas was popular and 2) they didn't have a 12-minute song on the album. Normally these comments would look ridiculous, but I can see no other basis for not having this album in the top 100 at least. These songs are up-tempo, don't have a lot of empty space, and thus accomplish their goal in a shorter period of time. I don't think they should be penalized for that, but applauded. Not to mention the sheer beauty of the songs. To me, "Dust In the Wind", though I've now heard it 2, 674, 382 times, is one of the ten most beautiful songs ever written, and it has all the elements of progressive rock. Should Kansas be penalized because it is so brilliant the mainstream public also embraced it?

This is an awesome album. Their best IMO. And if there are 411 albums better than this one I'll kiss your grandmother on the mouth. (But send a picture first so I can brace myself.)