TWO FOR THE SHOW

This is an excellent live concert album. All Kansas classic tracks are performed almost flawlessly. When I look at musician level, I can see that all them contribute their role in a balanced style as required by the composition. The line-up is probably the best one Kansas has ever had. Robby Steinhardt plays violin that has characterized Kansas music. The composer and guitar player Kerry Livgren was still in the group, Steve Walsh on vocal department and Phil Ehart sits at his drum stool. The intertwining guitar work between Rich Williams and Kerry Livgren is also obvious during the show. Overall performance, this album is engaging the mind.

The only track that the group has big gap to perform on stage at this live set is "Carry On Wayward Son" which to me sounds not up to the standards. It's not mixing problems obviously, but I find the vocal part is lacking. The music sounds strange to my ears and the track has lost its soul. "Dust In The Wind" is a very boring track but unfortunately it has always been performed (and recorded!) in any Kansas show. Enough is enough - it's too boring! The situation has become even worse because Steve vocal is really bad on this track. I would have liked to hear them play all of "Lamplight Symphony", instead of a little excerpt that brings into "The Wall". It's a fallacy. The track is an epic song but it's being played only to bridge into The Walls. I like how the band plays "Mysteries and Mayhem", "Song for America", and "Journey from Mariabronn". I wish they would have included "Cheyenne Anthem" (Leftoverture) and my favorite Kansas track ""Incomudro - Hymn to the Atman" (Song For America). I think maybe this should have been a two-disc set. The other weak point is that the CD has little live vibes as the crowd voices were not recorded in full, truncated and started off again with next track. I believe it's a compilation of many live performances in different venues.

Despite all weak points, I still consider this live sets an excellent record that should be made in double disc format. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW