Masque [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Kansas

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 22, 2001)
• Original Release Date: May 22, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005JA2C
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #142,012 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superb sound quality and musicianship, July 24, 2001

By	Just Bill (Grand Rapids, MI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I love progressive rock. It's the kind of music you can listen to over and over again...and hear something different each time. (Try that with 90% of the music made today!)

So it's not surprising that during the '70s (when I was a teenager), I was a big fan of Rush, Yes, Genesis, ELP and, of course, Kansas. That music became part of my soul.

Therefore, it was with lots of excitement that I bought the remastered CD of Masque (the remastered Leftoverture is next; I'll buy it today on my lunch hour).

What incredible sound! The drums (especially the cymbals) and the guitar tracks are crisp and clear. The vocals are incredible. This is how Kansas was meant to be heard.

I agree with previous reviewers: Masque is not the best Kansas ever recorded. I think Song for America (their second album), Leftoverture and Point of Know Return are Kansas at their peak. However, Masque is head and shoulders above anything recorded today -- not only in creativity and composition, but also in sheer musical talent.

I know many people have regarded the opening track "It takes a Woman's Love (To Make a Man)" as fluff. But I kind of like it. It shows another side to Kansas; not a sell-out side, either. Just an ability to rock and make shorter songs that are catchy and fun.

My favorite tracks are the punchy, rocking "Child of Innocence" and, of course, the lengthier ones: "Icarus (Borne On Wings of Steel)," "Mysteries and Mayhem" and "The Pinnacle." Why? Because, as I wrote in the first sentence, I love progressive rock. I love its depth, complexity, subject matter and musical distinctiveness. Critics can dismiss it as bombastic and silly, but, man, does it touch something inside of me.

If you like well-crafted, creative music, you'll like Masque. If you're a Kansas fan, you need it. If you're tired of the homogeneous, cookie-cutter, every-song-played-at-the-same-pace-in-the-same-raucous-way music that's become popular today, give Masque a listen. You'll probably find it to be a breath of fresh air.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Kansas Album, June 23, 2004

By	L. Lawhead "LSquared35" (SW Illinois) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Masque has been my favorite Kansas album since I purchased it on vinyl back in 1975, and it holds up equally well today. It's a much more polished and cohesive effort than the previous two records (which are certainly good), and sets the stage for the hugely successful follow-ups 'Leftoverture' and 'Point of Know Return'. It has a great mix of rock-radio oriented songs ('It Takes A Woman's Love', 'Child Of Innocence', 'It's You'), and progressive rock masterpieces ('Icarus', 'Mysteries and Mayhem' & 'The Pinnacle'). 'Child Of Innocence' was my first-favorite Kansas song, and got a good bit of AOR radio-play in it's day.

The CD reissue sounds great. I'm under-whelmed by the bonus material though, the rehersal recording of 'Child of Innocence' and the demo version of 'It's You' don't add much, but are easy to skip past.

If you like 'Song For America' or the mega-hit albums, you should add Masque to your collection!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best, March 8, 2007

By	Steven L. Roberts "Old Oak" (Longmont, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have allmost all of Kansases albums and this one is one of my favorites so it was a real treat to hear it digitaly remastered on CD. In my openion Masque has some of there best music on it and the previousley unreleased bonus tracks were great, a real treat to hear! This one makes a great addition to any Kansas lovers CD collection.