Leftoverture

Kansas' third album, Masque, pointedly displayed the two sides to the band. They still contained "Two Cents Worth" of boogie-rock; however, with Kerry Livgren's songwriting, the band also delivered two classics from their "symphonic" side: "Icarus-Borne on Wings of Steel" and "The Pinnacle." Sales for the album, however, were as stagnant as their previous releases, and the band reached a supposedly do-or-die scenario with their label. Fortunately for Kansas, all musical points connected on Leftoverture, and the band delivered an instant classic. With big harmony vocals and manic riffing, "Carry on Wayward Son" kicks the album off in high gear. Livgren and Rich Williams's dueling guitars complement each other in the finest Southern rock tradition; it's no wonder that the song was a US Top 10 single for the band. Mainly written by keyboardist/guitarist Livgren—in fact, he's the band's primary songwriter—Kansas delivers an album of remarkable consistency; virtuosity and accessibility combine on each track. Livgren's lyrics hint at Christian undertones (e.g. "The Wall," "Questions of my Childhood") and their overt sincerity also sets them apart from most other progressive bands. Tracks like "Miracles out of Nowhere" and "Opus Insert" feature rich arrangements that always remain melodic and never fail to rock hard—their secret being Phil Ehart's quick, constant tempo. The acoustic "Cheyenne Anthem," a tribute to the tribe of the same name, even manages to sneak in a tricky instrumental section. Producer Jeff Glixman deserves some credit too, as the album is sonically exceptional; while there's a lot going on, the mix is neither muddy nor overbearing. The album's closer, "Magnum Opus," was arranged from bits and pieces of music that the band had accumulated over the years (hence, the album's portmanteau title) and illustrates Kansas at their best: bold, electric and, above all, American. The album was an unqualified success, reaching No. 5 on the US charts and earning double-platinum sales.