Freaks of Nature

Kansas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 30, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Intersound Records
• ASIN: B000000BRY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,572 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #10 in Music > Indie Music > Rock > Classic Rock
  • #22 in Music > Indie Music > Rock > Progressive

Track Listings

1. I Can Fly

2. Desperate Times

3. Hope Once Again

4. Black Fathom 4

5. Under the Knife

6. Need

7. Freaks of Nature

8. Cold Grey Morning

9. Peaceful and Warm

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Breath of Fresh Air, Sans Livgren, May 3, 1999

By 

"muunrakr" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freaks of Nature (Audio CD)

I thought picking this album up would be a dubious decision. I was disappointed with their previous outing, In the Spirit of Things, several years before. But what a pleasant surprise. This outing proves to be their best since Vinyl Confessions. The tunes are tight, the band is tight, and, although the CD lacks the thought-provoking punch and sure-fire delivery of its previous guitar/keyboard wizard, Kerry Livgren, the band delivers. It is my favorite post-Livgren album. Songs that shine are Black Fathom Four (a sweeping opus in the grand Kansas tradition), Under the Knife (Walsh holds his own as a lyricist here), Cold Grey Morning (a Livgren toss-off, modest by his standards, but a good song nonetheless), and Peaceful and Warm (one of Walsh's most introspective). Desperate Times, the album's "single" (in quotes because it received absolutely NO air play), is victim a hokey refrain - "Sled sled rocket sled carry me quick to the ones who've bled" and "Ride ride rocket ride carry me quick to the ones who've died". Pity, its actually a good song. Freaks is just what the doctor ordered for diehard Kansas fans. Other prog rockers shouldn't be too disappointed. 90's lovers, check out now.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent comeback, January 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Freaks of Nature (Audio CD)

After several disappointing pop-rock albums in the 80's, this is truly a return to form for Kansas. If you liked classic albums like _Leftoverture_ and _Point of Know Return_ you will want to get this right away, because the music on this recording is the Kansas we all know and love! The energetic "I Can Fly" opens and then leads into the second track, "Desperate Times". By the time the chorus to "Desparate Times" starts you know that Kansas is back. Several of the tracks here would have fit right in on an album like _Point of Know Return_. The title track and "Desparate Times" are the best tracks here, and a Kerry Livgren composition, "Cold Grey Morning", is also good and brings that element of philosophical and spiritual depth to the lyrics which was a mark of Kansas in their heyday. Why this wasn't a huge commercial success is a mystery. Two thumbs up!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A better Kansas, January 10, 2006

By 

DSP Engineer (Pleasant Hill, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freaks of Nature (Audio CD)

I realize that not all Kansas fans view this as their best work, but I feel that it really broke new ground for them. This is by far my favorite Kansas album if you don't include those Greatese Hits compilations. "Freaks" has an edgy feel with lots of tense, dramatic and sometimes dark overtones. But, above all, It really ROCKS. Everyone I have played it for likes it. I have been a Kansas fan for years, but this album gave me a whole new view of them ... like listening to them for the first time.