STYX II

3.5 Stars - hands down!!! This is the follow-up to Styx's debut album and what a difference!!! The album was entirely written by the members of the band and what an amazing bunch of songwriters they are. Dennis DeYoung shines on this album, especially on "Father O.S.A" and the hit single "Lady." John Curulewski, who unfortunately left the band in 1975 before they really broke big, added the album's epic "A Day." As far as production quality, this album still sounds fresh today!!

I know many prog fans may write "Lady" off as pop / rock and I won't disagree, but the album as a whole shows what Styx were to become several years later. This album is art rock at its finest and shows Dennis DeYoung in those years before rock stardom and a love for opera ruined his songwriting ability. This is just a preview of things to come, perhaps an early predecessor to "Equinox" or "Crystal Ball."