AUDIO-VISIONS

The Kansas album no one likes to talk about. When it is brought up die hard Kansas fans will roll thier eyes. The top 40 hit 'Hold On' is mentioned in disdain and the subject is quickly changed.

This album is a very pivitol release in the Kansas discography. The last with Walsh and the original line up. A definitive move away from Progressive Rock toward AOR and Top 40, an unfortunate trend. And lastly the first with a strong Christian message, as Livgren converted to his new faith while on the Monolith tour according to his book Seeds of Change.

There are plenty of hard rockers hear with not alot of the Progressive rock sound. Relentless stands as one of my all time favortie tracks. Curtain of Iron flirted with a slight epic feel.

No one Together was the mini epic on the album. It was originally to be released on Monolith but was cut. It has the old Kansas feel, and though I consider it to be a strong piece and the best on the album, seems slightly out of place.

Overall it has a powerful, more metallic feel to it. For this die hard Kansas fan it is as important in my collection as any other Kansas album.