Somewhere to Elsewhere

Kansas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 11, 2000)
• Original Release Date: July 11, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Magna Carta
• ASIN: B00004U059
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (137 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,235 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Icarus II

2. When the World Was Young

3. Grand Fun Alley

4. The Coming Dawn (Thanatopsis)

5. Myriad

6. Look at the Time

7. Disappearing Skin Tight Blues

8. Distant Vision

9. Byzantium

10. Not Man Bag

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Somewhere Else and Back - Livgren Returns for Reunion Effort, July 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Somewhere to Elsewhere (Audio CD)

As a Kansas fan introduced to the band while listening to "Icarus-Borne on Wings of Steel" on my older brother's 8-Track in 1975, hearing these familiar strains on "Icarus II" has brought my Kansas experience full circle. The original lineup got together again to record 10 new Livgren compostions producing a recording reminiscent of classic Kansas while still fresh and contemporary sounding. Starting with 'Icarus II" a tribute song poignant, violent and epic, and ending with the all out rocker about big brother, "Not Man Big", the album creates many moods and emotions. "Myriad and "Distant Vision" are instant Kansas progressive rock classics with a Steve Walsh "Yes"-like scat during a passage in the former, and a beautiful piano accompained vocal passage reminding one of "Closet Chronicles" in the later. The Beatle-esque "Look at the Time" and "Disappearing Skin Tight Blues" are probably the most listenable songs with catchy hooks and pop choruses. Walsh sounds great here, with Kerry's keyboards (some rousing organ play throughout) Rich's power chords and Phil's machine like drumming other notables. The band can still rock with the best of them. While listening to "STE" one can only wonder what could have been over the past 2 decades had the members been able to work out their differences and remain together. But as stated in "When the World Was Young", "the pride that comes before the fall is with us". Finally checking their egos at the door, Kansas has produced what history should eventually view as a timeless classic, and as fans we should be pleased we got one more.

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here They Come... Back and better than ever!, July 11, 2000

By 

Jeff Patrick (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Somewhere to Elsewhere (Audio CD)

Kansas fans and newcomers alike will be well satisfied with this CD of brand new material. All 10 songs are written by Kerry Livgren, and perfomed by all six original Kansas members, including Livgren on guitar and keyboards, bassist Dave Hope, lead singer Steve Walsh, violinist and frontman vocalist Robby Steinhardt, drummer Phil Ehart, and guitarist Rich Williams. Hope plays bass on only two tracks, while current bassist Billy Greer picks up the rest of the bass chores, and even takes lead vocals on "Look At The Time".

At the official Kansas website, Livgren stated that the hope was to capture the band's "original fire and vision" from the early days, and that the album would have many "familiar stylistic twists, and new twists as well." Take it from this long time fan, they've succeeded beyond their wildest imaginings.

All of the guys have obviously mended the fences that were splintered over creative and other differences nearly 20 years ago, and the renewed passion they all have for the music shows in this album. Everyone is given an opportunity to shine, from the powerhouse vocals of Greer, Steinhardt and Walsh (whose voice has never sounded better, having lost a lot of the "ragged edge" sound from previous albums), to Williams' "Meatwall" sound, on down the line. Many different influences can be heard here, including early Kansas (more obvious in "Icarus II" and "When the World Was Young"), a little Beatles (the aforementioned "Look At The Time"), Zepplin ("Byzantium"), some blues ("Grand Fun Alley") and even a bit of 50's doo wop ("Disappearing Skin Tight Blues"). Also, don't miss the hidden track about 1 minute after the final listed song; it's just the guys goofing around in the studio on a little ditty, that I can only call "Geodesic Dome Blues". My picks for radio play are "When The World Was Young" for rock/top 40 stations, and the soothing "The Coming Dawn" for the lite rock/adult contemporary outlets. This CD is not to be missed by anyone!

P.S.: If the band is reading this: Guys, my suggestion for the next album is to use the songs not used on "Somewhere to Elsewhere", throw in 5 or 6 additional songs, bring back all of the original members along with Billy Greer again to play, PLUS bring in the alumni: Steve Morse, John Elefante, David Ragsdale and Greg Robert, and really show everyone how it should be done!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spirited songwriting and musicianship, September 12, 2000

By 

Robert M. Harris "Mark Harris" (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Somewhere to Elsewhere (Audio CD)

I read almost every review of this CD before purchasing it, even though I have every single CD from Kansas (even a very expensive European copy of the ever-hard-to-find "Masque"), including solo efforts by Livgren and Walsh. I must say, this album is a wonderful break from the somewhat forgettable albums from the 80's and 90's. While the CD as a whole does not totally live up to every Kansas album up to "Point of Know Return", it does have some songs which will become part of my "classic" Kansas pantheon.

There seems to much discussion about Walsh and his somewhat ragged voice. I recently went to see Kansas in concert for the tour of this album. While Walsh's voice is strained on the albums, his live performances are wonderful. What is so interesting is that songs such as "Distance Vision" work for Walsh beautifully, especially in the last stanza where he belts the lyrics with a power equal to the music. I get the impression from the CD that they left his voice all too naked through the rest of the songs. I really think the attraction of Walsh's voice in the "classic" years was that his voice was simply another instrument rather than a vocal. His ability to punch the energy in a song was similar to the unforgettable compositions from the all-too-talented band members. The technique was always complex without being complicated. In songs such as "Distant Vision" and "Byzantium", Walsh's vocal contributions are as an integral whole rather than a stand apart element. Where he falls apart (and perhaps where the songwriting on previous albums fell), is where his voice is pulled out as a highlighted element. Kansas, when at their best, are about creating music as an authorless effort. This is where I believe he has always been the most effective, even when his range was much more dynamic. I think the mixing needs to be looked at again given his range. Songs such as "Distant Vision" prove that he still has ability. However, I think that Walsh's vocals are a delicate instrument at this point and need to be handled as such.

Regarding the rest of the band, I do not want to glaze over their talent (including the non-original Greer - what a wonderful addition!), I have such respect for their ability that I simply expected no less. Phil is still one of the most under-rated drummers in the business, Robbie still has the ability to make me shiver (an what a haunting persona!), Williams still holds his guitar like a baby on stage and treats his craft with respect, and both Greer and Hope still understand that rythem can be and should be a complex element of music. And as always, Walsh's voice is best when teamed with Robbie's. I hope they both understand how well their voices work together.

Kerry Livgren, perhaps one of my favorite composers, shines on this effort throught his spirited songwriting. "Leftoverture" was released at a time of great personal self searching, and, like so many others at that time, I found in Livgren someone who poetically understood what it is like to search for answers. The answers are hard to come by and the searching can be quite painful and frustrating. The beauty of music is it's ability to show us the poetry in everyday life. It is refreshing to find through this CD that Livgren is still searching, it is simply at a much higher level.

Being a fan since 1973, I can easily recommend this album to any fan, old or new. There are areas where it approaches and even surpasses their "classic" work (Distant Vision, Byzantium, and Myriad), but there are also areas where it falls, primaily because of a mishandled vocal track. But because the high spots are so luminous, they carry the CD as a whole. After hearing the best on this album, I can see how it would be grave mistake in not having this CD in my collection. "Distant Vision", "Byzantium", and "Myriad" could have easily been on the "Leftoverture" album. These songs have those wonderful, unforgetable, uniquely Kansas melodies which you keep in your head all day long.

My love for the "classic" Kansas is that their music has the ablility to become personal rather than just entertaining. I first heard them as an adolescent teenager, and, now in my late 30's with a family and a career, the music is as fresh and meaningful as ever. I love that I will listen to Kansas out of appriciation and personal fullfillment rather than some glib nostalgic need. I still listen to my old Kansas CD because this element is missing in the current industry. Much to my delight, this new release clearly continues this all-too-rare type of musicianship. This album will become one of my favorite, probably by day's end. I would encourage the band members to continue writing and performing songs such as "Distant Vision", "Byzantium", "Myriad", and "Icarus II". This type of serious music is desparately needed in todays glib musical pantheon.