Kerry Livgren - Time Line (1984) [Reissue 1996]

Dampened and greyed by an uninspired amalgam of commonplace progressive rock and itinerant guitar wandering, 1984's Time Line ceases to contain any instrumental freshness, despite its vast array of keyboards, woodwinds and percussion. Bogged by the same uninspired formula that Livgren initiated on his first solo effort Seeds of Change four years before, Time Line leans more to a hard rock sound with progressive elements apparent but blatantly stale throughout most of the album's duration. Along with former Kansas bass player Dave Hope, Livgren and keyboardist/vocalist Michael Gleason add the most to the album's tracks with flashes of color arising momentarily on "Time Line" and "Make It or Break It." Tracks such as "Take Us to the Water" and "High on a Hill" overtly confess Livgren's discovery of religion, while a lengthy 24 minute interview with him ends the album. Livgren's guitar work is best appreciated in his days with Kansas, with stronger musicianship surrounding him as well as a greater magnitude of instrumentation.