Kansas Album: “Point of Know Return”

I've already done a review under the entry of the new remastered POINT OF KNOW RETURN, but would like to encourage people interested in buying this cd to buy it under this entry of the one that was released in about 1984 because the remastered one with bonus tracks is a terrible remaster, if you have come to know the vinyl or this first issue. Like was said by a previous reviewer, Jeff Glixman has remastered the new one and made it sound compressed, without much of a dynamic range like it was in the previous issue. If you are new to this recording you may not think the remaster is too bad, but if you know it like the back of your hand like me, you know that somethings wrong with this remaster. So basically I'm saying, buy under this entry here without bonus tracks and you will be getting a very good quality recording. I think right now under this entry a used copy is something like $2.99. Enjoy this progressive rock masterpiece!!!

This album, as well as the excellent "Leftoverture" and the slightly uneven "Monolith" represent what I call the "Kansas Trilogy"; that is, the three best albums the group has released to date (I haven't heard "Somewhere to Elsewhere" yet).

Kerry Livgren wrote the majority of the tracks on "Point of Know Return", but I have never seen that much dissimilarity between his writing style and that of Steve Walsh, who is the band's other principal songwriter. Every song on this album is entertaining and listenable. I particularly like "Portrait (He Knew)", a ditty about Albert Einstein, "Closet Chronicles", a song depicting the life of Howard Hughes, and my favorite song is the somewhat bittersweet "Nobody's Home", with a particularly moving violin solo from Robby Steinhardt.

If Kansas is, as many have stated, the best "art-rock" group of the 70's, then "Point of Know Return" is unquestionably the most polished, best-executed example of that genre.

I love this CD in my own opinion it is every bit as good as Leftoverture and is an epic statement of what progressive rock

is all about. Its starts with Point of know return (a catchy hit single) onto the very progressive Paradox then to The spider (a tangely complex short instrumental. He knew comes next (a heavy blues orientated rocker)Closet Chronicles follows (perhaps my favourite ever Kansas song. Lightnings hand is a fun heavy rockin tune and Dust in the wind is perhaps Kansas`s bigest hit single to date Sparks of the tempest is another regarded classic Kansas song and onto, Nobody`s home (its so magical and beautiful) The CD winds up with Hoplessly human and its a progressive classic. I highly recomend this CD for anyone who wants to get down to the facts of what Kansas is all about.

I LOVE KANSAS`S MUSIC.THIS IS ONE OF THERE BEST CD`S ALONG WITH MASQUE AND LEFTOVERTURE.THIS HAS THE GREAT SONG`S POINT OF NO RETURN AND THE CLASSIC PORTRAIT(HE KNEW).HE & I KNEW THIS IS A CLASSIC AND MUST HAVE FOR ANY 70`S ROCK FAN OR FAN OF KANSAS.IT`S NOT JUST THAT THESE GUYS ARE GREAT MUSICANS,BUT THEY WRITE SUCH GREAT SONGS TOO.IF YOU ARE NEW TO KANSAS BUY THIS CD AND IT WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO BUY ALL OF THERE CD`S.

After the success of Leftoverture, Kansas turned out another perfect album in Point of Know Return. This album includes the huge hit "Dust in the Wind". "Hopelessly Human" is one of their best prog songs, "Portrait (He Knew)" and "Lightning's Hand" are great rockers with interesting lyrics, and "Closet Chronicles" and "Nobody's Home" are very emotional and moving. "Point of Know Return" is a light, carefree song which was one of Kansas' bigger hits. All in all, a great album.