Record of the Day: Kansas - Kansas. Multi platinum albums. Two songs of rock cannon. Yet I have never met anyone with strong feelings about Kansas, and I think this album explains it. Here's why...1/

#vinyl #vinylrecords

"It's fine" is the only way to describe it. Progressive rock filtered through the eyes of middle America. Everyone on it is amazing on their instruments. Its a well engineered album. Sounds great. Lots of great elements, and yet...2/

And yet all I can think about it is, "it's fine". If somebody puts the record on, I would think "it's fine". If someone stopped the record, I would think "it's fine"...3/

If I had tickets to see Kansas, I would think "it's fine". If I missed the concert, I would think "it's fine"...4/

There is nothing wrong with this album. It has great elements. You can hear some Genesis, some Rush, some ELO. You get some Jethro Tull. Some hints of early metal. Lots of violins and Moog. It's all fine....5/

Its so fine, I may now base all my rankings of music around Kansas. "Built This City on Rock and Roll" would be -10 on the Kansas scale. "Black Dog" would be +10....6/

Kansas, by Kansas, is exactly zero on the Kansas scale of rock....and that's fine. This album is perfectly fine.

On the back cover, even the band seems weirdly defensive about the album. Thats fine.