Customer Reviews

There's Know Place Like Home

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sadly, it appears that Kansas has become something of a walking dead band; the last ten years have seen nothing in new material, only compilations and live albums. As such, there is little new to enjoy on "There's Know Place Like Home" that hasn't been covered on previous live albums. Worse, the tracklist above is apparently from the DVD. To keep the CD release to a single disc, some songs have been removed.

1. Howling At The Moon - THIS SONG IS NOT ON THE CD!
2. Belexes - Better than the version on Device Voice Drum. Steve sings all the lyrics.
3. Point Of Know Return - Yes, again.
4. Song For America - Yes, again. The orchestral arrangement is slightly different, but...
5. On The Other Side - NOT ON THIS CD!!
6. Musicatto - Nice! The band does a great job on this track which has never been released live.
7. Ghosts/Rainmaker - Another new entry, but feels a bit uninspired.
8. Nobody's Home - Good. Similar to the "Always Never the Same" version.
9. Hold On - Yes, again.
10. Cheyenne Anthem - NOT ON THIS CD!!
11. Icarus II - Good, but similar to the version on Device Voice Drum. Steve's vocals are rough here.
12. Icarus: Borne On The Wings Of Steel - Good version of a great song.
13. Miracles Out Of Nowhere - Yes, again.
14. Incommudro - NOT ON THIS CD! This really #$%^& me off! So I have to buy the DVD, too?
15. The Wall - NOT ON THIS CD!
16. Fight Fire With Fire - I think most Wheatheads have heard enough of this one.
17. Dust In The Wind - It was a hit.
18. Carry On Wayward Son - It's still a hit!
19. Down The Road - Probably the most interesting track. on the CD. A live jam the afternoon before the show. Who is singing this?

A good release, but hardly essential.

What a party this must have been! I've seen the band live several times and this album was so well done I felt like I had been at the show, too!! A nice mix of songs, very well produced!!!

A lot can be said about a band that has been around for over 35 years. First, it shows that fans still want to hear and see this legendary band at work. Second, it shows the power of progressive rock played with precision. As a rabid Kansas fan, it's hard to imagine anything more satisfying than the band playing with a full orchestra. And "Know Place" delivers on several levels. The band is in excellent form, and the orchestra doesn't drown out the rock emphasis of this performance. Lead vocalist Steve Walsh sounds like a man determined to hit all the appropriate notes. And yes, his voice had changed with age. But it still fits this style of music. Nobody else could sing it like Steve. Drummer Phil Ehart is still up to the task of shredding the skins. He is still one of the great unsung heroes of rock. For a live CD there is a certain bottom end you'll hear that is usually only present on studio albums. There is much ear candy to absorb, orchestral sounds, acoustic guitars, and some well timed background vocals. The material here is all well chosen, some classics, some obscurities, some middle of the roaders. All and all a slightly more eclectic set than expected. "Musicatto" and "Rainmaker" making the oddball list. While the version of "Carry On" is extremely potent with the backing strings. If you are even a fair weather fan of the band, this is a must have album. This is prog rock with all the fixins.

I've been a Kansas fan for 17 years, now, and the reason is because they never perform a song I even think is just mediocre. They always excite me. That holds true for this release as far as the performances are concerned. Also, it's nice to see forgotten classics like "Musicatto" and "Rainmaker" as part of the set list, as well as hearing former alumni Kerry Livgren and shred-master Steve Morse jump in for a few numbers. That being said, I should have looked closer at the track-listing. Having done so, I would have purchased the DVD/CD set, instead. There's more songs, some of which are fan-favorites I don't have in my collection as live recordings. For not much more money, you get to hear AND watch the concert on DVD, and have the CD's of the exact same, full concert for in your car. My advice: get that instead of this single CD.

Really enjoyed seeing Kansas at Chastain Park this summer in Atlanta with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. This recording, at Washburn University in Topeka, is a good capture of the 2009 "Know Place Like Home" tour. Kansas is one of the few bands that is even better live than in the studio - they truly are master musicians. I am enjoying this recording very much (but then again I am stuck in a 1970s musical timewarp, believe Kansas is the greatest band of all time, have followed them since LeftOverture was released 30 years ago, have almost everything Kansas has ever produced and listen to them almost every day). Particularly appreciate the guest appearances by Kerry Livgren and Steve Morse; Hold On, Musicatto and Ghost are my favorites on this CD. If you are a fellow Wheathead you will want this CD; yes, its the same old songs we know and love and never get tired of hearing but with the orchestra there is enough extra to buy them again. Agree with the comment that if you're new to Kansas the first five CDs (Kansas, Song For America, Masque, Leftoverture, and Point of Know Return) are the place to start, particularly if you want the songs that put Kansas on the rock map (I would also add Freaks of Nature to that list). Also agree that if you want just one Kansas live CD, "Two for the Show" is the one to get - it is Kansas at the top of their game. But fellow Wheatheads - you will want this CD and DVD.

I don't need to say much. I have always loved this band... and I still do. But what's with the symphony orchestra? Every one of these great songs is bogged-down by gratuitous orchestral arrangements. Other bands have done it well... like the Eagles. Not so with this concert. This, as well as the spray on tans, hockey haircuts, and other affectations, made Kansas look more like an opening act for a Celine Dion concert rather than the legendary band I had envisioned.

Well I've always been a Kansas Fan! The production, sound, and clarity of this blu ray DVD is suburb. I'm actually going to see them live on their 2011 Concert tour.

The DVD and CD are EXCELLENT!!! Mixed well by Jeff Glixman and company. Another awesome Kansas concert captured perfectly. Guests included former Kansas member Steve Morse and original Kansas member Kerry Livgren. A bonus song of "Down the Road." A must for all Kansas fans and any fans of live rock!

There's an orchestra on this?
'Cause I don't hear it...

I'm a huge fan of this band, and have all of their recordings.
I got on board at "Point of Know Return" and consumed everything.
I don't expect Steve Walsh to be what he was vocally (though I wish it were otherwise) and indeed he sounds better on this than I have heard him live in some recent concerts.
He sounds better on this than on his solo efforts as well.

My problem with this recording unfortunately, is that I feel that a great opportunity to capture Kansas with an orchestra was lost.
The orchestra who should work better with Kansas than with just about any other band an orchestra has ever been teamed with is buried in the mix.
The end result is a recording that sounds very close to Device Voice Drum, only with a bit and I mean bit of orchestra in the background.
Too bad..
On Song for America, the orchestra swells to give a taste of what could have been but it's not enough.
Certainly not enough to compensate for the lack of orchestra on the rest of the recording - pity.

I will make this short -- if you want the best representation of Kansas live, purchase "Two for the Show" to hear the 70's version of the band, or "Device Voice Drum" to hear the most recent excellent version of their latest incarnation. (although I'd also toss in a recommendation for their live set on the King Biscuit Flower Hour, too, featuring the Steve Morse era band)

What makes this set not such a priority is less the orchestral arrangements that Kansas plays to (although not as well integrated their music as other bands' efforts with orchestra), it's that the whole recording sounds muffled, as if done with a pair of cardioid microphones and an mp3 recorder from 30 rows backs from the stage. (in fact, some Grateful Dead shows that were done this way sound better than this) However, In some ways, this is an accurate picture of the band live (their sound tech mixes heavy on the bass, making the band indistinct, and the low end very muddy), but nearly all of their live albums sound good, even if the performances may be less than perfect (i.e., Live at the Whiskey, where a combination of a cold and too much whiskey/drugs trashed Steve's voice).

The best performance and sound on "There's Know Place Like Home," is the bonus track from the afternoon, "Down the Road," which features Rich Williams, Steve Morse and Kerry Livgren all trading guitar leads, and the band just SMOKES. This is what Kansas fans live for, the hot, energetic, spot on musicianship that really makes the band what it's known for. This track's recording isn't muddy at all -- perhaps the recording engineers were not as comfortable in recording a full orchestra, but were used to recording a typical rock band - if that was the case, their inexperience made the greater part of this album dull to listen to.

(there are some odd performances on this disc as well - "Ghosts" becomes a parody of what it was on "In the Spirit of Things;" Steve's performance on the studio recording is nothing short of stunning, and it's all because of his phrasing and breath control -- here, it's just bizarre - too fast, with a funky-something-or-other feel to it - guitar parts are missing on "Icarus II," and the violin trades in "Dust in the Wind" are odd (due to the orchestration, I expect). However, it is excellent to hear "Musicatto," I just wish the fidelity of the recording matched the performance)