Art of the State

Kerry Livgren, Ad | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 7, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Numavox
• ASIN: B00000F1TF
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,146 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #89 in Music > Christian > Hard Rock & Metal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best album you've "never heard.", December 28, 2004

By 

Jay Shelton (Texas, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art of the State (Audio CD)

That's the tagline I use to describe this wonderful album, perhaps the best "group" album of Kerry Livgren's career, rivaling what many to be the best Kansas album ever, "Leftoverture," for song structure, vocals, instrumentation, and texture. Each song is carefully woven, and split between AD's two lead vocalists: the soulful Warren Ham (keyboards, woodwinds) and the soaring, "Steve Walsh-like" Michael Gleason (keyboards). Both lead vocalists tried out for the vacant lead vocalist position in Kansas when Steve Walsh left the band in 1981. The quintet is rounded out by Dennis Holt (described by some as the "Neil Peart" of Christian rock), Kerry Livgren (chief songwriter, guitarist, and keyboardist), and ex-Kansas bass player Dave Hope.
The album mixes a variety of styles, with Kansas-like prog-rock, classical, and jazz (Zion, chiefly written by Warren Ham, is a fast-moving jazz piece, that shows the versatility of the drummer, Dennis Holt). The best cuts are Heartland, which clocks in under four minutes and contains guitars, keyboards of organ, strings, and piano, and the soaring vocals of Warren Ham. The Revelatory piece, "The Fury," is applauded by another reviewer, and the tribulation period "Up from the Wasteland" echoes images of scripture found in Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Revelation. This album is a MUST own if you like Kansas, Kerry Livgren, AD, or progressive rock!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Art Of The State, May 25, 2001

By 

John R. Davidson "Snoopy fan" (Moberly, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Art of the State (Audio CD)

If you like the music of Kansas, then this album will thrill you. Kerry Livgren, the writing force for such hits as "Dust In The Wind" and "Carry On Wayward Son", has continued to mature in his "art rock" style of music. The lyrical content of this album is deep and meaningful. It's an album worth adding to your collection and enjoying for a long time.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my intro to Kerry...really!, August 19, 2008

By 

L. Davis (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Art of the State (Audio CD)

Unlike alot of long time Kansas fans, AD's Art of the State was my first introduction to the music of Kerry Livgren. To this very day it's one of my favorite Christian albums from the 80's. I actually have the LP of this album and I didn't dare part with it! Even after finding the CD, I still probably won't part with it since I'm still a fan of the cover art. I found the music to be a really smart, polished and creative alternative to a lot of 80's Christian rock which IMHO is saying quite a bit, since I feel Christian rock really began to come into it's own at the time. Out of 10 great songs, my favorite would have to be the dark and apocalyptic "The Fury" which I just learned is one of Kerry's favorites. Another favorite is "Up From the Wasteland"