Kansas: There's Know Place Like Home (Blu-ray Disc, 2009)

Starting in the 1990s, quite a few hard rock bands decided to go "the symphonic route," by putting on concerts that merged big guitar riffs with swirling strings. The Scorpions, Kiss, and Metallica all immediately come to mind as bands that have taken the symphonic plunge. But admittedly, the results varied wildly. But one band that seemed custom-made for a symphonic collaboration was Kansas -- who have always favored technicality and layered compositions over your basic three-chord rock. And in 2009, Kansas officially joined the "symphonic rock age," with the release of CD and DVD sets (sold separately), titled There's Know Place Like Home. Recorded/filmed live at Washburn University's White Concert Hall (in Topeka, KS), the group is joined on-stage by the 50-piece Washburn University Orchestra, and the results make such already-bombastic-sounding tracks as "Carry on Wayward Son" even more grandiose. And since songs like "Dust in the Wind" contained strings on the original studio version, it's not that far of a stretch for Kansas to reconnect with their symphonic side. Add to it appearances in the set by former members Kerry Livgren and Steve Morse, and you have certainly one of the better (if not the best) Kansas DVDs to be released so far. ~ Greg Prato, This musical release from classic-rock band Kansas captures a live performance recorded in front of a sold-out crowd, and features such hits as "Point of No Return," "Cheyenne Anthem," "On the Other Side," and more.