The Absence of Presence

Last updated
The Absence of Presence
Kansas - The Absence of Presence.png
Studio album by
Kansas
ReleasedJuly 17, 2020 (2020-07-17)
Genre
Length47:21
Label Inside Out
Producer Zak Rizvi, Phil Ehart, Rich Williams
Kansas chronology
The Prelude Implicit
(2016)		The Absence of Presence
(2020)
Singles from The Absence of Presence
  1. "Throwing Mountains"
    Released: April 3, 2020 (2020-04-03)
  2. "Memories Down The Line"
    Released: May 15, 2020 (2020-05-15)
  3. "Jets Overhead"
    Released: June 5, 2020 (2020-06-05)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

The Absence of Presence is the sixteenth studio album by American progressive rock band Kansas. The album was originally due to be released on June 26, 2020, [2] but due to manufacturing delays the release date was postponed to July 17, 2020. [3] It is their fourth studio album without founding member, lead vocalist and keyboardist Steve Walsh, who retired from the band in 2014; the other three being 1982's Vinyl Confessions , 1983's Drastic Measures and 2016's The Prelude Implicit . It is Kansas' first album to feature keyboardist Tom Brislin, and the last to feature both guitarist Zak Rizvi and violinist David Ragsdale.

Contents

Background

The Absence of Presence serves as a follow-up to The Prelude Implicit, but unlike that album, The Absence of Presence was written entirely by the band. The bulk of the songwriting duties were carried out by the band's newest members, Zak Rizvi (who wrote the music for 6 of the 9 songs) and Tom Brislin (who wrote the music for the other 3 songs, plus lyrics for 6 songs), with other lyric contributions by Ronnie Platt (2 songs) and founding member Phil Ehart (4 songs). Ehart also came up with the album title, as well as at least three of the song titles (the title track, "Throwing Mountains", [4] and "Animals on the Roof"), which gave Brislin a concept to work with. The Absence of Presence marks the debut lead vocal from Brislin, making the total number of lead vocalists in the band at three, a feature not seen since Somewhere to Elsewhere . The album's recording sessions took place simultaneously with the band's tour cycle. [5]

Track listing

The Absence of Presence track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."The Absence of Presence" Tom Brislin, [6] Phil Ehart Zak Rizvi [6] 8:22
2."Throwing Mountains"Brislin [6] , EhartRizvi [6] 6:18
3."Jets Overhead"Brislin [6] Rizvi [6] 5:17
4."Propulsion 1"InstrumentalBrislin [4] 2:17
5."Memories Down the Line"Brislin [6] Brislin [6] 4:38
6."Circus of Illusion"Ronnie Platt [4] Rizvi5:19
7."Animals on the Roof"Brislin [6] , EhartRizvi [6] 5:12
8."Never"Platt [4] , EhartRizvi4:50
9."The Song the River Sang"Brislin [6] Brislin [6] 5:05
Total length:47:21

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for The Absence of Presence
Chart (2020)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [7] 34
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [8] 110
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [9] 44
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [10] 50
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [11] 39
French Albums (SNEP) [12] 133
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [13] 7
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [14] 37
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [15] 79
Scottish Albums (OCC) [16] 39
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [17] 79
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [18] 51
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [19] 4
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [20] 2
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [21] 32
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [22] 31
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [23] 12

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kansas (band)</span> American rock band

Kansas is an American rock band that formed in 1973 in Topeka, Kansas, and became popular during the decade initially on album-oriented rock charts and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind". The band has produced nine gold albums, three multi-platinum albums, one other platinum studio album (Monolith), one platinum live double album, and a million-selling single, "Dust in the Wind". Kansas appeared on the US Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the 1970s and 1980s and played to sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan. "Carry On Wayward Son" was the second-most-played track on US classic rock radio in 1995 and No. 1 in 1997.

<i>Pulse</i> (Pink Floyd album) 1995 live album by Pink Floyd

Pulse is the third live album by the English rock band Pink Floyd. It was released on 29 May 1995 by EMI in the United Kingdom and on 6 June 1995 by Columbia in the United States. The album was recorded during the European leg of Pink Floyd's Division Bell Tour in 1994.

<i>Echo</i> (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album) 1999 studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Echo is the tenth studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Released in April 1999, the album reached number 10 on the Billboard 200 aided by singles "Free Girl Now", "Swingin'" and "Room at the Top", which hit numbers 5, 17 and 19 respectively on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks in 1999. The album was the band's last collaboration with producer Rick Rubin, and was also the last to feature contributions from longtime bassist/vocalist Howie Epstein, who died of a heroin overdose in 2003. Despite still being a member of the band, Epstein is missing from the album's cover photo because he failed to show up for the photo shoot, and Petty ordered it to commence without him. It also marks the first to feature longtime touring member Scott Thurston. Echo was certified Gold by the RIAA in July 1999, only three months after it was released. Echo is the only Heartbreakers' album to feature a lead vocal from another member of the band, namely lead guitarist Mike Campbell on "I Don't Wanna Fight".

<i>The Best of Both Worlds</i> (Van Halen album) 2004 greatest hits album by Van Halen

The Best of Both Worlds is the second greatest hits album by American rock band Van Halen, released on July 20, 2004, on Warner Bros. The compilation features material recorded with lead vocalists David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar, but omits Gary Cherone's three-year tenure with the band. Prior to The Best of Both Worlds's release, Hagar reunited with Van Halen, and the band recorded three new tracks to include on the release.

<i>Leftoverture</i> 1976 studio album by Kansas

Leftoverture is the fourth studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1976. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2001. It was the band's first album to be certified by the RIAA, and remains their highest selling album, having been certified 5 times platinum in the United States.

<i>Monolith</i> (Kansas album) 1979 studio album by Kansas

Monolith is the sixth studio album by American progressive rock band Kansas, released in 1979. The album reached No. 10 on the Billboard album charts, marking their third straight studio album to reach the top ten.

<i>Audio-Visions</i> 1980 studio album by Kansas

Audio-Visions is the seventh studio album by American progressive rock band Kansas, released in 1980. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 1996 on Legacy/Epic and again in 2011, as a Japanese import vinyl-replica CD, as well as part of the Sony/Legacy domestic boxed set, Kansas Complete Album Collection 1974-1983, which packages all of the band's original releases on Kirshner and affiliated labels CBS/Columbia.

<i>Freeze Frame</i> (The J. Geils Band album) 1981 album by The J. Geils Band

Freeze-Frame is the tenth studio album by American rock band the J. Geils Band, and the last one to feature original vocalist Peter Wolf. The album was released on October 26, 1981, by EMI Records. It reached number one on the United States Billboard 200 album chart in February 1982, and remained at the top for four weeks. The album featured the hit singles "Centerfold" and "Freeze Frame". "Angel in Blue" also reached the US Top 40.

<i>A Black & White Night Live</i> 1989 live album by Roy Orbison

A Black & White Night Live is a Roy Orbison music album made posthumously by Virgin Records from the HBO television special, Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night, which was filmed in 1987 and broadcast in 1988. According to the authorised Roy Orbison biography, the album was released in October 1989 and included the song "Blue Bayou" which because of time constraints had been deleted from the televised broadcast. However, it did not include the songs "Claudette" and "Blue Angel", which were also cut from the original broadcast for the same reason.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Brislin</span> Musical artist

Tom Brislin is an American keyboardist, songwriter, singer, producer, and author. In December 2018, American progressive rock band Kansas announced Brislin as the group’s keyboardist; his playing, vocals, and prominent songwriting contributions are featured on the band’s most recently released studio album, The Absence of Presence (2020).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rich Williams</span> American guitarist

Richard John Williams is an American guitarist, primarily known for being one of the only consistent original members of the rock band Kansas alongside drummer Phil Ehart. Both have appeared on every Kansas album to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Ragsdale</span> American musician

David Lasater Ragsdale is an American musician. He is best known as the violinist and guitarist for the rock band Kansas from 1991 to 1997 and from 2006 to 2023. He toured for four years with Louise Mandrell before joining Kansas, and he released a solo album in 1997. Ragsdale has appeared as a guest artist with various other bands.

<i>Good Trouble</i> (album) 1982 studio album by REO Speedwagon

Good Trouble is the tenth studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1982 as a follow-up to Hi Infidelity. It peaked at #7 on the Billboard charts. The single "Keep the Fire Burnin'" gave the band a #7 hit on Billboard's Pop Singles Chart and a #2 hit on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, their highest-charting hit on this chart.

<i>Freaks of Nature</i> (Kansas album) 1995 studio album by Kansas

Freaks of Nature is the twelfth studio album by the American rock band Kansas, released in 1995. Two edited singles were issued but did not chart, nor did the album itself, making it the only Kansas studio album not to appear on any Billboard chart. The band promoted the album by touring with the Alan Parsons Project, and then opening for Styx.

<i>Lead Vocalist</i> (album) 1993 compilation album by Rod Stewart

Lead Vocalist is a compilation album released by Rod Stewart on 22 February 1993. It was released by Warner Bros. Records in the UK and Germany, but was never released in the US. Three songs from this album either had previously or would be released as singles: "Tom Traubert's Blues", "Shotgun Wedding", and "Ruby Tuesday".

<i>Theres Know Place Like Home</i> 2009 live album by Kansas

There's Know Place Like Home is Kansas' fifth live album. It was released as a double CD and also on DVD on October 13, 2009 and Blu-ray on November 23, 2009. The DVD charted at No. 5 on the Billboard Music DVD chart the week of its release, Kansas's only appearance on that chart.

<i>Hollywood Vampires</i> (Hollywood Vampires album) 2015 studio album by Hollywood Vampires

Hollywood Vampires is the self-titled debut studio album by American rock supergroup Hollywood Vampires, formed in 2015 by Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry to honor the music of the rock stars who died from excess in the 1970s. Released on September 11, 2015 for Republic Records, the album features guest appearances by Paul McCartney, Robby Krieger, Orianthi, Dave Grohl, Christopher Lee, Slash, Brian Johnson, Joe Walsh, Perry Farrell, and Zak Starkey amongst others.

<i>The Prelude Implicit</i> 2016 studio album by Kansas

The Prelude Implicit is the fifteenth studio album by American progressive rock band Kansas, released in September 2016. It is their third studio album without founding member, lead vocalist and keyboardist Steve Walsh, who retired from the band in 2014; the other two being 1982's Vinyl Confessions and 1983's Drastic Measures. It is their first album with lead vocalist and keyboardist Ronnie Platt, keyboardist David Manion, and guitarist Zak Rizvi, who started as a co-producer and songwriter before being named a full member of the band as well as the first album to feature violinist David Ragsdale since Freaks of Nature.

<i>Steel Wheels Live</i> 2020 live album by the Rolling Stones

Steel Wheels Live is a live album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. It was broadcast live and recorded on 19 December 1989 on the Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour, promoting Steel Wheels album, and was released in 2020. Flashpoint was another live album from the same tour.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Absence of Presence - Kansas | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  2. ↑ Ewing, Jerry (March 30, 2020). "Kansas release trailer for new album The Absence of Presence". Prog . Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Kansas move The Absence of Presence release date to July 17". Brave Words . June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Interview with Zak Rizvi and Tom Brislin of Kansas - The Absence of Presence". May 19, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Interview with Kansas' vocalist, Ronnie Platt". The Progressive Aspect. July 1, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Robert Dye (May 13, 2020). "Stellar Musicianship Drives New Kansas Album 'The Absence Of Presence'". American Songwriter . Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Kansas – The Absence of Presence" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kansas – The Absence of Presence" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kansas – The Absence of Presence" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kansas – The Absence of Presence" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Kansas: The Absence of Presence" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Kansas – The Absence of Presence". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kansas – The Absence of Presence" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2020. 31. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  15. ↑ "ジ・アブセンス・オブ・プレゼンス". Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Kansas – The Absence of Presence". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Kansas – The Absence of Presence". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Kansas – The Absence of Presence". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Kansas Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Kansas Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Kansas Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.