In defense of Kansas (a rant on the 80’s)

I believe Kansas' first 5 albums represent the finest in American Prog.

I don't see anyone from the UK or Europe agreeing....................yet?

YUP

 

dream_orchestra wrote: I don't see anyone from the UK or Europe agreeing....................yet?

I don't think people of any Continent including Europe will agree with this kind of statements.

Iván

It's a shame, I was hoping for some too, but then I decided to play with the troll 

ClemofNazareth wrote: Too true.  Unfortunate, I actually did spend a fair amount of time on this and was looking forward to some intelligent, adult conversation and feedback.

I see where you are coming from ClemoN. Kansas are one of the true heroes of prog. Coming from America, they could have easily gone the way of Styx or Journey, but stuck with producing good music longer than most. Somewhere to Elsewhere was a welcome return to their roots.

[edit] Steve Walsh's Shadowman has continued the legacy


Edited by cobb

Proto-Kaw are nothing short of amazing.  The Buffalo one is new music by them, the other CD is old demos (from pre-Kansas times), salvaged.

Imagine a cross between King Crimson and VdGG, I actually like these guys *more* than what Kansas became... 

The first 5 Kansas records were laudable.

They could all play pretty well, and played and wrote WITHIN the
limitations of the groups ability to execute. A VERY AMERICAN CONCEPT.

Some folks thought.... and obviously some STILL think, this prevented
them from being a real 'Prog band'.

But let's look at who they were.

A bunch of utterly repressed Biblebeating Blue-eyed Gospel afficinados
from the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

That's pretty cool in and of itself.

Granted:

They didn't have the compositional astusity of GG, but they were better
writers than Camel or Greenslade.

They didn't have the chops of groups like ELP or Yes.. but they were
better players to a man than anybody in Nektar.

They didn't have the lyrical impact of VDGG, but they wrote better lyric
than Uriah Heep.

And they had SPIRIT. They were earnest, passionate, and heartfelt.

They were HONEST.

And they could(gasp) ROCK.

That's right folks.... Kansas was a ROCK BAND, first and foremost. They
could write an exciting and convincing guitar riff.

Yep a RIFF.

Now... For some people on this site... that's gonna be a problem... as the
RIFF has limited appeal to them.. But that's the funny thing about the
RIFF. If ya wanna run it down... FIRST YA GOTTA SHOW ME YOU CAN DO
IT....

And

many

Prog

bands

of

the

day

couldn't

RIFF
to
save
their

ass.

Just like many fusion jazz guys you'd jam with back in the day couldn't
play a BAR of rock music CONVINCINGLY.

Oh... They ALL THOUGHT they could....

But...

Nope.

...

Anyhoo.

I digress.

Point is....

There are a lot of posters on this website who can't figure out why they
can't get a decent Chicken Parm dinner at a Chinese resturant.

I'd hafta call them bungeling nitwits.... and in a perfect world....

We'd just march them into a styrofoam space capsule and launch them to
the Sun for a ground survey.

But this is "ProgSnobCentral".... and that little wrinkle traditionally
precludes cogent thought and unfettered listenership from the git-go.

The people around here who wanna know "What killed Prog?" Should look
no further than their own insuperable myopia.

SM.

PS. Steve Walsh had quite possibly the BEST VOICE in ALL of Rock Music in
his prime. I am talking about the INSTRUMENT. It was astounding. If you
can't hear that....

Yer f**ked.

Deaf.

Kryloned.

SlipperFink wrote: The first 5 Kansas records were laudable. They could all play pretty well, and played and wrote WITHIN the limitations of the groups ability to execute. A VERY AMERICAN CONCEPT. Some folks thought.... and obviously some STILL think, this prevented them from being a real 'Prog band'. But let's look at who they were. A bunch of utterly repressed Biblebeating Blue-eyed Gospel afficinados from the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. That's pretty cool in and of itself. Granted: They didn't have the compositional astusity of GG, but they were better writers than Camel or Greenslade. They didn't have the chops of groups like ELP or Yes.. but they were better players to a man than anybody in Nektar. They didn't have the lyrical impact of VDGG, but they wrote better lyric than Uriah Heep. And they had SPIRIT. They were earnest, passionate, and heartfelt. They were HONEST. And they could(gasp) ROCK.

Good point, but again I partially disagree because I hate to compare bands, specially in the case of Kansas, they were so unique as no other band ever.

Their lyrics are different, more dark, dramatic and pesimist than anybody else, the massive use of violin not as an aid to keyboards but as the main instrument is absolutely exclusive, the strong drumming of Phil Ehartand is amazing (The most uderrated drummer in history), their shameless way they expose their feelings and fears is incredible.

You can't compare them with Uriah Heep, Yes,. Genesis (Well, there's strong Genesis influence) or VDGG, they are something special, not better, not worst, only different

IMO they were in the same level as any other Prog' band, only that they had the most unique approach to Prog, despite the fact they come from the strangest city for Prog' in the world, but that made even richer their music because they added strong folk to their sound.

I simply love Kansas (Except during their Fundamentalist years (AKA The Elephante years).

Iván

Edited by ivan_2068

leftoverture by kansas is a prog masterpiece