Early Recordings from Kansas 1971-1973 (©2002 Cuneiform)

1: Hegemonium 2: Reunion In The Mountains Of Sarne 3: Nactolos 21 4: Belexes 5: Totus Nemesis 6: Greek Strcture Sunbeam 7: Incomundro 8: Cyclopy [Live] 9: Skont [Live]

I really wasn’t interested in getting this album when it first came out. The thought of hearing pre-Kansas demos and rarities was right up there with getting a prostate exam from a ham fisted doctor.

But since I’m getting older I figured I’d try this first, before subjecting myself to the glove. The first thing that jumped out at me, was this was actually really cool. There are a couple of songs that eventually made it to the debut Kansas album, and they were the more “commercial” songs. Kerry Livgren was all over the musical map pushing boundaries and trying out weird and wonderful arrangements. At times the results are wicked, and occasionally it’s like listening to a train wreck.

These guys were good players, and no doubt were literally starving artists. The sound quality is better than I expected – Kerry has done an admirable job remastering the 30 year old tapes. The Proto-Kaw sessions are actually pretty good. Kansas fans who really hearken back to the first three albums as Kansas’ heyday need to get this. Kerry was a writing machine and there are some very cool songs here.

Reviewed August 4, 2005

Before Became After (©2004 InsideOut)

1: Alt. More Worlds Than Known 2: Words of Honor 3: Leaven 4: Axolotl 5: Quantum Leapfrog 6: Greenburg, Glickstein, Charles, David, Smith and Jones 7: Gloriana 8: Occasion of Your Honest Dreaming 9: Heavenly Man 10: Theophany

I played this for a buddy of mine the other day, and after the first song he looked at me and stated unequivocally, “Jevon that was terrible.”

"WTF? Terrible?" I blurted "I don’t think so! I thought you liked progressive rock! You like Rush, you still get off on 2112, how dare you call this album terrible!"

Then my wife chimed in, but not on the side I expected, “He’s right, the songs just drone on and on … this is worse than Saga.”

Worse?

I was defeated and I knew it, the best I could hope for was a clean withdrawal. As I made my way to the basement to listen to this album in peace I could hear the faint wafts of U2’s latest album thrumming from upstairs. Wankers!

So here I am in my private bunker, shut in with my choice of music playing just loud enough to fill my small den, but not so loud as to draw the ire of those upstairs. Like much of the music I enjoy I’ve been forced underground.

So here we have a real honest to goodness album by Proto-Kaw (for those who don’t know, Kaw is the Indian word for Kansas) not just a collection of 30 year old demos. So how have these aging wannabes faired? Most people have at least heard of the more famous version of Kansas, and many of Kerry Livgren the guy who wrote a lot of their biggest hits, but the others? Well, let’s just say that they’re pretty bloody good. Most impressive is Lynn Meredith – the man has a great set of pipes, if there’s a downside it’s that he sounds like Warren Ham, or any of the guys on When Things Get Electric (their names escape me, and I'm too lazy to pull the CD off the shelf to look) the quirkiness evident in his vocal style from the Proto-Kaw demos is missing.

The special edition is wonderfully packaged, and the cover art front and back is very cool. The whole package is exceptional! Musically Proto-Kaw is treading a lot of the same water as a lot of Kerry’s post Kansas solo stuff, which is great if you liked it, and terrible if you didn’t. Kerry turns up the musical cheese on a couple of numbers, but hey – it’s prog, it’s all cheesy! "Theophany" clocks in over 11 minutes and is as bloated and over the top as it gets. The only complaint is the big finish – it builds and builds and then bam! It’s over, but wait, nope there’s a little farty note after thought. There, now it’s over.

In a way it sort of sums up the album.

It’s a good thing I like cheese.

Reviewed August 4, 2005

The Wait Of Glory (©2006 InsideOut)

1: Nevermore 2: Relics Of The Tempest 3: When The Rains Come 4: On The Eve Of The Great Decline 5: Physic 6: At The Morning's Gate 7: Melicus Gladiator 8: The Vigil 9: Old Number 63 10: Osvaldo's Groceries 11: Picture This 12: One Fine Day

DVD 1: The Occasional of Your Honest Dreaming 2: Words of Honor 3: Skont

Holy crap! Mister Livgren's muse doth runneth overeth. The guy isn't slowing down at all, in fact he seems to be putting out more stuff now than ever. He's obviously found his second wind, and the band sounds great.

For those who have been following Proto-Kaw there's a lot to like here. Of course for those who can't stand self indulgent masterbatory rock, you'll hate this. Then again, no one really cares what you think anyway. You'll be standing in line to sign the petition to allow Mister Mister into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

This is thinking man's rock and roll, and the worst that can be said is this runs together, and there's not a single to be heard among the dozen songs. But then this is prog rock, and if you want a singles band there's always The Monkees (I'm not knocking The Monkees!).

There's a special edition that has a three track Live DVD which is a must have. The quality of the footage is really good, and it looks like the guys were able to draw a pretty decent crowd. A lot of young bands would wet their pants to be able to pull off songs like these.

Kerry and the lads are obviously having a great time; here's hoping there's more where this came from.

Reviewed March 1, 2005