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Kansas - Device, Voice, Drum

Kansas - Device, Voice, Drum

List Price: $24.98
Your Price: $22.48
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This is the worst DVD I Ever bought
Review: This DVD is an embarrassment!

Their music sounds like a cross between a kitchy Mannheim Steamroller on steriods and an ultra-Elizabethan Pentangle on acid. Verbose with overblown baroque sensibilities, they've become caricatures of what they once were.

The lead singer, Steve Walsh, has lost his voice, screeches to hit high notes and becomes more irritatingly annoying as the concert progresses. Even 'Dust in the Wind', their signature tune, becomes too painful to enjoy.

I bought two copies of this DVD because I was planning to give one copy as a gift. That won't happen now. (Does that mean I'll have to watch this trifle twice? I hope not. . .)

I won't even talk about Robby Steinhardt's 'Hagrid' look.

Save your money.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Calidad de DVD, concierto perfecto.
Review: Lastimosamente por estas geografias por donde vivo, la musica de este supergrupo no es mas que la vieja conocida Dust in the Wind; lo que se sabe de mas son por los comentarios de gente adictos al buen rock. Compre este DVD con un minimo conocimiento del grupo KANSAS, solo a sabiendas que era un gran grupo de rock progresivo, y oh sorpresa!..........Eh disfrutado de este concierto desde el principio hasta el final, no hay duda que KANSAS son los padres del rock progresivo en America, la calidad de sonido es buenisima, lastimosamente el violin tiene poco volumen, las tomas de camara son muy profesionales y la calidad del video es grandiosa, otros comentarios dicen que hay un granizado en la imagen pero este se debe a la iluminacion, pues cuando la camara se acerca a un musico se ve una toma perfecta. La seleccion de los temas estan muy bien y quede muy sorprendido con la habilidad y soltura que tocan las canciones, el baterista toca con una energia sorprendente, pero el que mas vale la pena mencionar es al vocalista/tecladista que a pesar del tiempo su voz esta intacta y es un excelente tecladista. Un DVD muy recomendado para cualquier o no fan de Kansas e incluso para alguien que gusta del rock progresivo. Un nuevo DVD favorito dentro de mi coleccion.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Disappointing Kansas DVD
Review: I have always been a fan of Kansas. I read all the reviews for "Device Voice Drum" and was enthusiastic about getting this concert. The performance is quite good. What is NOT good is the picture quality. It is extremely grainy (very noticable on my 53 inch digital TV). The sound is good in Dolby 5.1 although I would have liked to have had a DTS soundtrack to use instead.
There is no reason I can think of for the terrible picture quality. Perhaps, it would not be as noticable on a smaller TV, but for the big screen it is totally unacceptable. Anyone I have shown this to has commented on the grainy look of the picture. Extremely disappointing. If you want to see awesome picture quality in a concert, look at the "House of Yes" DVD. It is fantastic. Or look at the Jethro Tull "Living with the Past" DVD. Also very good. For sound, NOTHING beats the Steely Dan "Two Against Nature" DVD using the DTS soundtrack. Absolutely the best... Hands down!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Hey SIMON MARTIN
Review: Being such a huge Kansas fan, I would think you'd know the titles of their songs (especially one of the biggest songs of their career). It's "Carry On Wayward Son" not "Carry on MY Wayward Son." The word "my" is not in the title. The word DOES appear in the actual song, but not in the title :)

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: For collectors only
Review: As a drummer who grew up in the prog rock tradition, I considered Kansas an entertaining, albeit derivative, band. I enjoyed all of their albums up until Monolith with the live Two for the Show a personal "desert island" favorite. TFTS caught the band at their musical and commercial peak, and the excitement of it all comes through loud and clear. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about this DVD. Although the program covers the period I dug, the performances come across, with too few exceptions, as uninspired and rote. This, combined with the following issues, has led me to buyer's remorse.

1) Steve Walsh's voice has become unrecognizable to me. He's still a good front man and musician, but after a while my wife and I put our (collective) finger on the trouble: He now sounds like Cat Stevens. Too strange. In addition, his range is considerably diminished which often forces him to go an octave down, or chose a different harmony. Occasionally he tries to stretch for it and fails. This is painful to witness.
2) What's with the rhythm and tempos? Some of these songs are dragging - sucking the life out of them. It's like the band is playing to a lethargic click track. The rhythmic dynamics which contributed to the excitement on TFTS are missing. They are far too slavish to strict time keeping now. I'll take the occasional rushed phrase on TFTS over this anytime.
3) No Kerry Livgren. This leaves one guitar where the was two, and the gap is obvious at times. BTW - What's with Rich Williams weight? Did he eat Kerry? Have the authorities been notified?

On the plus side, Robby Steinhardt's playing and voice are strong. There are plenty of close ups of Phil Drumming, which is a treat for me anyway, and the new bass player does well with harmonies.

So, at the risk of being the lone dissenter here, I just can't say much to recommend this DVD. Instead, I recommend a copy of TFTS, or any earlier Kansas album you don't already have. And as always, you mileage may vary.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Kansas still Rocks!
Review: Kansas is a band and Kansas kicks some serious...on this DVD! Go buy it and make sure you have it hooked to your stereo. There are NO bands that can play as well as Kansas. Musically and visually this DVD has everything. Kansas took Rock & Roll to it's ultimate level years ago and to this day no one has ever surpassed their achievemets. You can really tell they love what they do and THEY STILL SOUND GREAT!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Incredible Sound- Raw Concert Energy
Review: Truly, being a Kansas fan is NOT a prerequisite of buying this DVD. The sound mix is incredible, and the cinematography is energetic, but not too flashy.

Kansas, in it's original lineup plays songs spanning their 25-year-plus career on this DVD. Recorded in 2002 at Earthlink Live!, in Atlanta, in front of a rabid crowd, this DVD represented over a year of work by the band's drummer, Phil Ehart, who produced it. The lighting design gives it such a live feel, and you truly get pulled into the energy of the band and crowd.

The Music: Songs from Icarus, to The Preacher, Miracles out of Nowhere, to Song for America, the bands is truly together the entire time. Highlights of the performance include Steve Walsh in vocal form that will send shivers down your spine. Rich Williams' guitar work remind you once again of his famous 'Meatwall' sound. Robby Steinhardt's vocals and violin are expressive and intense throughout. Billy Greer does an incredible job on bass, and his vocals are crystal clear. We get to see many close-ups of Phil Ehart, and his intense drumming.

Video: Many nice cuts, good timing of the shots, directed by a talented young director. Some shots are a little grainier than desired, but that was a sacrifice of the lighting. For a real concert-look, they did not add any ambient light to the venue. Lots of great close-ups of the band members.

Audio: This was an incredible 5.1 surround encoded DVD! Using state of the art technology, this DVD gives you studio-quality sound, with an incredible live feel to it. My only complaint here, is that if you listen to the 2 channel stereo mode, instead of the 5.1, the violin seems to drop out of the mix somewhat, doesn't have the 'prescence' the other instruments have. Overall, it doesn't detract much form the final mix.

Special Features: Okay, if you don't want to ruin the suprise, stop reading now! OK, the candles and strings are a phenominal touch to Dust in the Wind, the choir is great on The Preacher, and there is some really neat animation that goes PERFECTLY with Miracles out of Nowhere! The band interviews are a nice touch.

Bottom Line: Buy this DVD if you hate, love, or have ever liked Kansas. You WILL NOT be dissapointed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent production qualities
Review: This is one of the best, if not the best, concert DVDs I have ever seen. The editing is superb. There is nothing worse than watching a DVD of a band you love and having the camera locked on the lead singer during a guitar solo. There is none of that on this fine DVD.

Before this DVD, my favorite concert DVD was from Dream Theater, which excels on sheer musicianship alone. But the production quality was dismal. Not so with the this Kansas DVD. I was very impressed with the camera work that would slowly rotate around Robbie as he sang and played against the starry background. The lighting, special effects and computer animations were complementary and not distracting.

The playing was nearly flawless. Seeing Steve Walsh playing Kerry Livgrin's parts, you really start to appreciate just how talented he is. Although Walsh doesn't have the range he once had, he proves that he is still one of the best voices in rock. Phil Ehart also demonstrates that he is the most underrated drummer in rock. I've only listened in Dolby stereo so far and the sound quality is fabulous. The violin and keys were a little low in some parts but still very distinct. The band plays new arraignments of familiar songs including the addition of a string quartet on "Dust in the Wind" and turned the "Howling at the Moon" section of Magnum Opus into wonderful standalone song. Overall, this is outstanding concert DVD.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Kansas, a band for the ages!
Review: I'm prejudiced, I've been devotedly listening to this band and going to their concerts since 1974, and have literally worn out and replaced albums and CD's. Kansas has gone through a lot of changes, as one would expect through about 30 years, and for a while several years ago, Steve Walsh had basically lost the sweetest toned voice in Rock, in my opinion. But, having recently seen them live again, and after viewing this CD, I'm happy to report that, though not back to the virtuosity he once possessed, he's "got it" again. The rest of the band members never lost it, and this is one great video to allow your ears to soak in the expertise of one of the most accomplished bands of our time.
It has pained me for decades that Kansas has not gotten the mass recognition, short of a handful of great radio songs, that it truly deserves, but, that's allright; do yourself a favor and don't miss what so many others have missed with this band. Device Voice Drum has so many somgs on it that are deserving of a deep listen for the devoted Kansas fan, plus many of their mass fan favorites, performed better than ever. After having heard Dust in the Wind a million times, it's easy to get a little tired of it, but the way they did this song on this DVD was so impressive, it's amazing. The strings overlayed so beautifully, it's almost like I've discovered a new song. The other highlight, for me, was Icarus/Borne on the Wings of Steel, from many years ago, a song they have kept under cover somewhat, and the always incredible The Wall, and Love and Miracles out of Nowhere. These alone are worth the price of admission, and the band conversations and extra features on the DVD are outstanding. Phil Ehart said it best, that Kansas fits in a niche. When so much of what's out here today is the same interchangeable music, this band lets you know what real musicianship and creative thinking is all about. Bravo!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: kansas review , device, voice, drum.
Review: In viewing my eagerly awaited new kansas dvd, I was not to be disappointed. I think they chose the songs well and performed them admirably.
Steve's voice was sounding strong and showed himself to be a very accomplished keyboardist, although no handstands this time!
The band certainly don't look ten years older from the 1992 'live at the whiskey video', and had all the energy you would expect from the band.
My only criticism would be the lighting show which doesn't live up to the dynamics of the songs. Most of the time it is so subdued, I needed to watch it with my television turned up to full brightness mode.
Since steve is now behind the keyboards full time, his ability to work the audience is somewhat limited and you don't have that front-man presence to look at.
It was great to see and hear the full choir doing the preacher. I couldn't help but think how good it would have been to hear 'rainmaker', which is not covered. Still, an impressive performance and a must for any kansas fan.


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