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Stormcrow 
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Joined: February 05 2004
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 Topic: The Kansas thread
Posted: February 07 2004 at 20:43 |
They were the American prog band of their time and are as big an influence in current neo-prog as Genesis or Yes.
So why is it that they get so little respect today? Has their music not stood the test of time for all of us? Or have too many of us just heard "Dust In The Wind" too many times on the radio in the Eighties?
I would propose that Kansas recorded at least three albums that were as (not more, but as) important in the history of progressive rock as anything anyone else recorded.
(now where did I put my flame retardant underwear?)
Edited by Stormcrow
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semismart
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Posted: February 08 2004 at 10:35 |
I'm with you on this one Pal  I adored Kansas and not just their few accessalbe songs like Play the Game Tonight and Wayward Son, I bought the whole package but I love long elaborate, complex songs 
Excellent Point! 
Caio
Edited by semismart
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<i>Sports cars</i>, helping ugly men get sex since 1954.
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Gonghobbit
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Joined: February 03 2004
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Posted: February 08 2004 at 15:36 |
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Me and an old friend, who especially loves them, are going to see them in a couple weeks in Trenton, NJ, should be cool. I know the vocals aren't what they once were, but still fun. I think they were especially important in terms of appealing to a wide audience, and so allowing a realtively easy access into progressive rock to the many, whereas some other contemporary prog was maybe a little challenging to some (Yes), to being just too different (Giant, Crimson), to really appeal right away.
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'This is a local shop, there's nothing for you here'
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dude
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Joined: January 30 2004
Location: Australia
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Posted: February 09 2004 at 07:32 |
AH KANSAS;Leftoverture ,Two For The Show, the brilliant,Point Of Know Return what a great band and what a great example of being REALLY different and still enjoying chart success.They were very popular here in Australia in the 70's and 80's and when they added a slightly religious element E.G "Curtain of Iron" from Audio VIsions that only added an interesting new element to thier music. Agreat example of what i would call "Flexible Prog" Stay Safe!!!
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Peter Hackett
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Posted: February 09 2004 at 08:48 |
Song for America was great too !
What a great band !
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Jim Garten
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Joined: February 02 2004
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Posted: February 10 2004 at 03:22 |
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Let's not forget 'Magnum Opus', or 'Paradox' either - fantastic band, sorely missed in the UK for these many years.......
Was always into these guys in the late '70s & through the '80s, but unfortunately, their albums have been gathering dust (in the wind???) for quite a while - many thanks for the reminder. As soon as I get home, I'll power up the old turntable.......
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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semismart
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Posted: February 11 2004 at 19:36 |
By the way if anyone is interested they did make a new album a couple years ago. Nothing special but it wasn't bad. I'd say 3 1/2 stars. 
Caio
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<i>Sports cars</i>, helping ugly men get sex since 1954.
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dude
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Posted: February 13 2004 at 07:09 |
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semismart, What was the album called?
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Stormcrow
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Posted: February 13 2004 at 09:55 |
 dude wrote:
semismart, What was the album called? |
Kansas' last original studio album is "Somewhere To Elsewhere" from 2000. Before that was 1995's "Freaks Of Nature".
I'd recommend "Somewhere" without much reservation. It's not quite up to "Leftoverture", but it's pretty darned good.
I liked "Freaks" as well, but it might be a "fans and collectors only" buy. I'm too big a fan of the band and my ear might be prejudiced in their favor.
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dude
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Posted: February 16 2004 at 05:56 |
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STORMCROW:MANY THANKS!! i will have to check these albums out!!
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Gonghobbit
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Posted: February 20 2004 at 22:30 |
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Off to see Kansas tomorrow night in Trenton, should be fun. I think 'Somewhere' is decent, actually wish it was less rockin' at points and more keyboard oriented, but definately not bad.
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'This is a local shop, there's nothing for you here'
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Stormcrow
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Posted: February 20 2004 at 23:01 |
Gonghobbit wrote:
Off to see Kansas tomorrow night in Trenton, should be fun. |
Sweet!
Be sure and give us a rundown on how it goes.
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richardh
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Posted: February 21 2004 at 04:50 |
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I love 'Death Of Mother Nature Suite' and 'Dust In The Wind' but Kansas were never really 'heavy' or interesting enough for my taste.Sorry,but I would put them in the second league of prog bands in the seventies compared to 'first division' acts like ELP,Genesis,Yes etc.
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Garion81
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Posted: May 22 2004 at 16:00 |
richardh wrote:
I love 'Death Of Mother Nature Suite' and 'Dust In The Wind' but Kansas were never really 'heavy' or interesting enough for my taste.Sorry,but I would put them in the second league of prog bands in the seventies compared to 'first division' acts like ELP,Genesis,Yes etc. |
We all have our opinions here is mine:
Having seen all of the above groups multiple times in the 70's I totally disagree with your assesment. They were all great and I put none above the other. Kansas kicked ass like ELP, they were subtle like Genesis and fun live like Jethro Tull. Don't know how much more you could ask for. Maybe becasuse they didn't create album side songs makes you think that way but their songs (especially kerry livgrens) are like soundtracks. The lyrics are great, harmonies are great. No they weren't quite the instrumentalists as Emerson, Banks ect but I looked at the whole sound they produced.
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Easy Livin
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Posted: May 22 2004 at 17:27 |
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One of those bands I've always found to be good, but never fullfilled their potential. I've kept buying their albums in the hope of them making a real "Magnum opus"! My favourite track by them is "The wall" which has some great organ work.
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Dan Bobrowski
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Posted: May 22 2004 at 17:31 |
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For fans of Kansas; Kerry Livgren ressurrected the original Kansas, Proto-Kaw (Tranlates as Pre-Kansas). The new album Before Became After was just released and has some fine moments. Kansas fans would be happy with the mature production and awesome technical abilities of the band members. Sorry, no violin.
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Ivan_Melgar_M
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Posted: May 22 2004 at 18:49 |
I believe Kansas is one of the most underrated bands in history and Dust in the Wind is probably responsible of this, because is their best known track and people identify this song with their whole career, which is unfair.
Every studio album up to "Point of Know Return" has at least two masterpieces and almost no fillers. Kansas is probably the band that mixed symphonic prog' and hard rock with best results.
Love their music until the Elephante lineup.
Iván
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Cesar Inca
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Posted: May 22 2004 at 20:11 |
HI, THISIS CÉSAR INCA.
I agree with my compatriot Iván 100 %.
Post-PoKR gems: On the Other Side & Angels Have Fallen (Monolith), No One Togetehr, Don't Open Your Eyes & back Door (Audio-Visions), Windows & Chasing Shadows (Vinyl Confessions), Musicatto & Taking In the View (Power), Rainmaker (In the Spirit of Things)
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Garion81
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Posted: May 22 2004 at 22:47 |
For those of you interested:
Kansas is celibrating their 30 year anniversary with a 2 cd box set, remastered Title album and Song For America each with unreleased tracks. The box set will contain a DVD that has interviews, music videos and live footage from the early days.
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bityear
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Joined: April 25 2004
Location: Sweden
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Posted: May 23 2004 at 11:13 |
I'm one of those who don't really respect rhem as much as I respect most other prog bands...Styx are another band which I don't enjoy.
As I see it, Kansas (and Styx) are perdectly listenable, they have well-crafted songs, skilled musicians, all that, but their production and general songwriting is too list-orientated; they're COMMERCIAL prog!  And, Supertramp are much better at that, actually....and, Kansas are one of those bands who can't make a down-to-earth song...they do those pompous, pretentious songs with pompous, pretentious lyrics...and to my ears, there's nothing good out of it! 
But, don't listen to me, I'm the minority!!
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The Kansas thread