On 06-05-97 DAVE HUGHES wrote to ALL... 
 
 DH> I've seen a lot of messages here about the definition of 
 DH> prog. rock bands, and the one real standout American group 
 DH> that comes to my mind would have to be Kansas. Some may 
 DH> disagree as to their status as prog 
 
        a) what you say is true 
 
        however 
 
        b) traditionally Kansas is on topic here and the current 
        moderator agrees (hey, isn't that Frippish, to talk about 
        yourself in the third person?) 
 
 DH> but you gotta admit that 
 DH> their music fits the criteria I've sen given here 
 
        I agree, there's enough prog material from Kansas to make 
        them considerable as an all-American corn-fed progrock 
        band. Especially the first two albums, but also 
        _Leftoverture_, _Masque_ and _Two for the Road_ all have 
        substantial progGoodness (TM). 
 
 DH> while their lyrics aren't as 'spacey' as, say, Yes's 
 
        It's my firm belief that Kansas might have been improved 
        had they only sung in Italian, but that's neither here 
        nor there. 
 
 DH> the instrumental side of their music has much to offer the musician's 
 DH> ear. 
 
        Agreed. Sort of Gentle Giantesque at times, free flowing 
        prog at others. Fine musicians, anyway. 
 
 DH> As opposed to those bands (Foghat comes to mind) 
 DH> who play to the musically illiterate. 
 
        Or to the musically literate who have been chomping down 
        ludes by the handfull. 
 
 DH>  Anyway, I just dragged out an old tape I have of Kansas' "Masque" 
 DH> album, and really grooved on "Borne on Wings of Steel" 
 
        The live version of this is also cool, IIRC. 
 
 DH> any of those prog-freeks out there would agree with me about Kansas? 
 
        Moderator does. I'm sure plenty others do. "Dust in the 
        Wind" and "Wayward Son" still suck, tho. ;-) 
 
        BTW, if you like Kansas you might like the US band 
        Echolyn, who sound a lot like Kansas and Gentle Giant. 
        Unfortunatley they recently broke up after getting the 
        shaft from Sony. I was just listening to their album _As 
        the World_ his evening and was pleased to discover I 
        still like it. They shoulda sung in Italian, too, tho... 
 
                                Cheers, 
                                Kenneth 
 
NP: PFM "21st Century Schizoid Man" - they should have sung in 
Italian, too. 
 
 
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