KANSAS

Can I just say that? They really are, they turned me onto music in general, Carry On My Wayward Son was the first song that I knew I actually loved with all of my heart and Kansas is extremely fun to listen to all through their discography.

And this album, their debut, is probably my favorite record by them, their country-rock brand of prog at it's finest and perhaps at it's rawest. They do this incredible blend of British prog rock and American midwest folk music and it is just a stunning sound if you ask me. This is the first time anyone was exposed to such music and it may indeed be the most fresh here.

One of the greatest parts of this record is it's variety, the first side is prog mixing with every possible formula for a radio hit (none were produced on the record, by the way) and it is quite a cool experiment to see a band attempt. Side 2 (well the end of side one and side two) on the other hand is one of the most epic progressive rock ever played with brilliant instrumentation and songcraft and the listener is left just simply stunned by tracks like Journey to Mariabronn and Apercu. Just incredible.

Not quite hitting commercial success yet, Kansas was really at their best when the first started up and it is shown all through this masterpiece of progressive music. One of the first great AOR groups as well as one of the only truly classic American prog groups. This album is just as innovative as it gets.

5 bright and shining stars.

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