POINT OF KNOW RETURN

After their commercial breakthrough album "Leftoverture" and its killer smash "Carry On Wayward Son," the pressure was on for Kansas to deliver another great work (a magnum opus, as it were). They responded with the brilliant "Point Of Know Return," which has now been remastered and reissued with bonus tracks, 25 years after its original release.

"Point" is another electrifying blend of melodic hard rock guitar, pomped-up keyboard textures, and the sinuous violin lines that characterize Kansas' classic sound. Its songwriting also endures as among their very best. Hits from the album include the classic, sparse ballad "Dust In The Wind," the fiery rocker "Paradox," and the catchy, uptempo title track, but the high-impact tracks don't stop there. The instrumental "The Spider," the sweepingly dramatic "Hopelessly Human," and the nimbly-paced rocker "Sparks Of The Tempest" are energetic cult favorites, and the ambitious, spectacularly orchestrated mini-epic "Closet Chronicles" is an absolutely mind-blowing success.

Fans can argue about whether this album or "Leftoverture" was Kansas' peak, but ultimately, both are superb records of nearly equal potency, and both are essential listeners for fans of smart, melodic, ambitious rock. For newcomers to Kansas, both are superb introductions to the band, instantly gripping illustrations of the group's rare instrumental power; after such introductions, other Kansas discs --like their self-titled debut, their energized "Masque," and their remarkable late-career success "Freaks Of Nature"-- may also become essential purchases.

This crisply remastered reissue offers the attractive artwork of the original release, plus new, updated liner notes and two previously unreleased bonus tracks: a crackling live take of "Sparks Of The Tempest"; and a new remix of "Portrait," whose original mix was rushed at the last minute in order for producer Jeff Glixman to catch a plane! For casual Kansas fans who already own "Point" on CD, it is not clear that the additions on this re-release merit purchasing the CD a second time, but for true diehards, the striking new "Portrait" remix alone may well justify upgrading to this re-release.