BIG BANG THEORY

Thing is, this might be worth three, but only a few of these songs are essential. I mean, Styx did make onto 'progarchives', not that they were ever really a prog band. Maybe labels like 'art-rock' or 'semi-prog' would be appropriate, but the point is they have always experimented and tried ot be more that just a straight ahead rock band. However, with this release they have abandoned that all together and have become a classic rock band, with NO progressive elements at all. I don't really mind, but this is just such typical stuff. I know they're covers, but I haven't heard most of the originals, yet it still sounds like any decent American pub-rock band.

Actually, there are some highlights. This version of 'I can see for miles' is even better than the original. Although the original by 'The Who' is a terrific song, this one is punchier and to the point, even if Tommy;s vocals could do with a bit more enthusiasm. And James Young actually sings a folk song 'It don't make sense you can't make peace (with Dennis DeYoung)' extremely well, does a great job on that one, and Lawrence Gowan tears through an exciting 'I don't need no doctor' and Tommy does a great job on 'Can't find my way home', another acoustic gem. But after these four songs, which all come near the start, comes a bunch of average generic rock songs.

The slide downhilll begins with 'One way out', which starts off kind of groovy, good guitar lick, but the whole song feels like average pub-rock, as do most of what follows. James Young kind of makes 'Locomotive Breath' his own, but it doesn't really shine. And 'Manic Depression' doesn't really work, while Tommy does a lifeless version of 'Summer in the city', one of the few songs on here I actually knew well. The best of the rest is probably 'Talkin' bout the good times', which actually sounds like a Styx song, even though they didn't write it. The song has a good groove and good vocal harmonies.

A bit disappointing, but hopefully better is around the corner. It may be worth three stars but I'm going for the 2 star option.