Kansas - More Than Just Arena Rock
May 13, 2008
By Tyler Hensley
In 1974, a little-known band from the Topeka, Kansas area signed with Kirshner Records and recorded their debut, self-titled album, Kansas. Thanks to good marketing by the Kirshner label and a fair amount of airtime on new album-oriented rock FM radio stations, Kansas quickly became quite popular. Sadly, when most people think of Kansas, they think of little more than Dust in the Wind or Carry On, Wayward Son, the group’s two most popular tunes. This is a grave mistake, as the music of Kansas has much more to offer than just the catchy tunes of those two songs. In fact, both those songs were added to their respective albums almost as afterthoughts. For example, Dust in the Wind was originally just a chord-progression guitar exercise that Kerry Livgren, a band member, used to practice! Nonetheless, the first three Kansas albums, Kansas, Song for America, and Masque, demonstrated a great deal of rich musical talent that many people do not hear.
This is due, in part, to the backgrounds and influences of the band members. Robby Steinhardt (violin, vocals) was trained from an early age in classical music. Kerry Livgren, the band’s principal songwriter, was schooled in classical and jazz music. The band as a whole was influenced by early 70s prog-rock groups such as Genesis and ELP (Emerson, Lake, and Palmer). All these factors contributed to the style of Kansas, though the unique instrumentation of the band also played a role. The first album, Kansas, contained one of the band’s more well-known pieces, Journey from Mariabronn. Youtube a live version of it (link at bottom) . This song, from the very beginning, is prog-rock through and through. The introduction is a synthesizer/violin-heavy segment in an irregular meter with, really, no discernible time signature which segues into the introduction of another theme through a violin solo. By virtue of being a six-piece band at the time, a large amount of complex layering happens in this song. Much like one would find in an orchestral piece, melodies move smoothly from instrument to instrument and different lines emerge from beneath other “flighting,” repeating lines. It’s almost like listening to modernized chamber music! What’s more, the lyrics to Journey from Mariabronn are intriguing, to say the least. Livgren wrote them, following closely the story of famous German poet/author Hermann Hesse’s Narcissus and Goldmund.
Kansas’ second album Song for America, and specifically the title track of said album, followed closely in the footsteps of Journey from Mariabronn and the first album. It is characterized by a number of signature violin solos from Steinhardt and a lyrical exploration of one of the band’s favorite themes, mother nature and man’s treatment of the planet. Album three, Masque, contains prog-rock gems such as Mysteries and Mayhem, Icarus, and The Pinnacle, but also shows a turn toward more radio-friendly songs such as Child of Innocence and It Takes a Woman’s Love (to Make a Man).
Kansas’ next few albums were also splendid in their musicality, but most agree that the early works of Kansas were, musically, the best. They stimulated listeners in many ways through their music and lyrics. So, next time you find yourself bored on a cool evening, dig through your old vinyl and spin up some older Kansas tunes. Listen for the subtle things, and you won’t be disappointed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QJvlPeP-nc
Tyler Hensley has been a prog-rock fanatic since the early 90s, when he branched into the genre as a learning experience. He plays guitars, keyboards, and drums and enjoys home recording. Read more interesting music and technology blurbs at his website: http://thehitlist.bravehost.com
Top 3 Reasons 2008 Will Be Great For Britney
May 11, 2008
By CJ Carroll
So much has happened to Britney Spears in the past year - almost too much for a fan to keep up with!
She’s removed some seemingly bad influences from her life and returned to her roots. So much so, in fact, that she recently returned to her hometown to attend her sister Jamie Lynn’s baby shower. Anytime a star like her can go back to Kentwood, Louisiana, for a baby shower - well that’s a good sign she’s on the right track.
Of course, her fans, while supporting her, are holding their breath and hoping she makes a complete comeback. Her detractors, and there are a few of those, are probably just waiting for her to slip up and go back to her old ways.
But given the steps she’s taken during her comeback, a relapse isn’t likely. Here are the top three reasons Britney’s return to the limelight is likely to succeed.
Family. Britney has reconnected with her family in a big way. She has turned over her affairs to her father, who was a central figure in her rise to stardom. She is hanging out with her family … from her sisters baby shower to just spending time with them at her home.
Plus she has was awarded extended visits with her sons after a child custody hearing. The extended visits with the children, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, were “recognition of the progress that has been made, a progress of structure and stability.” That is great news. In fact, her parents said, “We are so pleased with Britney’s progress and we are very appreciative of the court’s recognition of this progress.”
Friends. Britney has removed the toxic people from her life. She booted those hangers on out of her house and has reconnected with old friends like Las Vegas billionaire George Maloof. Britney was seen having dinner recently. Maloof owns owns the Palms Hotel and Casino in Nevada. The pair have known each other for years. It was a quiet night on the town for the embattled favorite of the paparazzi. She was also seen relaxing at a recent Alicia Keys concert, where she arrived with little fanfare or attention.
Health. Britney has been working hard to get back into shape. She has reportedly become a regular at Hollywood’s Bally’s gym, where she often works out with her father Jamie. Her trainer, Marc Corliss, is impressed her work ethic. “She’s been training hard for the past four weeks, doing about 500 or so abdominal exercises every day. And she’s seeing a major difference already,” he told America’s Life + Style magazine.
We won’t even go into some of the career successes she had, because if Britney continues to take care of these basics - family, friends and health - her career will take care of itself. She has too much star power, and too much talent, to not succeed as a singer, dancer and entertainer.
CJ Carroll writes articles about entertainment, most recently on Britney Spears exposed by the paparrazzi and general articles about Britney Spears for GoSpears.com.
