Kansas - Audio-Visions
|
Our Price: $16.95 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.49 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Audio-Visions
Free Music Review: Last of the Classic Line-up
Hit: 3 Stars
KANSAS - Audio-Visions (1980) (*** ) 10 tracks (43:27)
Audio-Visions represents KANSAS's last album with their original line-up still intact. It's now the 80's, and this album shows it. The pop trends of that era show up strongly on this release.
Unlike the famous writing duo of Lennon/McCartney, who seemed content to write together and share most of the credit, KANSAS's main songwriters, Steve Walsh and Kerry Livgren almost always write seperately. There is always a balance of songs on each album written by the two. Just about a 50/50 split, with a couple of tracks co-written with other members of the band. After a while of listening to the two writing "styles" of Walsh and Livgren, one can guess with about 90% accuracy who wrote each song as they are presented. Walsh leans to a more "pop" style and Livgren still leans towards a more "classical" style of arrangement. And, as usual, the biggest hit on this was penned by Kerry Livgren. Mainly "Hold On". The most recognisable song from this album. The second most popular song is "Got to Rock On" by Steve Walsh. It definitely has a "pop" feel to it. It's enjoyable, but it's not the KANSAS of old and it's absolutely not progressive. Those days are long gone, sadly. After this album was complete, Steve Walsh left the band. This time for good. The personal and musical differences between him and Kerry Livgren were just too much to take anymore.
This is the first KANSAS album to be "remastered" by EPIC/Legacy, way back in 1996. Therefore, it has a decent 7 page booklet, which duplicates what one got with the original album release: original album art (front & back) plus all lyrics and production notes. The remastering job isn't quite up to today's standards, but it's allright.
Best Tracks: Hold On and No One Together
Free Music Review: Kansas - The Album That Broke Up The Original Lineup Of The Band
Hit: 4 Stars
"Audio Visions" would prove to be the album that broke up the original lineup of Kansas. The album is pretty much split between Kerry Livgren's blatantly Christian oriented songs and Steve Walsh's rebellious rockers. Walsh has made it clear in interviews over the years that he was no longer comfortable singing many of Kerry's lyrics and he would leave the band because of it after the tour for this album. Although this album is not as good as the first 5 I like it quite a bit better than its predecessor "Monolith". The band got back on the singles charts with Kerry Livgren's Christian ballad "Hold On". He also contributes the great rocker "Relentless" and the two most prog oriented pieces on the disc "Curtain Of Iron" and "No One Together". Walsh's songs display very much where he was coming from at the time. The lyrics for rockers like "Loner" and "Got To Rock On" pretty much predict his eventual departure from the band. Both are great tunes by the way. Robby Steinhardt's violin is used much less here than on previous discs, an unfortunate trend that would continue on their next album and lead to his eventual departure. Overall this is a very good (but not great) Kansas album and defiantly worth owning.Free Music Review: Kansas Rocks!!
Hit: 5 Stars
uumm , great to be reminded why I loved this music way back when :)Free Music Review: A more listenable Kansas
Hit: 5 Stars
I don't really know what was going on internally within the Kansas camp leading up to the recording and release of this album, but the results were incredible. The sound on this album is true Kansas, however, less progressive sounding with limited violins. I believe they produced it themselves and the fuller sound of that production is obvious. The drum sound on this album is the best I've heard - so unlike the tinny trash can-like snare sound of today's bands. I'm sure Phil Ehart had something to do with the fuller drum sound. This is not Point of Know Return or Leftoverture and that is a good thing. Diversity in a band's catalog is good if it does not compromise the integrity of the band and Audio Visions is awesome without being a clone of previous Kansas albums. Even with some corny lyrics here and there, I rate this as my overall favorite Kansas album.Free Music Review: A great Kansas CD!
Hit: 5 Stars
I had this on on LP vinyl and am replacing it now with a CD. It is excellent Kansas music! One of my favorites never became a hit "Curtain of Iron"