LEFTOVERTURE

A fantastic progressive album that most view as Kansas finest hour, I cant help but view with sadness. This album marked the end of Kansas' prog driven records as some of the songs on Leftoverture gained radio sucess. Tracks like carry on wayward son are american music classics. Anyways, what I'm getting at, this album marks the end of an era, and the end of the Kansas we all know and love. After this you move on to Point of Know Return, the last Kansas album that I rate above a 3 (until Somewhere to Elsewhere). Kerry left soon after this to take the management reigns of the band, crippling their progressive nature, and into a pop era (Much like Genesis, except Kansas' pop attempts weren't very POPULAR). Band reshuffling, and periods of unrest made the 80's and 90's forgettable. Then a miracle came out of nowhere and Somewhere to Elsewhere was released, reminding all of us how fantastic kansas is.

Anyways, back to the album. This is one of the few albums ever released with out any holes within it. Sure, Questions of My Childhood isn't a classic, but it is an enjoyable. Spot on musicanship from all band members, especially Livgren, Walsh, and Ehart. Thoroughly enjoyable album that belongs in everyones album collection. Can't give this one a 5 though because even in this album Kansas is sliding away from prog towards pop, probably under coaxing from Don Kirshner for a hit.