Styx

Who all likes these guys?

A few years ago I got a GH cd from them - and it really grew on me, so recently I purchased their first four albums on cd (the wooden nickle years).

Those early albums are a lot different from what they later became, but I gotta say - I like them a lot! Their debut is pretty proggy, but it's good!

What do you guys think?

I adore Styx, as you probably know. Tommy Shaw, Dennis DeYoung, and James Young all wrote great songs. Shaw was good when you wanted something that rocked but was still melodic and radio friendly, and if you wanted sappy yet enjoyable ballads, nobody was better than Dennis. And for the metalheads who don't like Styx because of their cheesy 'hits', check out some of James Young's songs. They're all excellent hard rock songs, sometimes bordering on heavy metal. The Panozzo brothers were a great rhythm section too.

Just a great, great rock band. One of the best American ones. And as Adam Sandler said in "Big Daddy", they only get a bad rap because most critics are cynical jackasses.

I like em!!!

Schbopo wrote:

I adore Styx, as you probably know. Tommy Shaw, Dennis DeYoung, and James Young all wrote great songs. Shaw was good when you wanted something that rocked but was still melodic and radio friendly, and if you wanted sappy yet enjoyable ballads, nobody was better than Dennis. And for the metalheads who don't like Styx because of their cheesy 'hits', check out some of James Young's songs. They're all excellent hard rock songs, sometimes bordering on heavy metal. The Panozzo brothers were a great rhythm section too.

Just a great, great rock band. One of the best American ones. And as Adam Sandler said in "Big Daddy", they only get a bad rap because most critics are cynical jackasses.

Yeah, that movie is cool and I agree with Adam there!

Schbopo, what do you think of their very first album? Seems like a lot of even long time fans don't care for that one. I really like it. There's some INCREDIBLE soloing going on there! Plus I like the way they use the keys.

I like up through the Paradise Theater album. They get kinda spotty for me after that.

Faves:

Equinox
Grand Illusion
Pieces Of Eight
Crystal Ball

I was cranking their first one this morning - and I gotta admit I was impressed. I was expecting it to only be half as good as it really is!

Metallic Blaze wrote:

Schbopo, what do you think of their very first album? Seems like a lot of even long time fans don't care for that one. I really like it. There's some INCREDIBLE soloing going on there! Plus I like the way they use the keys.

Can't say, as I don't own it. I don't have any of the first four ones or anything after "Kilroy was Here", with the exception of "Return to Paradise".

I really like Styx. My formative years, musically speaking were spent in part with Grand Illusion and Equinox (from my older brother's collection). Great stuff! I learned to add vibrato to my singing voice by emulating Dennis DeYoung. To echo Schmoopy's comments about songwriting, the best song on the "Kilroy" debacle was James Young's "Heavy Metal Poisoning."

I like them, actually... I always have (although maybe there was a time I was afraid to admit it). They took alot of flack, but the truth is they were a pretty talented group of musicians, and their greatest hits package still makes it into fairly frequent rotation in my car stereo.

tohostudios wrote:

I like up through the Paradise Theater album. They get kinda spotty for me after that.

Faves:

Equinox
Grand Illusion
Pieces Of Eight
Crystal Ball

My fave album is a tie between Pieces Of Eight and Grand Illusion.

This is the era I love the most as well, as well as Cornerstone and even Paradise Theater. Kilroy Was Here is just not good at all. I like their early "Wooden Nickel" years alot but they really found their stride IMO with Equinox. Edge Of The Century isnt that bad, Glen Burtnik kinda gave 'em a shot in the arm somewhat, some new life but without Tommy it just wasnt the same Styx we know and love. Not really a fan of anything they did after that although the 1996 reunion live album "Return of Paradise" kicks major butt over "Caught In The Act".

One of my favorite all time Styx tracks is "Queens Of Spades" from Pieces Of Eight. That riff is infectious.

I've been a lifelong fan, and I've always been proud of it. I sure took a lot of crap for it from my Punk friends back in the day, but they are all old men now so who cares anymore? I really enjoyed the Wooden Nickle Years cds. Those songs were fresher for me after I got somewhat tired of the radio hits etc.

I actually kinda like "Kilroy". Don't ask me why.

I also like Kilroy and Paradise Theater - I got them as new releases in Jr High

Schbopo wrote:

I actually kinda like "Kilroy". Don't ask me why.

I used to love the video.

I love STYX. Great band with great musicians and great songs. One thing that I've noticed whenever I look through used vinyl anywhere and even my parents own records, is that everyone at one time owned the Grand Illusion album. I see soo many copies of that record that I'm thinking of collecting as many copies of it that I can, just for the heck of it.

spiritoradio wrote:

I love STYX. Great band with great musicians and great songs. One thing that I've noticed whenever I look through used vinyl anywhere and even my parents own records, is that everyone at one time owned the Grand Illusion album. I see soo many copies of that record that I'm thinking of collecting as many copies of it that I can, just for the heck of it.

I actually owned it as a cassette tape. I still have it somewhere I'm sure, if you are interested

Man, they were so huge I think it became popular to bash them because of it. That and the whole Kilroy fiasco.

I never realized just how big Styx was. I was born in 1977, so I guess I was just a baby when this happened. LOL.


Anyway - it's cool there are so many Styx fans here.

spiritoradio wrote:

I see soo many copies of that record that I'm thinking of collecting as many copies of it that I can, just for the heck of it.

I havent gone pawn shop hunting in about a month until today and I saw "The Grand Illusion" on cd for 2 bucks. Didnt get it cuz I already have one.

Saw them when they opened for Def Lep/Foreigner. They put on a GREAT SHOW. The guy they hired to play Dennis DeYoung sounds just like him. They even make dress like Dennis De Young did on stage.

Styx never really did anything for me, they had some good tunes (Renegade in particular), but overall just not my cup o' java.

detuned wrote:

Styx never really did anything for me, they had some good tunes (Renegade in particular), but overall just not my cup o' java.

Same here, never cared for them.

thejokeriv wrote:

I also like Kilroy and Paradise Theater - I got them as new releases in Jr High

Count me in with the like Kirlory club and it was actually my first Styx album (which I'm sure helps). I'm sure you could call me a fan of this band seeing as I now have:

Crystal Ball
Equinox
The Grand Illusion
Kilroy Was Here
Pieces Of Eight
and two Greatest Hits albums

To me Styx is the ultimate rock 'n roll band when at their peak (I did say 'to me'). Listening to Styx is one of the rare occurances where the phrase 'they don't make 'em like this anymore' wanders my brain. I gained a serious interest in guitar and in vocals when hearing Styx as a kid, particularly the solo in 'Blue Collar Man' and DeYoung's impeccable vocals in 'Suite Madame Blue', which I actually took a shot at on the YouTube. They remind of many elements of Queen which I was fond of, but didn't feel as stuffy or...well..*aimlessly* diverse (diversity isn't bad, I just don't think Queen always struck gold with it). Some of the keyboards were obnoxious, but sometimes they were/are amazing, because of that unique signature Oberheim synth of DeYoung's. There's a good chunk of material that I feel like falls into 70's-fluff-void-land, but as a whole Styx will always be a favorite of mine.

Also, with way less disco-production, and more guitars, 'Mr. Roboto' would be brilliant and I'm OK with saying that.

I dig Styx, more so with Tommy Shaw. Renegade (to me) is damn near perfect. I like Mr. Roboto too. I actually chuckle at myself for that one. Show Me The Way is another great song. Love Is A Ritual is good too.