Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Kansas
Label: River North Records
Release: 1998
Length: 71:14
Rating: 3.5/5
In the late nineties, when rock albums with orchestras were (once again) a big trend, American prog rock heavyweights Kansas wanted to freshen up their somewhat ‘rusty’ career and gradually head back to their roots at the same time, especially after the album »Freaks of Nature« (1995) failed to deliver the commercial success they were hoping for. »Always Never The Same« was a pretty unusual project for Kansas, featuring orchestral versions of their past classics, one cover and four new pieces. Kansas, who had just welcomed back original violinist Robby Steinhardt (he temporarily replaced David Ragsdale), teamed up with a London philharmonic orchestra this time around.
The Beatles classic »Eleanor Rigby« was the first cover on a Kansas album since their take on the J.J. Cale standard »Bringing It Back«, which appeared on the debut »Kansas« (1973). It’s a pretty unexpected and frankly somewhat unnecessary cover, and it also opens »Always Never The Same«. Not the wisest call, since it would have been far better to stick it at the end of the album, maybe as a bonus track, given how much it stylistically sticks out. Plenty of people will wonder: why the Beatles, of all bands? The answer is easy: because »Always Never the Same« was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road studio, which became famous thanks to none other than the Beatles.
»Preamble« is a pompous instrumental written and arranged by Larry Baird, arranger and conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. The other three new tracks, which are far from bad and fit in quite well among the classic Kansas material, were written by vocalist and keyboardist Steve Walsh. »In Your Eyes« is a solid power ballad with a mighty chorus. »The Sky Is Falling« is more experimental, with a longer instrumental intro and lively arrangements afterwards, and it doesn’t lack that trademark mix of pomp, drama and punch. The piano-driven ballad »Need to Know« turns out to be the least interesting of the bunch, and it would almost suit someone like Bryan Adams better than Kansas.
»Prelude & Introduction« is a ‘medley’ – a string of several classic Kansas songs that longtime fans will recognize right away. Kansas evergreens with orchestral arrangements all come off splendidly, which goes especially for the epic and more pompous standards like »Song For America«, »Miracles Out of Nowhere«, »Cheyenne Anthem« and »The Wall«. The orchestral collaboration is a bit less convincing on acoustic-leaning ballads like »Dust in the Wind« and »Hold On«, where a fair bit of the romance and intimacy that defined the original versions of these evergreens gets lost. For the members of Kansas, who swore by symphonic prog rock for most of their career, it was no trouble to push the symphonic element in their sound even further and convincingly expand it with rich orchestral arrangements.
»Always Never The Same« was a brilliantly executed but utterly unnecessary orchestral project that failed to give Kansas the revival they were after, despite all the energy and effort poured into it. There was a plan for another orchestral album in case »Always Never The Same« turned out to be a (not-so-)unexpected commercial success, but nothing came of it, as the sales numbers weren’t exactly impressive. So the members of Kansas went for the only logical move left and reunited in the classic/original lineup for their next studio album, »Somewhere to Elsewhere« (2000). That would be their last studio project for a long time.
Lineup
Steve Walsh – lead vocals, keyboards
Robby Steinhardt – violin, vocals
Rich Williams – electric and acoustic guitar
Billy Greer – bass guitar, backing vocals
Phil Ehart – drums
GUEST MUSICIANS;
The London Symphony Orchestra
Larry Baird – arranger and conductor
Production
Phil Ehart, Rich Williams and Trammell Starks
Track list
1. Eleanor Rigby (3:22)
2. Dust In The Wind (4:01)
3. Preamble (3:25)
4. Song For America (9:17)
5. In Your Eyes (4:31)
6. Miracles Out Of Nowhere (6:28)
7. Hold On (4:18)
8. The Sky Is Falling (7:51)
9. Cheyenne Anthem (7:31)
10. Prelude And Introduction (4:53)
11. The Wall (5:29)
12. Need To Know (3:59)
13. Nobody’s Home (6:01)
