Thoughts on Livgren's works outside of Kansas?
I've heard next to nothing from his solo projects but I've listened to all three Proto-Kaw albums (though I, for whatever reason, have not looked at Early Recordings From Kansas yet) over the past few months and really enjoyed them, I'd rank them in release order with BBA being my favorite
Overall the PK albums are just super well mixed and really please my ears in that facet but of course what matters most are the compositions and they are very entertaining most of the time, though there are some less interesting tracks here and there, particularly in the second half of Forth
I love the jazz influences all throughout the albums and Forth in particular at times reminding me of 70s 'Yacht Rock' like Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs which can only be a good thing (though it doesn't really compete with those artists)
Theophany is probably my favorite track overall but a some of my other faves are Quantum Leapfrog, Relics of the Tempest (close second), Physic, Melicus Gladiator, Gloriana, Daylight, and Pollex
Another thing that has sprung to mind is that PK doesn't really remind me of Kansas very often, it certainly has it's moment (Gloriana specifically comes to mind) but I was a little surprised (but pleasantly of course) how divorced the sound was
I've heard good things about his solo albums but, like I said, haven't dived into that much at all (I think I've only heard Portrait II because it was recommend to me on YT and Children of the Shadows because I really liked the demo version that was also recommended to me on YT (demo>actually released version)) so I wouldn't mind some recommendations but really I'm just interested in hearing thoughts on anything KL has done outside of Kansas from my fellow Kansas fans