MASQUE

A very interesting album for KANSAS. This is a purely transitional album for KANSAS. Under pressure from Don Kirshner for a hit, kansas composed multiple shorter songs aimed at pop sucess for the first time, yet the continued to hold tightly to their progressive roots. Their last album was dominated by the 10 min + title track "Song for America" composed by KERRY LIVGREN on a cross contry flight. However, this album contains one of Kansas's masterpeices "Icarus - borne on wings of steel", which is one of the tracks that truly defines kansas, thoughtful lyrics with religious undertones. The track "It's You" although being an entirely pop track, showcases Walsh's virtuosity on the Keyboard. Another highpoint of the album is The Pinnacle, whick after listening through a few weaker tracks surprises the listener the first time through, everything you expect from kansas is showcased within the track. Overall...considering this is a transitional album, it an abnormally good one. If this were compared to other transition albums it gets a five, but as compared to prog's finest, only a three...maybe a 3.5, but this is a thoroughly enjoyable cd and is reccomended to all kansas fans.