Search - Kansas :: Masque (Exp)

Best album ever...if you take away two songs

Ritchie A. Roesch | Houston, TX | 04/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Masque was Kansas' third album and one release prior to their very successful Leftoverture. Even though this was their third record, they were still new to the recording industry, released only about a year-and-a-half after their self-titled debut. From that debut through this album there was a creative divide within Kansas that the band didn't seem to mind. Steve Walsh (vocals and keyboards) and Kerry Livgren (keyboards and guitar), who were the two main songwriters, were taking the band two different directions. For the most part, Walsh wrote straight-forward southern rock and Livgren wrote complex prog rock.

This album starts off with the Walsh-penned song It Takes a Woman's Love (To Make a Man), which should never have been recorded. In fact, the only reason that they recorded this song was because the record company wanted a radio-friendly song and pressured them into it. This is my least-favorite Kansas song from their first six albums. It's better to skip this one and start from track two.

Two Cents Worth, the next track, is a little "jazzy" (not in a good sense), but fits the overall theme of the album. This track should have been the beginning of the record, even though it is pretty forgetable. Walsh and Livgren wrote this song together, yet that only translated into a ho-hum song.

Once you've suffered though those first two tracks, you come to Icarus--Born On Wings of Steel, one of the best Kansas songs ever recorded. Livgren and Walsh also wrote this one together, but Livgren's prog rock touches are all through it in wonderful ways. It's worth the wait!

Next is a song by Walsh and Robby Steinhardt (violin and vocals) entitled All The World. Cheesy lyrics ruin this song for me, but even musically, after you've just heard the Icarus, it just falls flat. Masque would be much stronger without this weak link.

Child of Innocense is next, and it rocks! This song is one of my favorites and follows Icarus much better than the previous track does. Written by Livgren, it has prog rock touches and gives us a glimpse of Leftoverture and Point of Know Return.

Walsh wrote the next song, It's You, and it is one of the better songs that he wrote for Kansas. Why did the record company not release this song as a single? It's so much better than It Takes a Woman's Love and would have been better received. And at 2:31 it would have been the right length to make the radio stations happy.

Mysteries and Mayhem is a great prog rock song and is a prequel to the next track. Another Livgren and Walsh penned track, this one really captures the imagination--in fact, it's like the next song (The Pinnacle) gone awry, but in a good way.

Finally, we end with The Pinnacle, a song written by Livgren. It's a masterful prog rock narrative that is one of the best Kansas songs ever. What a wonderful way to finish the record. You want to start all over and enjoy the experience again and again...

...except you remember how the album started.

So here is what you do: Burn your own version of Masque. Include every track except one (It Takes a Woman's Love) and four (All The World). If you are distracted by track two (Two Cents Worth), you could replace it with Belexes from Kansas' debut album. It sounds so much better and you'll want to use your repeat function."