|
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow, July 24, 2001
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.
|
Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by Kansas 
