Kansas Album: “Somewhere to Elsewhere”

Kansas fans and newcomers alike will be well satisfied with this CD of brand new material. All 10 songs are written by Kerry Livgren, and perfomed by all six original Kansas members, including Livgren on guitar and keyboards, bassist Dave Hope, lead singer Steve Walsh, violinist and frontman vocalist Robby Steinhardt, drummer Phil Ehart, and guitarist Rich Williams. Hope plays bass on only two tracks, while current bassist Billy Greer picks up the rest of the bass chores, and even takes lead vocals on "Look At The Time".

At the official Kansas website, Livgren stated that the hope was to capture the band's "original fire and vision" from the early days, and that the album would have many "familiar stylistic twists, and new twists as well." Take it from this long time fan, they've succeeded beyond their wildest imaginings.

All of the guys have obviously mended the fences that were splintered over creative and other differences nearly 20 years ago, and the renewed passion they all have for the music shows in this album. Everyone is given an opportunity to shine, from the powerhouse vocals of Greer, Steinhardt and Walsh (whose voice has never sounded better, having lost a lot of the "ragged edge" sound from previous albums), to Williams' "Meatwall" sound, on down the line. Many different influences can be heard here, including early Kansas (more obvious in "Icarus II" and "When the World Was Young"), a little Beatles (the aforementioned "Look At The Time"), Zepplin ("Byzantium"), some blues ("Grand Fun Alley") and even a bit of 50's doo wop ("Disappearing Skin Tight Blues"). Also, don't miss the hidden track about 1 minute after the final listed song; it's just the guys goofing around in the studio on a little ditty, that I can only call "Geodesic Dome Blues". My picks for radio play are "When The World Was Young" for rock/top 40 stations, and the soothing "The Coming Dawn" for the lite rock/adult contemporary outlets. This CD is not to be missed by anyone!

P.S.: If the band is reading this: Guys, my suggestion for the next album is to use the songs not used on "Somewhere to Elsewhere", throw in 5 or 6 additional songs, bring back all of the original members along with Billy Greer again to play, PLUS bring in the alumni: Steve Morse, John Elefante, David Ragsdale and Greg Robert, and really show everyone how it should be done!

The original Kansas line-up re-unites here for the first time since their 1980 album, AUDIO-VISIONS, along with longtime bassist Billy Greer, and the results are nothing short of spectacular. Kansas has not only recaptured their glory days, but they have managed to build upon that legacy and soar to new heights. Kerry Livgren calls this one of the three best Kansas albums ever made...I would at least put it in the Top 5, maybe Top 4. This is Livgren's best, most consistent songwriting since POINT OF KNOW RETURN, and his production and instrumental work are spot-on classic Kansas. All the guys are playing at peak form, and Steve Walsh's voice hasn't sounded this strong since the mid-eighties. "Icarus II" is a magnificent lead-off track; it's a stirring, moving, rocking thematic companion piece of sorts to their iconic 1975 track from MASQUE. Just listen to Phil Ehart's furious, yet sophisticated percussion work here, plus the twin guitar roar of Rich "Meatwall" Williams and Kerry Livgren. Dave Hope's thundering yet nimble bass work is another highlight on this and subsequent tracks. "I2" is a primo story song that will leave a lump in your throat and a glisten in your eyes...and ringing in your ears. Kansas hits a gritty, rocking groove with "When the World Was Young," and then kicks up the blues quotient with the prophetic "Grand Fun Alley" (featuring Robby Steinhardt on vocals). Steve Walsh provides one of his most inspiring and warm vocal performances ever on "Coming Dawn," a gorgeous, spine-tingling presentation with some stellar violin work from Steinhardt. Kansas pulls out all the prog stops for "Myriad," a complex, jazzy number that is lyrically brilliant and instrumentally challenging. Billy Greer steps up to the microphone with the Beatlesque gem, "Look at the Time," a memorable, melodic treat. The blues lumber back aboard for the Steinhardt growled "Disappearing Skin Tight Blues," a potent brew with seeeeeeerious attitude. As great as everything preceeding it is, "Distant Vision" is a contender for best track on the CD, with a sound and structure that hearken back to "Song for America" or to early Genesis. Simply stunning! And, up next, with many ornate and varied textures, the beautiful and mysterious "Byzantium" is a haunting vision that entices and enlightens. However, let it not be said that this edition of Kansas went quietly into the night..."Not Man Big" is a Walsh tour de force, a powerhouse rave-up highlighted again my some very heavy guitar work from the Williams/Livgren tandem. Let the CD play for a few moments after "Not Man Big" and a surprise bonus track pops up, entitled...as best as I can tell..."I Wanna Live in a Geodesic Dome," featuring the vocals of "Mississippi Willie" Kerry Livgren. Don't miss it...this little tune is a hoot and shows off the well-hidden but still potent silly side of these cosmic rockers. SOMEWHERE TO ELSEWHERE is the album that Kansas fans dreamed about for nearly 20 years. That it more than lives up to its promise is great news indeed to Kansas fans and anyone who appreciates excellent progressive rock music.

I am an 80's convert to Kansas....I always liked the older classics such as "Dust In The Wind" and "Carry On My Wayward Son" but my musical tastes were more into the 80's hard rock scene and radio pop. I personally loved the album POWER, released in 1986. As I've gotten older (will be 39 in late 2009) I've found that while I like a lot of the newer music (Nickelback, Foo Fighters, Five For Fighting, etc.) I seem to be looking backwards to find new music that I really enjoy. As a result of this, I've discovered truly great music from Neil Diamond, Gordon Lightfoot, The Moody Blues, and more.

I began looking around on Amazon to find music from older bands that I liked to see what releases I had missed over the years. I found some gems along the way, and the best one by far (in my opinion) is the 2000 release of "Somewhere To Elsewhere" by Kansas. If you liked "Power", you will love STE. I'm not an uber-fan of any band....I can't tell you the names of the founding members of any band with the possible exception of maybe Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.....but I know what I like.

This album is to me what I call a "concept album", or in my own terms, one that tells a story. This is one of those rare start-to-finish albums that you can put the headphones on and lay back in the recliner and when you're done, you feel like you've just experienced something, not just listened to a performance. From the music, the band seems to not only recognize that they have aged, but they embrace it. This is artfully demonstrated on the beautifully arranged "The Coming Dawn". "Byzantium" is another of my favorites, along with "Look At The Time" which I (and others who have reviewed it) find to be a very Beatles-inspired sound. "Icarus II", the opening track, starts out subtlely and expands into a hard-rock frenzy.

I give this album five stars....maybe I'm being generous, but after listening to it, I remembered why music used to mean so much to me and I had lost that over time. This album touched me, and I hope everyone else who loves music will give it a chance to touch them.

The original members of Kansas returned to their home state to record this project at Kerry Livgren's farm. Eluding the stigma usually attached to 'reunion' albums, Livgren wrote all ten tracks with matured vision and has given Kansas what is arguably its best album ever. In the process, Livgren has become the Norman Rockwell of American classic rock music, crafting songs that are detailed, adventurous, dramatic, and ultimately reassuring. The opening track, 'Icarus II', is a tribute to a B-17 pilot's self-sacrifice. Were this not a true story one could fancy Rockwell's Willie Gillis as the hero. 'Myriad', which Livgren originally wrote in 1970, contains all of his idiosyncrasies: introduction of several themes, lengthy detour through unsettling passages, and recapitulation of the opening ideas. It's a formula similar to what is heard on older songs like 'Apercu' ('74), 'Incomudro' ('75), and 'Hopelessly Human' ('77). 'Byzantium', the most unusual track on this disc, describes the downfall of the great medieval empire and may be an allusion to America's spiritual decline. The performances of the band on this project are inspiring - Steve Walsh renders some of his best vocals in over a decade, and Rich Williams' guitar leads have never sounded better. SOMEWHERE TO ELSEWHERE proves that the original Kansas is the best platform for expounding Livgren's range of musical ideas. A 'must have' album for old fans as well as those seeking a genuine alternative to 'alternative.'

I have been a Kansas fan since 1975 and this CD is a real treat! It's nice to see Kerry doing all of the lyrics for this effort. I love "when the world was young."Buy it and you'll enjoy it, but don't waite for it on the radio because radio is not hip enough for this classic rock and roll band. This is a true classic from one of classic rocks' great bands