Always Never the Same

Kansas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 19, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Platinum Ent.
• ASIN: B000006PMH
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,888 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars soaring strings work well here, March 31, 2005

By 

bob turnley (birmingham,al,usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Always Never the Same (Audio CD)

Why re-record songs that cannot be improved upon? They're not improved just dressed up a little. Of the four songs here that are new to Kansas discography, only Eleanor Rigby really stands out. Walsh's 3 new(?) songs are ballads that don't really feature either the band or the orchestra. Icarus, Lamplight Symphony or Pinnacle would have been great given the orchestral treatment.
Cheyenne and Dust probably work best but elsewhere the orchestra isn't allowed to hold its own with the band. If you like classic Kansas, appreciate how well the band is playing now and are not immediately turned off by the sound of an orchestra, then this cd works really well

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars !, October 20, 2000

By 

Robert Blanda - See all my reviews

This review is from: Always Never the Same (Audio CD)

Have to say, I have every Kansas album, and this one really takes a different approach to the band. I have read bad reviews , but dont listen to them. All I can say is wow. I made 3 copies - - one for work , one for home and one for the ol' Tahoe. Great 4X4 music! (call me crazy!)

Have fun... buy it. Worth the bucks.

Rob Blanda

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Brilliant Reworking Of Kansas Best, March 7, 2001

By 

[e-mail] (Edinburgh) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Always Never the Same (Audio CD)

I approached the release of this album with excitement and trepidation. Excitement that Robbie Steinhardt had returned and Kansas classics filled with their unique violin sound would be brought to a new scale with the inclusion of the London Symphony Orcherstra. And trepidation that Walsh's voice could no longer span the range required for these classic songs (see Live At The Whisky review).

I can happily report that this is by far the best album Kansas have put out since Audio Visions even though it contains classics (and if you ignore 2000's brilliant Somewhere To Elsewhere where the original line up reforms with Kerry Livgren).

My first minor criticism of this album is the opening song, a cover version of the Beatles classic Eleanor Rigby. I like this song but I feel it is very out of place on an album containing fresh reworkings of some of the bands greatest songs. I also feel that as good as Kansas are they're style cannot do true justice to the song.

My only other criticism is the lack of Magnum opus in this collection - a fresh version including a full piece orchestra would have been awesome.

With these minor criticisms aside we launch straight into classic Kansas territory with a lovely version of Dust In The Wind to remind us exactly why I purchased the album. The remainder of this album is packed start to finish with classic Kansas brilliantly reworked with a full piece orchestra. New freshness is brought to old friends like Song For America and The Wall. The band's sound and style fit a full piece orchestra perfectly and the songs are performed with a gusto last seen on Two For The Show and desperately lacking in performances like Live At The Whisky. Even Walsh's deteriorated vocals stand up relatively well although still far from the astonishing power and range he had in the 70's.

This is an album worthy of gracing any Kansas fan's collection. Although you may have the songs on their original albums and even live versions this album is one to own.

Strong Recommendation to buy.