Leftoverture (Exp) [Original recording remastered]

Kansas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 22, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005JA2B
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,420 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, July 24, 2001

By 

Just Bill (Grand Rapids, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leftoverture (Exp) (Audio CD)

I agree with the previous reviewers. This remastered CD is astounding in its clarity.

In my review of Masque, I revealed I'm a prog-rock nut; love the stuff. And this is a perfect example of why that type of music appeals to me so much.

Interestingly, as I was listening to Masque at the office with my headphones on (which, if you read my other reviews, is where and how I tend to do most of my listening), a co-worker stopped by to drop off a project. I asked him (a fellow music freak) what he thought of Kansas. He said "I really liked in them in my day." He also said he understands why I like them: they blend the elements of progressive rock I like with good, old-fashioned Midwest rock.

His comments were ironic because when I got back from lunch with the remastered Leftoverture firmly in hand, I started reading the liner notes...and was blown away by the first few lines: "The trouble with most art rock could be two-fold -- the art and the rock. As a rule, the art rock as pioneered by some of the British progressive practioners of the Seventies onwards was arty enough, but the rock part often left a lot to be desired. Kansas, on the other hand, rocked."

Bingo. That's why I like Kansas so much. They plumb the depths of all the classical, mythological territory explored by their "art-rock" contemporaries, but they add their own unique guitar-driven sound to the mix. Livgren and Williams are two excellent guitarists, each playing off the strengths of the other and creating some of rock's most memorable riffs.

Leftoverture, Kansas' fourth album, is astounding in its musicianship, vision and lyrical depth. If you read Kerry Livgren's biography (the now-out-of-print "Seeds of Change: The Spiritual Quest of Kerry Livgren") you'll gain valuable insights into why Leftoverture sounds the way it does lyrically. Songs like "The Wall" and "Carry On Wayward Son" are rife with Christian import and imagery.

Livgren's book is essential reading if you also want to know why Kansas sounds the way it does musically. His chapter on creativity and craftmanship in music is brilliant and reveals why so much of today's music sounds the way it does.

Musically, Leftoverture is wall-to-wall brilliance. Each track is a study in how music ought to sound and be played, from the opening "Carry On Wayward Son" to the poignant "The Wall" to the closing, aptly titled "Magnum Opus." Craftsmanship, indeed.

I'm listening to "Miracles Out of Nowhere" right now and am totally blown away by the mastering on this CD. Each instrument pops out distinctively and without apology. The bass is crisp and bouncy. The drums are deep and driving. The keyboards and violins are incredibly bright, and there are parts of this song I swear I've never heard before with previous masterings (such as a crystal-clear acoustic guitar that rings out beside the other instruments).

I haven't said anything yet about Steve Walsh's vocals, but that's a mixed blessing to me. On this album he's probably at his peak of perfection. What a voice! By way of contrast, his voice today is such a pale imitation that I'm truly saddened. He's still an amazing performer, but he's not what he used to be vocally. So if you're a fan of soaring, crystal-clear rock voices (a la Steve Perry or Dennis DeYoung), this is an album you'll want to own. Just be aware when you buy Kansas CDs of today, or see them live (yes, they're still touring!) that you won't be hearing the same Steve Walsh.

That said, I must say Kansas is one of America's truly great rock bands -- art or otherwise. They combined elements of art rock with solid guitar-driven rock...and managed to create a unique sound all their own that still sounds good some 25 years after it was first recorded.

Leftoverture, in this remastered format, is absolutely essential for all fans of extraordinary music.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kansas+Leftoverture=Excellence!, September 11, 2002

By 

Samhot (Star Land) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leftoverture (Exp) (Audio CD)

Arguably, Kansas is to America, what bands like Yes, Genesis, E.L.P., Queen, The Moody Blues and Jethro Tull are to England--progressive rock with mystical and patriotic tendencies. The other resemblance to these bands is their constant hybridization of musical styles. But, make no mistake--they are original, not clones of the above English counterparts. Throughout the early part of Kansas' career (i.e. the 1970's), Kansas mixed the worlds of hard rock with blues, classical, jazz, country and more. This can be heard throughout their classic years--which brings us to _Leftoverture_.

_Leftoverture_ deserves all the recognition and praise it gets. It's a solidly crafted progressive rock album that happens to be catchy, while containing an amalgamation of musical styles, and all along, still manages to save room for extended instrumental jams. Carry On Wayward Son is the big hit of the album--the greatness does not end there. The Wall is an anthemic rocker. What's On My Mind combines funkiness and hard rock. Miracles Out Of Nowhere is mystical and dramatic progressive hard rock at it's finest. Melodic vocal harmonies can be found here as well. Opus Insert features vocal harmonies reminiscent of CCR and Queen. Questions Of My Childhood features some country-esque influences. Cheyenne Anthem starts off with some nice acoustic guitar passages, then segues into a quirky romp/waltz. Magnum Opus ends this gem perfectly as mostly quirky, virtuosic instrumental insanity.

Kansas is arguably the most _accessible_ progressive rock band. If you want melodic, dramatic and mystical music, armed with diversity and touches of ambiguity and accessiblity, check Kansas--and this album out.

5 stars? Asolutely!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arguably the best (and perhaps the only) American progressive rock band..., June 25, 2006

By 

Grigory's Girl "Grigory's Girl" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leftoverture (Exp) (Audio CD)

Kansas is an anomaly in American rock. They are probably the only truly progressive rock band in American history, and a damn good one. They can stand with any of the great British progressive bands (and I love progressive rock). This album is definitely the one I dig the most. While Song for America and Point of No Return are excellent too, this one is the most consistent with not one bad track in the whole album. My 2 favorite songs are Miracles Out of Nowhere and Magnum Opus. I love the intricacy of both of them, especially the latter. From their debut through Monolith, they were putting out great album after great album. Their arrangements and songwriting was some of the best American rock ever produced. It's a shame that they splintered in the 1980's, and ended up in so many different incarnations. But we still have their 70's output to hold onto...