For once I intend not to be last with my review. And so, I'll be first this time.
I should point out that I think it's fair that, although we have two weeks to listen to the albums and form our thoughts, we can post anytime within that timeframe, from the moment we get the album or rec to two weeks after. Therefore my review may seem like it's coming early, but I've listened to the album enough now to know what I want to say, and there's little point in waiting, so here goes.
As this was Kansas's followup to "Leftoverture", which gave them their first major hit, I can see how they were trying to go in a more commercial direction, but I applaud them for staying true mostly to what appears to have been their root sound. I also like the puns in their album titles.
1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
I've heard not that much of Kansas, one album really ("Somewhere to elsewhere") and was at times bowled over and at times underwhelmed by that. The problem is that while some tracks are great, others are in comparison quite poor. I found this to be the same with this album. The opening track originally left me cold (though after repeated listens I've warmed to it a bit) and the followup plus its, to my mind, unneccessary runoff, the instrumental "The spider", just didn't do it for me. I was, to be honest, quite disappointed and it was a case of
deja vu.
2. What did you think of the opening tracks?
As above, I thought the opener was a bit trumpety-keyboard heavy and had that sort of seventies progressive feel I often don't like, despite being a prog head. It's hard to explain: almost felt jazzy to me, which I know it isn't but I didn't like it. The second track wasn't much of an improvement --- if anything, it was a disimprovement: I've gotten used to the title track now but "Paradox"
still leaves me cold, and "The Spider" is to me just an needless extension of the music from that.
3. What did you think of the later tracks?
Ah well now you're asking! Directly after "The spider" goes out on a descending pitch bend on the keys, the album, for me, takes a total upswing, at least for a time. "Portrait (He knew)" is a belter, a real blues rhythm to it and it chugs along gloriously, reminding me very much of "Disappearing skin tight blues" from "Somewhere to elsewhere", one of the highlights of that album for me. "Closet chronicles" I love, a slower, moodier song but not quite a ballad, but then I could live without "Lightning's hand". Of course, "Dust in the wind" is a classic, and always will be...
4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
Yeah, I like Steve Walsh's voice. It has that kind of rough, ragged sound you get from ZZ Top mixed with a flavour of Steve Earle and maybe Ronnie Van Zandt too. Certainly a voice that commands you to listen.
5. Whether or not you enjoyed the vocal performance, did the music throughout the album generally appeal to you, or not?
Yes, it did in the main. The album --- presumably like most of Kansas's work --- is heavily keyboard oriented, and Kerry Livgren does a great job, though there are times his arpeggios get a little wearing, as related above. But also the violins and violas of Robbie Steinhardt add a great sense of calmness and grandeur to some of the songs.
6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
Absolutely got better. I didn't like the three opening tracks, then the next two were streets ahead, a dip then for "Lightning's hand" and back to form then for pretty much the rest of the album.
7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
I must admit I didn't concentrate as much on the lyrics as perhaps I should have this time round, but in general they seem to concern man's fragility and his place in the cosmos. Songs like the seminal "Dust in the wind", "Nobody's home" and "Closet chronicles" all seem to speak of things passing and our inability to prevent it.
8. Did you like the instrumental tracks?(Note: For any albums without any purely instrumental compositions, this question should not be answered or answered as "not applicable")
There was only one instrumental and as noted above I did not like it at all.
9. What did you think of the production?
Sounded fine to me for a seventies record.
10. How well do you already know the band/artist?
Who doesn't know OF Kansas? But apart from their hits I had only actually listened to the one album prior to this.
11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to?
Progressive rock I think is the only one that fits, though occasionally Kansas can flirt with a softer AOR sound.
12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
Much more. It took a few listens to get past the opener, and there are still tracks I don't like but generally I enjoy it more when I spin it now compared to the first time.
13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
Other than the obvious?
I think perhaps "Nobody's home" or "Closet chronicles", or possibly "Portrait (He knew)"
14. And the one you liked least?
Either "Paradox" or "The spider".
15. Did the fact that this album is a debut allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?
Not applicable.
16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist?
Basically yes, I'd be interested in hearing some more of their catalogue. I would hope though that not every album of their has this disjointed a structure, from my point of view.
17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one?
As I said in the lyrics question, essentially the powerlessness of man in the face of time, the elements, and the cosmos in general.
18. Did the album end well?
After a few duff tracks the album picked up brilliantly with "Dust in the wind" and sort of never really flagged from there on. The closer, "Hopelessly human" is a great track, though I did see some resemblance to the one that preceded it. Nevertheless I'd still class it as a really strong closing track.
19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
I'd have done without the more pomp-rock tracks such as the first three and had more like "Closet chronicles" and "Paradox". And no instrumental. Or at least, a better one.
20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
I'd have to say hit and miss, though in fairness more the former than the latter.
Ratiing:7.5 out of 10