Customer Reviews

Kansas

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of their best albums; it's actually close to being the very best. There are many reasons why I like it so much, one of them being Robby's playing on "Apercu". -Just listen to those two perfect solo's towards the end of this long masterpiece of a song; it's some of the most beautiful violin work you'll ever have the pleasure of hearing. -This album is "Kansas" as we love them; heavier than hell one minute, softer than "Simon & Garfunkel" the next. Actually, when they're at their hardest, they can blow away any band today who might consider themselves heavy. Many hard rock albums recorded in the '60's and '70's sound much more dangerous than anything done now. -I mean, wouldn't you rather listen to anything by Jimi Hendrix, than a polished and safe Bob Rock or Mutt Lange production ?. There's absolutely nothing scary about contemporary recordings, be it "Slayer" or whoever. May the kingdom of "Kansas" rule forever !.

On Kansas' self-titled debut KANSAS (1974), we are already treated to their unique blend of heartland rock, boogie, country, and symphonic rock. Of course, they would refine their compositions on subsequent albums, but what they created on this debut here is highly impressive and enjoyable on it's own merits.

The band had already been playing together a few years before the release of this album (the band even stated that they had 50 combined years of musical experience in the sleeve), so this may contribute to the impressive gelling of ideas, and overall, accomplished musicianship exhibited here.

The first half of the album features more of the stripped-down tracks that Kansas seemed to exhibit from time to time, while the second half seems to be dedicated to the elaborate prog-rock epics. The album starts of with the fairly simple, but utterly addicting, violin-laced "Can I Tell You." Contrary to the opinion expressed by another reviewer, I don't find this, or any of the other tracks on this album, weak. Sure, it isn't a *prog* track in the Kansas tradition (if Kansas really ever had a tradition), but, different doesn't necessarily equal weak (opinions are subjective, not fact, folks.) However, while I enjoy this track immensely, I find the unissued demo version found on the KANSAS BOXED SET to be a more enjoyable version for me. "Bringing It Back" sounds like something you'd hear a bar-band performing. Reminds me of a slightly tame, underdeveloped prototype for the kind of thing you'd hear on SONG FOR AMERICA (1975) ("Down The Road" in particular comes to mind), but the underdevelopedness doesn't sink the track's tasteful edibility. I find it impressive how some bands (Queen, Rush, Kansas etc.) can make raw, underdeveloped music - that is, the music they make before reaching their peak in sound and/or composition - yet what they come up with on first shot seems to be much more impressive than what some artists produce in their entire catalogues.

"Lonely Wind" is a beautiful ballad penned by Steve Walsh. The vocal harmonies on this track are particularly moving, added with the melancholic piano, and soothing violin lines. The perfect song to be played for the bride & groom on their wedding day, while having a slow dance. On "Belexes," we are treated to the most energetic, rocking song on this set at this point. A definite rock-your-socks-off track, featuring some crunchy guitar lines, passionate, inspired vocals, and drumming that isn't too shabby.

"Journey From Mariabronn" starts off the second half as a classically-inspired number. This is probably the most compelling track on the album - compositionally speaking. The opening instrumental section, which lasts for 1 1/2 minute -- an energetic, mysterious section of band interplay leaving the listener in suspenseful anticipation, followed by an anthemic, soaring, worldly passage comprised of complex polyphony fronted by stately violin, which is then followed by a section in about 5/4 -- is one of the defining moments in Kansas' career. The song is all-around brilliant in my book. "The Pilgrimage" is a tasteful, fluid, mix of R&B and mild country influences. The melody, the lines and the vocal harmonies brings slight resemblance to Yes, particularly their track "I've Seen All Good People." A definite favorite of mine on this album. "Apercu" is another elaborate prog-rock epic, which even features a romp section which resembles that of the romp-like section in "Cheyenne Anthem" from LEFTOVERTURE (1976). The instrumental virtuosity and quirky elements displayed here are definite attributes which foreshadow things to be found in later albums. "Death of Mother Nature Suite" is a fine effort, but the unissued live version found on the KANSAS BOXED SET is much more enjoyable and fluid for me.

This probably isn't the album to start out with if you're new to Kansas. Start with LEFTOVERTURE (1976) and POINT OF KNOW RETURN (1977), then move onto their first three albums: this one, SONG FOR AMERICA (1975), and MASQUE (1975).

I believe that "Kansas" is one of the top 25 rock albums of all time and the equal of any other Kansas' album. The diversity and spirit in this music is unmatched and you can feel the passion and incredible hard work that went in this these songs.

Now let us clarify something for a minute. Even though this album was released in 1974 the music that comes from it and the influences of it are from years earlier. Kansas was a contemporary of early genesis, yes, elp and skynyrd. It's inaccurate than to say that they were ever trying to sound like them. And as they say on the sleeve this band had 50 combined years of musical experience at the time this first Kansas' album was recorded. They began in 1970 and by the time this was released they were a mature polished band though probably almost penniless. That's why this album is so important. "Our music has many faces and many moods like the land we live in" is how the band describes the music and it is true.
The first song "Can I tell you" is a simple energetic anthem to freedom. "Prove that you deserve it, help us to preserve it for being free will just be words and nothing more." That's solid rock punctuated with some violin flourishes. Then we have "Bringing it back" a jj cale song about ganja running indicative of the times. It's fast paced southern style rock with a fantastic violin solo. The third song "Lonely wind" is a ballad that is both beautiful and haunting. After the first 3 songs one would be inclined to peg Kansas as a country rock fiddle band but that all changes. "Belexes" is ultra high octane rock. Steve walsh's vocals soar but are restricted somewhat by poor mixing which make his voice sound like he's in a tunnel. "Journey from mariabronn" is a love song synphony a truly progressive classical like arrangement. "The pilgrimage" is a truly uplifting song of hope and joy. "Apercu" is kerry livgren's exploration into hinduism and reincarnation. Listen to these lyrics. "Each man has a memory, much more than the eye can see. But while others linger deep inside you haunting thoughts of joy and pain divide you. Look into your eyes, at the dark and the moody skys." Nothing unwieldy about those lyrics but of course livgren would later reject them and become a born again christian. The final cut "death of mother nature suite" also suffers somewhat from poor production but the power of the song comes through in a big way.
So there you have it. An eclectic mixture of country, hard rock, progressive classical. There is a song about freedom, a song about reincarnation and another about the destruction of the envoroment. The first album by one of rocks greatest bands ever.

I am a musician. I have the album. When I got it on CD, it SOUNDED better. Kansas IS a great progressive hard rock band. I still get the chillswhen "Can I Tell You" comes on. 30 years, and it still rocks!

In the passion-play of progressive rock, there are several unique (and odd) characters, but one of the most original in this field is Kansas. This six-man band brought about an honest image of innocence, of midwest farmboys dying to break out of "one of the most non-musical places" in the world and express their perplexing, challenging blend of hard blues-rock and a love for British prog-rock. Their self-titled 1974 debut worked as a bridge connecting these two wildly different fields, with both punchy rock numbers and grandeuresque prog pieces that would have drawn confused stares from barroom patrons.
After kicking off with 'Can I Tell You,' a song that, thirty years later, can be used to address America in our Iraq War situation, "Kansas" pulls some grand tricks even when performing blues-rock like the cover of 'Bringing It Back.' Meanwhile 'The Pilgrimage' is the only prog-rock song on the album that could have safely been performed in a midwestern bar, with Robbie Steinhardt's aggressive violin work (which would become one of the band's trademarks). But the other tracks are progressive rock at its most genuine; 'Belexes,' 'Apercu,' and 'Journey From Mariabronn' are gutsy moves, the bravest piece on the album being the lengthy, doleful 'Death of Mother Nature Suite,' an angry sermon for the modern world. All of this is balanced by the sad, wonderfully sung 'Lonely Wind.'
Devised by the songwriting of Kerry Livgren and Steve Walsh and accented by a six-man attack, "Kansas" is stunning by itself, but for a debut album it is even more amazing; the music is tightly arranged and performed with hard-eyed perfectionism that one would usually only find in veteran performers. As hinted at by the ominous album cover depicting abolitionist John Brown, Kansas would become a progressive rock force to be reckoned with, and sooner than anyone would have thought.

This is the beginning of Kansas, their self-entitled offering from 1974. It's odd that Don Kirschner, the guy that made such made-up bands like The Monkees and the Archies possible also had a hand in Kansas, by signing them to his label, appropriately called Kirschner. Yes, Kansas recording for the same label as the Archies, what odd company. At least, unlike the Archies (or the Monkees), you can take Kansas very seriously. And for real good reason, as the band, hailing from the state that bears their name, took local influences (bar band, boogie, southern rock) with the prog rock sound of bands such as Yes, Genesis, and ELP. The first two songs, "Can I Tell You" and their version of J.J. Cale's "Bringing It On Back" sounds very much like southern rock, in the Skynyrd tradition, with southern style fiddling. Then there's the ballad "Lonely Wind" which had hit potential (but wasn't because Kansas was still struggling). Hearing all this, it's might be odd, but the band ventures away from southern rock after that and starts giving us such great prog rock epics like "Journey From Mariabronn", "Aperçu" and "Death of Mother Nature Suite". I remember first hearing this album and not liking it. And still not liking it after repeated listens, then it really kicked in and started to appreciate the band's idea of mixing prog with American influences, which the band knew all too well from where they lived and the fact they had to perform in bars. It's a miracle this album even existed, as the old LP states that the band had 50 years of combined musical experience in the most unmusical environment imaginable. And you can be certain that meant where the band was playing, in Midwestern bars where they expected you to play boogie, country, blues, or southern rock, not prog rock in the Yes, ELP and Genesis tradition since it would be way over the heads of most everyone patronizing those bars. But that didn't stop them, and we can thank them for it. And their debut shows all the classic elemets of Kansas we come to know and love, the vocals harmonies, the fiddling from Robbie Steinhardt, the rocking numbers mixed with lengthy prog epics. And it's a great debut which shows even better things to come for this band. While Leftoverture and Point of Know Return are their best known and best selling albums, don't forget the three albums they released before those album, and their debut is a great place to start.

I've listened to this music many many times and it always sounds fresh. I was inspired to write when I learned last night that NONE of the songs that are on Kansas' "Greatist Hits" collection are from this, their first album. In a sneaky way, I was pleased because the album (or now CD) will always remain a bit of a secret. I love this music. Buy it!

Usually debuts are'nt very good but this one is possibly the best debut of all time.Idid not know what to expect when i bought this but it is one of my favorites.Many people have no idea who the man on the cover is but it's John Brown who fought in the Civil War in the 1800s.

Fantastic. Nothing else to say. NO ONE can not like this album. It is energy personified, rythmic, haunting, ***-swinging, foot-stompin, and cholesterol-removing sheer power.

Although they would find greater success with follow-up albums, Kansas debut is, in my humble opinion, their best work. It's generally unknown to the masses, there are no big hits here, and for that reason I tend to like it. I was shocked to discover there was NOTHING from this album on their Best of compilation-Shame on them! I own this album on vinyl. Love the full size cover art, it's a depiction of John Brown (a devoted slavery abolitionist) during the Civil War. He was Captured by Robert E. Lee, tried, and hanged, Brown refused to repent, becoming a martyr to northern abolitionists). Although this is a debut album, the band sounds like seasoned veterans, as the liner notes say "We have around 50 years of combined musical experience in one of the most unmusical environments imaginable."
That about sums it up.

Here's my song by song analysis-

Can I tell you-Winning combo of fiddle and guitar.

Bringing it back-Engaging up-tempo track.

Lonely Wind-Incredible Ballad.

Belexes-Driving rocker ending with an impresive drum solo.

Journey from MariaBronn- A live favorite, technically proficient playing.

The pilgrimage-Perfect summer time groove, top notch melody and harmonious singing to boot.

Apercu-Epic track (Over 9 minutes plus) features a climactic ending.

Death of Mother Nature Suite-The most overlooked and underrated song in Kansas' Catalog. Contains a serious message that's relevant today. This tune flat out rocks. Play it cranked...YEAH!

By now you probably get the point, don't hesitate, click add to cart. You'll thank me for it ;)