Styx Appreciation
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Forum Name: Proto-Prog and Prog-Related Lounge
Forum Description: Discuss bands and albums classified as Proto-Prog and Prog-Related
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99116
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Topic: Styx Appreciation
Posted By: Unitron
Subject: Styx Appreciation
Date Posted: July 28 2014 at 23:11
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Why. That is all I feel like I have to say, why is Styx hated on so much on here? They were one of the bands that introduced me to prog, and still one of my top 5 favorite prog bands. Am I the only one who enjoys them?
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Replies:
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: July 29 2014 at 00:25
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They're very good at what they do, but always inconsistent.
On one hand, you can have the track 'A Day' (definite Prog masterpiece), but have something like 22 Years or Winner Take All. Grove Of Eglantine vs Light Up. Chalk and Cheese, I declare. Many serious Proggers appreciate their more complex things, after all, there's no doubt that many of us agree they are top musicians. |
Posted By: Unitron
Date Posted: July 29 2014 at 00:40
I agree with the inconsistency, but they don't have good ratings on here at all other then The Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight (Well deserved)
Like I think The Serpent is Rising is one of the finest prog albums I've ever heard.  |
Tom Ozric wrote:Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: July 29 2014 at 01:08
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Hey, I voted/reviewed Serpent with 4 stars. Love it to death. My fave from them, though each album (from the debut, through to Kilroy) have excellent tracks. Didn't venture further, I am aware that Dennis is a virtuoso pianist/keyboardist, and Tommy & JY are excellent guitarists (I guess, even Curulewski I guess). The Panozzo bros. form a solid (if only occasionally complex) and tight rhythm section.
Don't Let It End is a superb power-ballad, much stronger than Babe, and miles ahead of most of Journey's similar tracks (although 'Who's Crying Now' is spot-on). Dunno what more I can say ?? |
Posted By: Unitron
Date Posted: July 29 2014 at 02:30
Well, I'm glad there is someone else who likes Styx out there. 
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: July 29 2014 at 03:07
| ^ I'm sure you'll get more......... |
Posted By: Jeffro
Date Posted: July 29 2014 at 05:59
| I've been recently checking out early Kansas and pre-Steve Perry Journey. Early Styx is definitely on my list. Just haven't gotten to it yet. |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: July 29 2014 at 07:17
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I have a passing familiarity with most of their albums, and I like them okay. Suite Madame Blue is among my favorite songs by anybody, and in fact most of their mainstream hits are really good songs. And I'll give them props for writing a song about a toilet.
------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: July 29 2014 at 07:20
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Maybe it's largely an American thing. I have tried a couple of their albums, and none of em made an impression on me.
Oh and I moved this to prog related. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: July 29 2014 at 09:44
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Not categorizing Styx into a prog band, I think they are an amazing group. With Dennis DeYoung at the helm, vocally some of the best music out there.
I always felt they played very tight, concise and clean. The dual guitars worked very well and yes the Panozzo brothers were an excellent section. I thought John was an amazing drummer On occasion you had some quirky lyrics and songs, but what band does not? A string of excellent albums from Serpent to Kilroy...simply great music. Clearly some progressive attributes, but not always, what I call just good hard rock. As a "prog band" I doubt they get much love here on PA, they do not work that way. Jump over to a mainstream rock, metal forum and I think they get deserved love. -------------   
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: July 29 2014 at 10:02
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I am a Styx fan. They are one of the best bands within AOR, which is America's answer to the prog movement. I've always been a fan of their radio hits and have collected all of their studio albums over the years. Dennis DeYoung had/s one of the best voices of rock n' roll. I saw them live a few years ago when they were touring with Journey and Reo Speedwagon. Dennis was no longer in the band at that point, but they still sounded really good with Tommy Shaw and Lawrence Gowan singing for them.
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Posted By: bloodnarfer
Date Posted: July 29 2014 at 10:15
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I like Styx just fine. In fact, they were the first concert I ever saw, and I was pretty young at the time (12?) ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ramza1316" rel="nofollow - www.last.fm/user/ramza1316 https://open.spotify.com/user/1211221845" rel="nofollow - https://open.spotify.com/user/1211221845 |
Posted By: LSDisease
Date Posted: July 29 2014 at 10:25
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Half penny two penny is a song about Rockafella
------------- "Du gehst zu Frauen? Vergiss die Peitsche nicht!" |
Posted By: O666
Date Posted: July 29 2014 at 10:30
100% Agree
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: July 29 2014 at 12:24
| Mr Roboto is awesome.... |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: July 31 2014 at 20:18
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I love Styx just as I love Triumph, two bands that get flak frequently. I think the combination of Shaw and DeYoung was a good mix for several years, and the early stuff is cool too, though somewhat inconsistent. My favorites are Grand Illusion, Cornerstone, and Paradise. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: August 01 2014 at 01:22
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I once bought Paradise Theatre (laser etched vinyl) and thought that most tracks had a 'samey' feel about them. The only album from them that didn't do one iota for me
I only hung onto the first 4 'Wooden Nickel' LP's, and Illusion, Pieces and Kilroy. Still all have superb tracks throughout, worthy of any self-respecting Prog-head. |
Posted By: musitron
Date Posted: August 14 2014 at 11:00
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I used to like Styx. Especialy Equinox but I was 14. Now I just can't stand that band. Poor prog imitation. ------------- “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” Dark Side Radio - Best new Prog 2015 mixed with good old stuff. - www.live365.com/stations/young_gun |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: August 15 2014 at 01:07
| Musically, I'd say they had the chops, financially, they let themselves give in to the industry. Still love all the good they've done (sheez, I love Serpent.......) |
Posted By: AEProgman
Date Posted: August 16 2014 at 22:02
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Quite like Styx back in the day. Very underated album in my opinion is Styx II (mostly in Wooden Nichel collection now) which included their break through song, "Lady". Two songs on there I still love and play today, "A Day" and "Father O.S.A.". Also like Grand Illusion, love "Castle Walls" from it. Equinox is good too. Their hits got so much airplay, you could not listen to them back then. Now is a guilty pleasure now and then! ------------- 
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: August 17 2014 at 01:47
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'A Day' - possibly the most genuine Prog track they've done. The passage in 5/4 with DeYoung's super Hammond solo is up there with the best. The entire band is just groovin' in this track.
Love the song Jonas Psalter as well (from Serpent...) |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: August 17 2014 at 19:37
I have always thought Styx was kind of a Kansas lite....and many people think Kansas is prog lite ....but there are a few songs here and there that I like mostly from the Grand Illusion lp.
 ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: August 18 2014 at 01:45
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Regarding Kansas : there's a piece called 'The Spider' (from Point of Know Return) and if this is considered 'Prog-Lite' .....
.......though Styx were more in the Mainstream than Prog. Despite their hits, DeYoung's A.O.R. voice, and their penchant for catchy-as-all-hell tunes, they should be quite respected amongst many Proggers. |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: August 18 2014 at 11:53
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The problem I have is, if you are going to name a band "Styx" shouldn't you at least sound like a band that should be named Styx? It's rather like a band that sounds like the Bay City Rollers naming themselves Black Sabbath. ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: August 18 2014 at 12:00
Those were the exact same thoughts I had when I first came across the band. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: August 18 2014 at 13:18
^ Not to mention the cover of their debut album 
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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: August 18 2014 at 15:31
I like Kansas and don't consider them prog lite but I know some proggers do.
Again Styx has some nice tracks but the albums don't hold up well for me over time. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: August 18 2014 at 16:51
I always wanted to have a band, name it Gruesome Decapitation and play soft rock/love ballads in the Air Supply style.
I like Styx myself quite a bit. My favorite albums of theirs are Serpent is Rising, Paradise Theater and Grand Illusion. But pretty much everything up through Kilroy Was Here I quite enjoy (and while I'm not quite as fond of Edge of the Century, I also liked their later comeback album Brave New World a lot). After Brave New World though, I kind of lost interest in them. Their next album just didn't really do anything for me and I think they next released an album of cover tunes (something I usually avoid). ------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: August 18 2014 at 17:46
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"The Grand Illusion" and "Crystal Ball" are great songs. DeYoung played some really nice analog synth solos (which he seemed to abandon as they moved into the 1980s).
The difference between Styx and Kansas: I definitely rate the latter a "prog band." Many of their songs possess all the attributes that listeners usually associate with symphonic prog rock or AOR-prog. Styx influenced Saga, who started life as a bona fide prog band and moved into a sound more in line with Styx's latter commercial period. Saga fortunately re-embraced their prog roots. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: August 18 2014 at 18:45
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Exactly. Styx is not a prog band, they're a rock band who occasionally dabbled a bit with the prog-rock veneer. Drives me a little nuts when people down-rate them because they are grading on a prog curve. They're a rock band and a pretty good one if you like the melodic ballad-anthem type rock. And while I realize sales do not equate to quality, this is still a pretty impressive fact for any band: Styx was the only band to ever record four consecutive triple platinum albums Not sure if that remains true to this day but it was an impressive feat in the late 70s considering the competition from many arena/stadium bands. |
Posted By: zachfive
Date Posted: August 18 2014 at 20:37
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I said this before a couple years ago in the Live Performance Review section when Yes and Styx toured North America. The reason I bought tickets was to see Yes, having Styx was just a bonus, I liked them well enough but just through the radio play and a best of album I had. I was severely disappointed by the performance of Yes, the only member who actually showed up to play was Steve Howe. But I left that night a Styx fan, and the next year I went and saw just them and let me tell you, Tommy freakin' Shaw is one hell of a showman. The man has seemingly not aged physically or in the vocal department. And after a year to acquire their albums and get to know the catalogue, I firmly believe that Lawrence Gowan is a better addition to the band that DeYoung. Bold statement I know but he is a good showman but knows how to let the others shine when needed. I was living in Aberdeen Washington at the time of the second show and they played at the local DnR theater. It was one of the most memorable concerts of my life. This has given me an idea for that thread I created about bands covering other bands entire albums. I'd love to hear a Styx version of CTTE. There is probably a more appropriate album like Drama or something but I'd say Styx has the chops to take on the beast.
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Posted By: Nick Dilley
Date Posted: August 18 2014 at 21:24
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Love Styx. For their prog and their pop.They're prog-pop.
------------- Progging the Rock, Rocking the Prog. soundcloud.com/withinareverie withinareverie.blogspot.com facebook.com/withinareverie Twitter: @WithinaReverie |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: August 18 2014 at 21:26
 Great post Zach.....while I can't quite go so far as to say I prefer Gowan over Dennis, he is a great replacement for a guy who will never return. I believe the Shaw/Deyoung rift is as poisonous as the Waters/Gilmour one was years ago. Who knows though, stranger things have happened. I do have Brave New World and 100 Years from Now, both interesting albums in their own right even if falling short of the glory days. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: August 18 2014 at 23:29
------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: August 19 2014 at 00:10
| Kilroy Was Here has some really good stuff on it. 'Dont Let It End' is an awesome power-ballad, 'Mr Roboto' is pretty cool synth-pop, and 'Just Get Through This Night' has a attractive, Proggy intro, decent tune overall. Only track I don't really go for is 'High Time'. |