Customer Reviews

In the Spirit of Things

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After 'Drastic Measures' and 'Power', I was one of many Kansas fans who threw up our hands and said, "Without Kerry or Robbie, there is no Kansas" and wandered off in search of something worth listening to. As a result, I missed 'In the Spirit of Things'...a pity it's taken me all these years to remember how good a writer Steve Walsh can be,and how talented the other band members are. But I must proclaim 'In The Spirit of Things' to be a fine album,especially by today's standards. True, it does have a definate '80s sound,but Kansas takes a lot of material from outside sources and makes it their own. 'One Man,One Heart' might be the kind of song that Survivor would've done,but it's a solid pop-rock song that Walsh makes his own. 'Ghosts' is wonderfully haunting,and--I'm going to go out on a limb here--'Rainmaker' is one of the best songs from ANY Kansas album; that one alone is worth the price of admission--a mini-masterpiece of the sort that was prevalent on 'Point of Know Return',but with with the sombre tones of a 'Song For America' track. I've spent many years revering Kerry Livgren's contributions to Kansas; with 'In the Spirit of Things', Steve Walsh steps out from behind Livgren's shadow. This is a good '80s rock album as well as a concept album; the concept is loose enough to where tracks can be enjoyed individually,and nothing 'art-y' is done to interfere with the music. If more concept albums were like this,they might be more accessible to people. At worst,my friends,this album is just as good as a Streets album--a vehicle for Steve Walsh's vocal talents. While he's not the young man from 'Song For America',he works well with the material here. This is a must-buy for the Steve Walsh affeciannado, and to all my fellow Kansas fans, let me say; I was wrong. Kansas can be Kansas even without Kerry Livgren,and this album proves it. So snatch it up,already! And thanks to all who posted their reviews here...it made take the risk that has payed off for me...Thanks!

Definitely not in the traditional vein of the "classic Kansas sound". In the Spirit of Things was made in the late '80s, a time where '70s classic rock music simply wasn't happening... Notwithstanding, Kansas managed to come up with one of its best, yet more under-appreciated gems. Steve Walsh's soulful and pasionate singing combined with Steve Morse's guitar wizardry really made ITSOT a marvelous opus.

For whatever reason I didn't understand ITSOT when it was released (like probably the majority of this CD pundits). The song "Ghosts" really grabbed me from the begining, but I had failed to carefully hear the rest. I just didn't quite make an effort to listen and to understand the whole product. Several years later I dusted it off and gave it another spin... WOW! I was blown away by the sheer qualty, emotion and uniqueness of this production. Words are useless unless you actually listen to this masterpiece. Some may regard this comment as blasphemy, but now I truly believe ITSOT to be the best Kansas album ever (I own every of their CDs). It is just that incredible. Again, Steve Walsh unleashed everything he had while singing on this CD. Every song is so powerful and compelling, simply cascading with musical colors and utter brilliancy.

As an additional bonus the recording sound is almost perfect. Courtesy of Bob Ezrin, the overall production quality is so high that one can really crank the volume up and the sound will still remain crisp and powerful. Even the cover art, the lyrics, the pictures and overall artwork of the notebook inside are some of the best ever.

Regardless of what other reviewers might say against it, In the Spirit of Things is an album capable of reaching the deepest regions of your soul. It's all about intense emotions... and to me, this is what great music is all about!

An absolute must have!

Despite only reaching #114 on the album chart and no single charting or getting any airplay,this is one of KANSAS's best records.Steve Walsh sings with more fire than ever before.INSIDE OF ME,ONE MAN ONE HEART,ONCE IN A LIFETIME,and STAND BESIDE ME are all powerful songs that should have been big hits.Guitarist Steve Morse is especially impressive on the THE PREACHER and the red hot rocker HOUSE ON FIRE.For this album to go unnoticed is a travesty!

I was floored when this album came out in 1988. I remember taking a trip to England and this was the only cassette I played on my walkman. I frequently put the cd on when I'm driving and am still amazed by "Ghosts", "The Preacher" and "Rainmaker". The emotion put into this album was incredible. If you have avoided this Kansas album, I would definitely reconsider. This ranks second only to "Leftoverture" to me in terms of best albums.

I'm amazed to see Kansas fans "trashing" this album on here. Although it MIGHT not be their best (although I think it's way up there), it has a large number of mind-blowing songs. The highlights: "Bells of St. James", (probably my favorite Kansas song ever, with one of the best choruses they've ever written), "Rainmaker", (incredible asmospheric tune that harkens back to their prog rock roots), "Ghosts" (lovely aching ballad), "I Counted on Love" and "Once in a Lifetime", (sure, these are 2 cheesy ballads, and they didn't even WRITE one of 'em, ...but what can I say?...they move me).

Well, I could go on and on, but I just had to throw in my $0.02. To quote me back in elementary school, "In the Spirit of Things RULES!".

1988's IN THE SPIRIT OF THINGS, the last major label Kansas album, suffers from being a bizarre melange of excellent prog rock and mediocre attempts at pop hits by songwriters outside of the band. This was MCA's attempt to follow up on the modest success of "All I Wanted," the hit song from the band's 1986 comeback album POWER. Also, Kansas during this period (1986-89) elected not to replace ex-violinist Robbie Steinhardt, and this band without a prominent violin in the mix is truly lacking.

Nevertheless, if you eliminate all of the songs on SPIRIT that were not written by the band (although "One Man, One Heart" is pretty good as pop songs go, but very much outside the Kansas style), you're left with a superb collection of American prog rock produced by Bob Ezrin (famous for Pink Floyd's THE WALL. Truly excellent and expressive tunes like "Inside of Me," "Ghosts," and "The Bells of St. James" are in my opinion among the band's best, even without Kerry Livgren or a violin. Kansas guitarist Rich Williams, in fact, is on record as saying that "The Bells of St. James" is one of his own favorite Kansas songs. These tunes plus "Rainmaker" and "The Preacher" present a series of poignant vignettes that is unique among prog rock albums. A short acoustic guitar instrumental by Steve Morse in homage to an early teacher of his is a nice bonus as well.

IN THE SPIRIT OF THINGS is extremely underrated both by fans of the band and by critics. Give the Walsh/Morse songs a fair hearing, especially at the super low price this album is currently selling at, and I think you'll be glad you did.

--DG

I am a huge Kansas fan from the 70s. I have liked them since 1976. This cd is remarkable for a number of reasons. They attempted to do something completely different- a concept album. The concept is interesting and touching. Walsh has some great vocal moments. Ezrin seems to get the best out of the band. Highlights include Ghosts, Stand Beside Me, House on Fire, I Counted On Love, Rainmaker and the beautiful and inspiring Bells of St.James. Who said there wasn't anything progressive and interesting coming out in the late 80s? I know it was a hairy time but Kansas was still putting out quality stuff- too bad they're putting out only compilations now.

Let me begin by stating that a true follower of any band will adjust to the changes that a band incurs musically and lyrically.
If any band has ever been challenged by this, it has been Kansas.
I've read many reviews of this album and the balance of positive with the negative only strengthens my opinion of this wonderful album. After their previous effort 'Power', I anxiously awaited their next album to see which direction it would take, and I was astonished at the results. Steve Walsh's voice speaks more personally and emotionally on this recording, especially in
'Ghosts', 'Inside of Me', and 'I Counted on Love', by far the songs I felt closest to at a first listen. Steve Morse also continues to add an energy to this album that very few guitarists could develop into: listen to 'Rainmaker' and you will understand. Although I prefer 'Power' over this album, I still feel an attachment to this recording I have a difficult time explaining; it can be very joyful at one moment and then mysterious and sorrowful at the next. These musicians were meant to be together and hopefully they will continue to fill the void inside of all of us that cries out to be heard.

Kansas paints a grim, albeit poignant picture of the American Midwestern small town in In the Spirit of Things. Taking the history of a true Kansas ghost town and recreating its mood through song in its waning days, this album would've raised eyebrows and critical acclaim had it been done a few years earlier. And, in reality, the entire concept may have been too deep for this album. Nonetheless, there are some stand-out tracks, including Ghosts, Stand Beside Me, The Bells of St. James, and I Counted on You. Steve Walsh's voice was never better, and Steve Morse, as usual, shines throughout, although his guitar work is a bit too restrained. For Kansas fans, this is a must album where they return to their roots in an affectionate homage to one of the many little Kansas towns where they first played as a band thirty years ago. It is perhaps their best album from the 1980's.

I'm a huge Kansas fan--from the first album to Song For America thru Point of Know Return & Leftoverture. My favorite Kansas songs ever are Song For America, The Wall, and Journey From Mariabronn, so I know what I'm saying when I discuss their old stuff. However, Steve Morse has always been my favorite guitarist, and when he joined Kansas, it was truly a match made in heaven. Steve is from the great instrumental band, The (Dixie) Dregs, and fit perfectly into the Kansas sound, as both they and the Dregs used violin and keyboard textures extensively.

There is, however, an unfortunate side to Morse's joining the band: the loss of primary songwriter, Kerry Livgren. Still, somehow on this album, the band managed to retain a bit of the old sound while writing some great songs. Ghosts, House on Fire, Rainmaker, and The Bells of St. James are excellent. Also, if you can listen to Morse's passionate guitar solo on the beautiful Ghosts or his fiery solo on Bells of St. James and be unmoved by them, you're either not human or you know nothing about music. Steve Walsh's pipes are (as usual) in good form throughout this disc as well. This album will go out of print soon, so snatch it up, especially at this price!