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rainbow111 View Drop Down

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Topic: Styx
Posted: April 04 2007 at 22:44

They had some prog-ish stuff early on-but that's not why there famous

(Domo Arigoto Mr.Roboto) they're on this site so...I thought they deserved a topic

Any fans here-I actually recently saw Dennis DeYoung live-best show ever, that was

It's got to be slow
Taking love the only way
It's got to just flow
Making love and taking time to let it grow

salmacis

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Posted: April 05 2007 at 05:23

I didn't particularly like the first 4 albums- the first one had a 13 minute epic which was REALLY bad, imho- save a few songs, but the first few A & M albums are a class act. 'Equinox', 'Crystal Ball', 'The Grand Illusion' and 'Pieces Of Eight' are all excellent, but after that Dennis DeYoung started throwing in too many Barry Manilow style ballads like 'Babe' and 'The Best Of Times'.

Never bothered with Kilroy, 'Mr Roboto' was enough for me. I did enjoy 'Cyclorama', the album they did without DeYoung, a few years ago which harked back slightly to their mid 70s sound.

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Posted: April 05 2007 at 12:43

Up until Grand Illusion, they easily mak
e it among the ranks of our "prog-related". As for the first four albums, well ... Styx II is my favourite Styx album, not only for the obvious "Lady" but also for its' combination of prog-like keyboard driven songs such as Little Fugue In "G" & Father O.S.A. , & epic length jammouts like A Day. My favourites are more the rockers that bookend the album - You Need Love & I'm Gonna Make You Feel It. Hard Rock, yes, but not yet what would become AOR. After Styx II, they would later start a golden run of great american prog from Equinox to Grand Illusion, which I believe is as good as what Kansas put out on their first six albums. Mind you Kansas didn't have that more "poppish" melodic sense that Styx had demonstrated from the beginning. This is, in my opinion, why we find Styx under "prog-related" than straight prog or art rock. But hey, among those Styx fans who consider themselves a bit more of the "serious" music" fan, we have Suite Madame Blue, Born for Adventure, Crystal Ball, Clair de Lune / Ballerina, Man in the Wilderness & Castle Walls as ammo if we're ever up against the elitist arguing that Styx were but a simple "pop" rock band. Oh well, the failings of a rock band able to write memorable melodies, eh Wink

Edited by pantacruelgruel - April 05 2007 at 13:13

Witchwoodhermit View Drop Down

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Posted: April 06 2007 at 01:06

I remember being in junior high when Styx surfaced. Anyone caught listening to "that" were beaten to the ground-or at least ridiculed.

I stay away from Styx.

Here I'm shadowed by a dragon fig tree's fan
ringed by ants and musing over man.

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Posted: April 06 2007 at 21:56

Witchwoodhermit wrote:

I remember being in junior high when Styx surfaced. Anyone caught listening to "that" were beaten to the ground-or at least ridiculed.

I stay away from Styx.

May I assume that you got to Junior High after 1978 ?

Witchwoodhermit View Drop Down

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Posted: April 07 2007 at 02:24

Yeh, I.m trying to recollect.

1980 (ish) and after.

Black Sabbath and Van Halen were the bands of choice.

THAT I recall.

Here I'm shadowed by a dragon fig tree's fan
ringed by ants and musing over man.

E-Dub

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Posted: April 07 2007 at 02:37

I've actually been on a Styx kick lately, picking up The Grand Illusion at a used CD shop, and both Cornerstone and Brave New World off Swapa.

The Grand Illusion, I feel, is excellent and a bit proggy (the students at the school who would beat you down for liking Styx maybe needed a hug or two from mom and dad. Ease up.) in places. One of my all time favorite Styx songs is "Man In The Wilderness", which definitely has some progressive elements.

I do feel they became a bit too lightweight with Cornerstone, which really didn't sit well with Tommy Shaw. Watching a special about them on VH1, he really became disenchanted with Styx on the Kilroy tour. DeYoung was trying to incorporate Broadway into a rock show and the guys ended up looking like morons up there trying to be actors. I can definitely see his point.

As for Brave New World (which is the reunion album with the classic lineup minus the late John Panozzo), I'll have to listen to it in the car so I can focus on it a bit more. From what I heard, however, didn't really strike me. Some songs were too offbeat and odd. Just my take on it, though.

E

Edited by E-Dub - April 07 2007 at 02:41

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Posted: April 07 2007 at 23:22

By the way, if you can find the 1996 "Return To Paradise" DVD, it's great. The original band apart from the drummer. And they play a dream concert. Stay away from the orchestral Styx with Dennis DeYoung. My wife couldn't even get past the 20 minute mark it was so Vegas.

Ryth

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Posted: April 08 2007 at 13:08

I just recently got my hands on The Grand Illusion, and it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. It seems Styx catch more flak than they deserve.

It was pretty cheesy though. xD

Ivan_Melgar_M View Drop Down

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Posted: April 08 2007 at 14:07

As many people I always thought Tommy Shaw with his California surfer kid looks was responsible of most of the STYX crap, but that's inaccurate.

Songs like Come Sail Away, Babe and Mr Robotto, are responsability of Dennis de Young, the proggiest stuff of STYX's late albums (Fooling Yourself, Boat on the River, Miss America, etc) are responsability of Tommy and JY.

I just bought, added to PA and reviewed “One with Everything – STYX with the Contemporary Youth Orchestra of Cleveland DVD” and IMHO it's one of the best live releases they ever had.

Dennis De Young is replaced by Lawrence Gowan, who despite some ridiculous show off attitudes like playing the keyboars backwards and facing the audience, makes a great job, even in vocals, Chuck Panozzo (Who thanks God looks very recovered and seems to have the AIDS under control) is replaced during most of the concert by Ricky Phillips who sounds very solid and does excellent chorus.

Todd Suchermann is an excellent drummer who is already a 5 years veteran in STYX since John Panozzo became ill and later died, he does a great job.

Of course the center of the band is formed by Tommy Shaw (Who hasn't changed a bit and his voice sounds as ever) plus a totally changed James Young (Hey looks younger) but his rough voice and talent haven't changed either.

The co-stars of the show are the 171 members of the Youth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of Cleveland, who make a wonderfull job blending perfectly with STYX, it was time the band had an orchesytral album.

The best thing is that they don't play the most popular and cheesy songs like Babe, Mr Robotto and Come Sail Away (To avoid paying royalties to Dennis de Young) and the selection is great.

It would be nice that Dennis comes back but still without him, they can really rock.

I'm not ashamed of accepting I like STYX music very much, it's part of my youth that I will never forget.

Iván

Edited by Ivan_Melgar_M - April 08 2007 at 14:09

Progger

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Posted: April 25 2007 at 16:47

The Grand Illusion & Pieces of Eight are two of my favourite albums of any genre. I can take or leave the rest of their catalogue though!