STYX - Not Prog - Still Brilliant

The Grand Illusion is a awesome. really good. i like it.

I remember been in love with them in the seventies. Man in the Wilderness, Fooling Yourself and The Grand Illusion were sure good pop songs, but progressive? naah.

god before I used to listen to "Grand Illusion" non stop years ago.   has a great deal of nostalgia for me, but lookign back its kind of silly.

Styx peaked with 'The Grand Illusion'- by far their best album.

Their early albums are not too good in my opinion- they clearly show a band stumbling around for a direction, with sometimes dreadful results like on their 'Fanfare For The Common Man' and 'Little Fugue In 'G'.

However, if you're willing to go the whole hog, as it were, there's a compilation out called 'The Wooden Nickel Recordings', featuring their first 4 albums. However, to listen to all of those, well (as The Yardbirds once sang) mister, you're a better man than I.

Edited by salmacis - February 02 2009 at 07:23

Man Overboard wrote: Cyclorama has its moments...  ...then it has moments like Billy Bob Thornton rapping, and Kiss Your Ass Goodbye.

Yes, and the barbershop quartet version of "Fooling Yourself" and whatever they thought they were doing with "Ghenki Des Ka."  I didn't say it was a masterpiece...but songs like "These Are The Times" are well worth a listen.

I wouldn't say they are so much pop rock as art rock...if there is even a difference anymore.  Some of their early material is pretty heavy, especially on the first 4 albums.  Of course they sounded much different in 1972 than they did in 1977 with the "Grand Illusion" disc.  I've seen this band about a dozen times, and their new album, although overlooked by most people, is a welcome return to their art rock roots.  "Cyclorama" - pick it up, they still sound great.

Yes, they are a good pop-rock band. I really liked them in the past. 
I remember though, my first encounter with Styx was Man of Miracle: Mr. Christopher. That was waaaay....back then.


Edited by BleedingGum

Yes, they're here, but I was simply looking for comments on some of their work.  Let's face it, they recorded some of the 70's best known and highest selling albums...before they turned into a vehicle for Dennis DeYoung's Broadway aspirations.

I can't help but get Styx on this board!!  I know they are't really prog, and for the most part they have sucked terribly since 1980 (with the exception of 2003's Cyclorama), but am I the only one who thinks "Equinox", "Crystal Ball", "The Grand Illusion", and "Pieces Of Eight" are some of the 70's finest moments?

Anyone's comments on Styx...?