Customer Reviews

Glossolalia

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I just recieved this CD in the mail today, and it is the most phenomenal recording I've purchased in years, maybe ever. I'm going to attempt to write about the music here, but be forewarned, mere words cannot do this recording justice.

I can only describe the song GLOSSOLIA by saying "TRIBAL METAL". It's like a savage war chant metallica style. The music, vocal range, and lyrics are like nothing I've ever heard before. Subtle hints of early Santana can be heard if you really stretch your ears.

SERIOUS WRECKAGE is beautiful, yet haunting, and then becomes very determined. There is an urgency in this music that you can feel. This song will reach out and touch your very soul and then when you're not looking, smack you right in the kisser.

HEART ATTACK is a very festive rocker, but with poetic heartland simplicity. The only way you've ever heard anything like this is if you've seen Bob Dylan accompanied by The Pointer Sisters as his band.

KANSAS starts out reminescent of the kind of music heard on Kansas' POINT OF KNOW RETURN and MONOLITH recordings. It progresses far beyond those humble beginnings and closes as if you've entered the den of Hades. The closing vocals sound as if they could be comming from that thing on the CD cover.

ANYTHING has a country flavor, but it's just flavoring mind you. This is still rock and roll.

HAUNTED MAN could have been a KANSAS song circa MASQUE. Maybe the most like KANSAS of all the songs here.

SMACKIN THE CLOWNS is ... forgive me, I am at a loss for words. You'll just have to buy the CD or see what others have said about this song.

THAT'S WHAT LOVE'S ALL ABOUT is Steve Walsh in the hood, my brother.

MASCARA TEARS starts with a wonderful keyboard opening. Sinatra does rock & roll is about all I can say.

REBECCA is great rock tune. This one has a Tom Petty feel to it.

Steve Walsh has produced some of the most beautiful, haunting, lyrically intelligent, multi-layered, fluid, and rocking music I've ever heard. And I agree, that most people will never hear any of this on the radio. For an old guy who's starting to resemble Jerry Garcia, rather than the energetic lead singer/keyboardist of KANSAS circa LEFTOVERTURE, Steve Walsh shows all these young turks how to make real music.

BUY THE CD!

The best thing to come from the Kansas camp, collectively or solo, in years.

This isn't pure pretentious prog (like Kansas could have been without Walsh's influence); it's raw emotion in expressionistic strokes and colors. Kerry Livgren (Walsh's much-worshipped classic Kansas antithesis) would have made a similar effort sound silly, as he just doesn't bring the same desperate psychology to the table. This is what Walsh always brings compositionally to the Kansas motif; emotion, energy and sonic danger.

Glossalalia isn't pretty, it's not sweet. It's a dark and brooding exploration of the peripheries of one of modern music's greatest voices and under-appreciated writers.

A brilliant album that demonstrates a desire and ability to truly "progress" when many of his contemporaries just like the sound of the word.

It's been twenty-one years since we were treated to the remarkable Schemer Dreamer album, and there will be a tendancy for Walsh fans to hold this album up to it in comparison. My advice: DON'T! Glossolalia is light years and a lifetime of musical and spiritual growth away from Steve's first solo effort. This haunting, inspiring, multilayered and moody collection grabs your attention immediately, and takes you on a journey filled with heart, soul, and hard reality. The title track, a warrior's pledge of defiance, shifts through a multitude of Reznor-like walls of sound that are truly stirring. "Serious wreckage", a hauntingly beautiful song, tells a story of the death of a child by drunk driver, sung wearily by someone who has fought the bottle himself. "Heart Attack" and "That's What Love's All About" stand out as rockers, while "Nothing" presents a simple melody, complete with steel guitar, to compliment the tale of lost love. "Mascara Tears" is a dramatic and Jazzy 6/8 song a la "Perry Mason", and "Rebecca" gently rocks with the soulfulness of "Every Step of the Way". The two standouts of this album, "Kansas" and "Smackin' the Clowns", showcase Walsh & Co-writer/producer Trent Gardner's ability on an epic scale. The former paints a multifaceted picture of the struggle between Indian and White Man, while the latter is a high-powered depiction of the Ringling Brother's circus fire of 1944, as seen through the eyes of a child. Anyone who doubted Steve Walsh's ability to soar vocally will be pleasently surprised, for all of the trademark high notes are here, including the operatic background vocals, which brought a smile to my face. Musically,the album is densely textured and adventurous, moving in directions not typically heard on your average Kansas album. Glossolalia is an exciting piece of work. I am wearing out all of my CD players, because every time I listen, I discover something new. A triumph!

Don't listen to the naysayers below! Gloss is Steve's best album to date, with or without Kansas! I was amazed from the first song (title cut) all the way through to "Rebecca". The pure emotion, the angst, the unimaginable pain that he purges on this album will take your breath away! "Smacking the Clowns" is the best song he has written so far in his career...it chills me to the core every time I listen to it. Steve has had an amazing life and has been through Hell and back, yet still sings and performs like men half his age. He should be proud of this album! BUY IT NOW!

Steve Walsh brings a dramatic vocal and musical performance to Glossolalia. Longtime fans of Kansas would expect no less. There are several great rockers, such as Haunted Man and Heart Attack, as well as longer story-driven pieces, such as Kansas and the fabulous Smackin' the Clowns (about a circus destroyed by fire). Serious Wreckage is a heart-breaking tale of many lives being ruined by a carelessly driven automobile, delivered passionately. That's what Love's All About features the tremendous dynamic range of Walsh vocals. Steve's accompanying musicians also deliver - lontime associates Mike Slamer and Billy Greer are great and Trent Gardener from Magellen adds his keyboard and production talents. All in all a great CD, but we aren't necessarily in Kansas for this one.

To Steve: thank you for the pleasure to listen to your voice and your music since I'm 14. I'm french and of course I will be in Paris in June, not only to listen to but to see you too.
Glossolalia is my preferate CD from my 400 collection. All is sung, all is said. But perhaps not all, now Shadowman comes.
See you in Paris (I was here in Cap d'Agde in 1981).

For those that were disappointed with the new Kansas offering, check out this CD! Steve expands the boundries of former solo and Kansas efforts here and it is great. It makes you wonder why his song writing and keyboard work were silent on "Somewhere to Elsewhere". As much as I love STE, it suffered from too much Kerry. I was curious as to why Steve did not have any writing credits on the album. The answer is on Glossolalia. The songs that would have made STE my favorite Kansas album of all time are here. Steve has not sounded this good in years. His soul is 200% into every single song. He takes us on a magical journey with songs like "Smack'n The Clowns", to self focusing efforts like the haunting "Serious Wreckage". I have not stopped listening to this CD since I got it!!

So far past time to retire his vocals.. sad actually. Lyrically and musically Walsh's work is remarkably complex. I really like his work, but, I kept thinking what if someone who could sing would have stood in for him on this project... or what if he had done this 28 years ago. It he were to re-release Glossolalia as an instrumental without vocals I would be the first to buy it.

Steve Walsh is one of the best vocalists in rock today. Superb! This album is fantastic. Of course, what would be expected from Magna Carta? The older he gets, the better he gets! With the help of Trent Gardner it's no wonder. This is pure digital rock! I recommend the title track, Smackin' the Clowns, Kansas, and Haunted Man. This truly is one of the best of 2000 because of it's difference from what Steve has done in the past. Keep it up Steve and Magna Carta! The record label of REAL MUSIC!!!!!!

So much in the current musical climate is only clever, not compelling. This album makes me believe in rock and roll again. While it updates the Kansas sound with everything but the kitchen sink, it is not an exercise of style over substance. These are great songs performed with passion. I ordered this out of curiosity along with several other new releases and to be honest, didn't expect much. I haven't stopped listening since. From unrestrainable rock of "That's What Love's all About," to the painful introspection of "Serious Wreckage," this is a treat for the ears. Thanks Steve!