SOMEWHERE TO ELSEWHERE

Since Point of Know Return, Kansas' output had been quite patchy, so when this album was muted, expectations were quite low. But as it turned out, this was a welcome return to form. Once again the master songsmith Kerry Livgren counjoured up some gems. Of course, like most Kansas albums, even the best ones, there are some contrasting poor songs, or to be charitable, songs that do not fit the prog-rock genre.

Icarus II is more than a worthy successor to its well known younger brother, reprising the violin refrain, but otherwise an original song. This is followed by a couple of forgettable AOR tracks. Things get back on track with The Coming Dawn (shades of The Wall), Myriad (apparently a very old song) and Look At The Time, each a winner. Skip track 7 then on to Distant Vision and Byzantium, two more top songs.

All in all 40 minutes of top class prog, only slightly let down by 27 minutes of, well...filler. Can any other Kanas album boast 40 minutes of this quality? Not in my opinion, so maybe this is the best Kanas album.

**** 01. Icarus II (7:17) ** 02. When The World Was Young (5:50) * 03. Grand Fun Alley (4:38) **** 04. The Coming Dawn (Thanatopsis) (5:44) ***** 05. Myriad (8:55) **** 06. Look At The Time (5:37) * 07. Disappearing Skin Tight Blues (7:02) ***** 08. Distant Vision (8:48) ***** 09. Byzantium (4:15) * 10. Not Man Big (8:39) * 11. Mystery Track (1:24)