Best known for replacing Steve Walsh in Kansas in 1982, John Elefante has a new album with his band Mastedon called Revolution Of Mind and it makes a decent addition into the pop progressive genre. A producer of Christian artists with his brother Dino, Elefante is a Grammy-Award winner and still pretty much a rockin’ vocalist all these years away from Kansas and consistent live touring.
Sounding very much as he did fronting Kansas, Elefante really kicks off the album with the second tune, “Slap Your Dragons.” Dave Amato’s guitar work stands out on “Nowhere Without Your Love,” while “One Day Down By The Lake (See You Real Soon),” the longest tune of the 10, features founding Kansas guitarist Kerry Livgren helping out on this sprawling suite. I love the opening vocal passage — Elefante can really sing! — but the length may not serve this song all that well. Also, at times, Livgren is stretching out just to stretch out. Still, there’s some excellent drumming though throughout from Don Needham.
“Questions (It’s About Time)” has a nice acoustic guitar played throughout, but pretty much cringe-worthy lyrics. Lyrically, for the most part, Elefante mines some heavy Christian ethos, which tends to come off trite and uninspired. “Lying” is an exception lyrically and “Water Into Wine (Fassa Rooka)” has about the best rockin’ riff here. Revolution Of Mind is a solid find that might have benefited with a wider scope of lyrics, but still places its best light on the amazing pipes of John Elefante.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
