The Light (Kansas, 2001)

Released as a digital single and also sdded as a bonus track to the Christmas album "Sounds Like Christmas" by The December People(see elsewhere in this blog), this song has a seasonal flavour, even if in a discreet way. It's a very good track, IMHO,  exploiting all the traditional features of Kansas, from Steve Walsh's powerful vocals to the melodic rock texture.

                            

This single came one year after the reunion album

"Somewhere to Elsewhere"

This catchy and bombastic ballad has a warming and strong arrangement, including symphonic interludes and arena rock solutions. The lyrics about the search of the light is inspired to the three kings' journey, but fits very well into any spiritual quest. A different and proggy way to Christmas, and another living proof of this band's energy and inspiration.

No One Together (Kansas, 1980)

This is another specimen of pure Kansas-style song. Taken from 1980 album "Audio-Visions", it features all the best elements that builded up the legend of this American band. You name it: The devilish gigas, the catchy chorus, the abrupt volume changes, Steve Walsh' splendid voice, the double keyboard interplays, the guitar solos and the piano sharp chords... all in one package!

"Audio-Visions" was the seventh studio album by Kansas.

More than this, "No One Together" proves how great Kansas are when it comes to mix acoustic and electric instruments in such a coherent pot that you hardly perceive them individually. This symphonic track also includes country and vaudeville elements, adding a brighter tone to the big picture. That's why if I admit "Audio-Visions" isn't the best Kansas album by far, this song surely stand among their best rated releases.

Angels Have Fallen (Kansas, 1979)

"Monolith" was a very good album, seldom underrated by trendy musical critics (we'll survive), including some songs I still listen to with pleasure. One of those pearls surely is "Angels Have Fallen", written by Steve Walsh. It's an unusual track, starting like a piano ballad and passing through different phases, like hard rock and sophisticated pop. Its undeniable force is in the well found melody, however.

 

An apocalyptic landscape was inside the gatefold album.

 

The verse, in particular, is based on a versatile jewel-like line, that perfectly fits in both sweeter and harder arrangements. The voice of Steve Walsh tops such a tasty cake. And Kerry Livgren adds some effective solos to the song, a gift I surely appreciate. When I find a song full of good ideas and still able to move, well, I stop and listen to it. Will you do the same with "Angels Have Fallen"? I hope so.

Lamplight Symphony (Kansas, 1975)

What a beautiful prog track this is, my dear friends! Full of epic, sung by one of the best male voices ever, based on a delicate and airy symphony and, of course, arranged with fantasy and good taste. I think it's like an emotional Arrow and it always reaches my heart. All the instruments do their best to enrich the song: full-bodied keys, rocky guitars, assorted drums... what could a poor prog fan ask for more?

An old promo image of the band.

Just one thing:  a sad violin-driven instrumental bridge. Well, you'll also find this festure... and some piano tasty touches too, as an extra treat. The lyrics are about a widower praying on his wife's grave and being reached and spoken to by her ghost. A sad story, one of the best from "Song for America" album. But let me spend some final words for Steve Walsh: not only his vocals are heartbreaking, but he's also responsibe for the piano work here. Chapeau.

Magnum Opus (Kansas, 1976)

Likely the proggest song by Kansas, "Magnum Opus", taken from the album "Leftoverture", surely is one of their finest and more challenging compositions. The way all the instruments come in and each one of them seems to lead the track, the perfect vocals by Steve Walsh... here you are more than enough reasons to love"Magnum Opus".

"Leftoverture" is probably my favourite album by Kansas.

 

But there's another one, maybe the most important one: those musicians achieve here a lushing, charming fusion of European prog rock - including all its sub-genres, I daresay - and their own American roots: this is the Kansas' way, the Kansas' gate to the progressive world. The rythm is enthralling, the main theme is bombastic, the mood is as spiritual as such an epic can be... what else? Just this: the varied, multi-coloured, unpredictable architecture "Magnum Opus" has got. Just try and see...

Carry on Wayward Son (Kansas, 1976)

One of those widely known songs despite their patent prog inspiration. And this one's got all the features a hit should have: a catchy chorus, an enthralling rythm, a splendid vocal performance and a good 5 minutes of length. But this is also a prog song, displaying some tempo changes, a wide range of acoustic and electric instruments, a well structured interplay and even kind of a division into sections. The spirit of European prog, filtered through a strong American mainstream rock culture, results in a perfectly balanced up-tempo song.

This single was certified Gold, peaking at #11 in US charts.

Unfortunately, it's an edited version of 3:26 minutes.

The choral intro featuring the chorus of the song is stunning, then we enjoy the guitar riff - with a bonus piano - and a short guitar solo, followed by a melodic sung section and the chorus. The track goes on with more verse and chorus, then a different guitar riff and even a Hammond - electric guitar dialogue. Wow... there's a bit of everything here! And don't miss the guitar-lead finale. Pure music, pure joy.

Away from You (Kansas, 1979)

It's funny to discover how many good prog tracks were released in 1979, when apparently the greatest season of our genre was over. This "Away from You", for example, is an enthralling up tempo song, were keayboards and guitars interplay and Steve Walsh's voice provides the best topping on such a lively musical cake (even anticipating some musical solutions of his upcoming first solo album). 

A mix of tradition and future:

these are both the cover and the music of "Monolith".

Rythm and energy are the first feature of this song the listener perceives, but I also feel passion and like the acoustic passages of "Away from You", adding a country taste and some more facets to the track. Really, I adore the "heroic", spectacular and somehow American side of Kansas and this song is a perfect specimen of this mood.

Paradox (Kansas, 1977)

One of the most exciting and enthralling Kansas' tracks, a fast tempo where all the instruments shoot like smoking guns. Take the violin, for example. In the middle instrumental section it runs faster than light. Mr. Walsh sings like a madman and the whole song is like a race against the time. Less than 4 minutes are enough to convince evrybody that Kansas were at their heights in their "Point of Know Return" album.

Kansas discography: a box full of jewels.

The interplays and the choral performance of the band simply struck me down and the folk and prog elements are just as one: images of dusty deserts and urban landscapes flow away before our mind's eye and when such a display of skills finally comes to an end, we're breathless and happy as we had won the Olympic Games. Wow...

Song for America (Kansas, 1975)

This is the 10 minute title track of Kansas' second album and one of their most enthralling ones, IMHO (and maybe their most Yes-influenced one). Full of rythm and changes, featuring a rampant Steve Walsh' vocal performance and the well known Rob Steinhardt's violin, this song also shines for its stunning instrumental middle section. Here the band's creativity achieves its top: a series of piano melodic chords lead to some bass driven folk riffs and finally here's the violin and the main theme coming back.

Peter Lloyd provided this somehow disquieting cover art.

In short, this is a pefect specimen of Kansas' prog rock, a crossover kind of prog, where synphonic arrangements meet jazz, country and melodic rock. This song is also a two-faced portrait of America, describing its natural beauties and its darkest historical pages, with the transition from the early days of human colonisation and respect for the land and the recent concrete and asphalt devastations. As usual for Kansas, good music to enjoy and good lyrics to think over.

Dust in The Wind (Kansas, 1977)

Another wonderful short but intense song. Kansas included it in their album "Point of Know Return" and the song picked at n# 6 on the Billboard single charts. I don't need many words to describe such a famous song, nor to explain its presence here. Based on a beautiful melody and an essentially acoustic arrangement driven by Kerry Livgren's guitar. This song also features Robby Steinhardt's violin and viola, marking the airy instrumental passage, and Steve Walsh voice, as pure as a crystal.

 

The original cover for "Dust in The Wind" 7" single.

 

The lyrics about mortality as the common human destiny, reminds us how we all are but dust in the wind, whatever we do or say in our short existence. This melancholic meditation fits perfectly in Kerry Livgen's music, that's why all seems to be perfect in "Dust in The Wind". I don't know how many times I listened to this little shiny pearl, but I'm sure I'll do it again... till I'm dust in the wind.