Comments for Kansas, Drastic Measures

Although one's first impression of this album is apt to be, "Did I receive the wrong album?", this 1983 release by Kansas stands on its own merits if you accept it in MUSICAL terms. O.k., so you aren't likely to hear anyone shouting for encores of "Andi' at the next Kansas concert but, if you give it a chance to grow on you, "Drastic Measures" is a good example of a progressive group embracing the techno/ pop era of the early '80's (similar to what Yes, Asia, and Emerson, Lake and Powell[not Palmer] accomplished). Lead singer John Elefante assumes a more predominant role here than on "Vinyl Confessions', and the absence of violin DOES take away from the KANSAS sound (but NOT the musicality of this release); in fact, one gets the impression that "End Of An Age" was originally INTENDED for violin with its symphonic melody.Still, "Fight Fire With Fire" and "incident on a Bridge" are excellent tunes---actually, there's not a bad one in the bunch (even "Andi"...).

Although one's first impression of this album is apt to be, "Did I receive the wrong album?", this 1983 release by Kansas stands on its own merits if you accept it in MUSICAL terms. O.k., so you aren't likely to hear anyone shouting for encores of "Andi' at the next Kansas concert but, if you give it a chance to grow on you, "Drastic Measures" is a good example of a progressive group embracing the techno/ pop era of the early '80's (similar to what Yes, Asia, and Emerson, Lake and Powell[not Palmer] accomplished). Lead singer John Elefante assumes a more predominant role here than on "Vinyl Confessions', and the absence of violin DOES take away from the KANSAS sound (but NOT the musicality of this release); in fact, one gets the impression that "End Of An Age" was originally INTENDED for violin with its symphonic melody.Still, "Fight Fire With Fire" and "incident on a Bridge" are excellent tunes---actually, there's not a bad one in the bunch (even "Andi"...).

Trust me folks....it would take a "drastic measure" to save this bomb! What a horrible recording!

First album done without a violin. The music is o.k., but itdoesn`t sound like Kansas