Your last listen

[savvypaul]

An album of easy listening standards. It's all about 'that' voice...

[Fretless]

Styx 'The Mission' (2017)



Latest studio effort from venerable AOR / prog million-selling and stadium-filling outfit. A conceptual release around the story of the first manned space mission to Mars.

The big surprise is that it is a very fine album full of punchy singalong rock with some tasty guitar and a fun time for everyone.

[savvypaul]

When I was a kid I bought a Styx album on the strength that it had a cool 3d / holograph type front cover of a theatre. I played it once and then put it in the bin. This is the first time I've spoken of it in nearly 40 years...

[Fretless]

That would probably be 'Paradise Theatre'



I seem to remember being singularly unimpressed when I first heard it.
But it is on my list for a revisit. Corona lockdown is bringing out the musical masochist in me.

[Fretless]

Early morning listen

Dennis 'Hyperthalamus'

Lovely folky, jazzy, trippy instrumental work from little-known early 70's German outfit.
Sort of Can / Soft Machine sound - but then really mellow.

[CN211276]

Heart - Brigade

[savvypaul]

That would probably be 'Paradise Theatre'



I seem to remember being singularly unimpressed when I first heard it.
But it is on my list for a revisit. Corona lockdown is bringing out the musical masochist in me.

That is the offending article

[CN211276]

Demon - Hold on to the dream

[Fretless]

Journey 'Escape'



Arena rock to the max !

[Fretless]

Styx 'Kilroy Was Here' (1983)



The irritating thing is - this is almost a great album. 80's synth-rock meets classic AOR. Styx here are showing off their technical skills in a conceptual album about love in a dystopian future.

There is a lack of conviction, though, due to the rest of the band not being comfortable with Dennis DeYoung's forcing them into this against their wills. Bit of a parallel to Roger Waters and 'The Wall'. Styx broke up after completing 'Kilroy' and DeYoung later expressed his regret about the project.

I also gave a quick listen to 'Paradise Theatre' last night and Styx's weaknesses became apparent. Clichés in songwriting and performance. They can play but it is all a bit formula-driven and simplistic. Coming across as just too pretentious from time to time.

Even more frustrating are the flashes of occasional brilliance like 'The Grand Illusion' or 'Pieces of Eight' that have you hoping for more of the same. Anyway, I have ordered the 'Wooden Nickel' collection which has all their earlier, more progressive, albums and will be seeing if that lifts my opinion of them,.

For those wanting to judge for themselves there is a box 'Five Classic Albums' which contains crisply remastered versions of 'The Grand Illusion', 'Kilroy Was Here', 'Cornerstone', 'Pieces of Eight' and 'Paradise Theatre'.
Can be found really cheap (I wonder why?).