Kansas Or Styx?

I remember seeing a BTM on Styx and Ugh is all I can say

yeah I can draw a map of my butt, put a sanctioned stamp on it... again, doesn't mean it's there. Well, it does in my case, the inconsistency is a map can't capture all the sexy curves and steely feel.

James B. wrote:

I guess all the maps I looked at in school were a facade. Damn public schools of the 70's, ya know when they actually were good at teaching kids to read and write.

huh

whutt

Kansas I used to like a great deal when I was a kid. Styx I would happily remove completely from my memory if I could.

I like both bands, but I like Styx more than Kansas.

Ratings:


Kansas 7/10

Styx 8/10


I actually like the really early Styx material. Wooden Nickel stuff. It's fantastic prog rock!!!

But I like all of Styx material.

Kansas on the other hand have a few songs I really like, but I've never really gotten into any of their albums save for a greatest hits, which seemed a bit hit or miss to me.

Metallic Blaze wrote:

I like both bands, but I like Styx more than Kansas.

Ratings:


Kansas 7/10

Styx 8/10


I actually like the really early Styx material. Wooden Nickel stuff. It's fantastic prog rock!!!

But I like all of Styx material.

Kansas on the other hand have a few songs I really like, but I've never really gotten into any of their albums save for a greatest hits, which seemed a bit hit or miss to me.

That's how I am with Kansas.

They have some songs I really, really like but only a handful of albums that I can play from beginning to end without hitting the skip button. I think my favorite Kansas album is Audiovisions. "Relentless" is easily my favorite Kansas song.

I like both bands, but if I am honest about who I listen to more, Styx. I will slap Kansas greatest hits every onw and then, but Styx just has more material I like. Yes, I know some consider them cheesey, but I like their songs. What can I say. Call me cheesehead then! :-)

Well if I were to rate these bands based on all their material. here is where I stand..

Kansas:
S/t - 8/10
Song for America 8/10
Masque 8.5/10
Leftoverture 9.5/10
Point of Know Return 8.5/10
Monolith 7.5/10
Audio-Visions 9/10
Vinyl Confessions 6.5/10
Drastic Measures 7/10
Power 7/10
In the Spirit of Things 9/10
Freaks of Nature 8/10
Always Never the Same 7/10
Somewhere to Elsewhere 8.5/10

STYX:
S/t 7/10
II 6/10
The Serpent Is Rising 5/10
Man of Miracles 8/10
Equinox 7/10
Crystal Ball 6/10
The Grand Illusion 8/10
Pieces of Eight 6.5/10
Pieces of Eight 7.5/10
Brave New World 8.5/10

Im missing some Styx albums in there, and thanks to my friend TJ for sending me what he has. I was very surprised at some Styx songs, as some of their arrangements were pretty excellent. Brave New World sounded the best to me and seemed like a fresh start for the band. As far as Styx early material, im not very impressed other then Man of Miracles...

Kansas is one of my favorite bands and they have so many excellent songs throughout every release. The progressive tunes that they put out blow my mind and are some of the best in the genre IMO.. Kansas's last 3 releases are very good and bordering on great IMO..

Kansas

MetalRob331 wrote:

STYX:
S/t 7/10
II 6/10
The Serpent Is Rising 5/10
Man of Miracles 8/10
Equinox 7/10
Crystal Ball 6/10
The Grand Illusion 8/10
Pieces of Eight 6.5/10
Pieces of Eight 7.5/10
Brave New World 8.5/10

Wow I could not disagree more.

S/t 7/10
II 7/10
The Serpent Is Rising 9/10
Man of Miracles 3/10
Equinox 10/10
Crystal Ball 8/10
The Grand Illusion 9/10
Pieces of Eight 9/10
Cornerstone 7/10
Paradise Theater 8/10
Kilroy Was Here 6/10
Edge Of The Century 5/10
Brave New World 8.5/10
Cyclorama 7/10
Brave New World 7/10

Schbopo wrote:

MetalRob331 wrote:

STYX:
S/t 7/10
II 6/10
The Serpent Is Rising 5/10
Man of Miracles 8/10
Equinox 7/10
Crystal Ball 6/10
The Grand Illusion 8/10
Pieces of Eight 6.5/10
Pieces of Eight 7.5/10
Brave New World 8.5/10

Wow I could not disagree more.

S/t 7/10
II 7/10
The Serpent Is Rising 9/10
Man of Miracles 3/10
Equinox 10/10
Crystal Ball 8/10
The Grand Illusion 9/10
Pieces of Eight 9/10
Cornerstone 7/10
Paradise Theater 8/10
Kilroy Was Here 6/10
Edge Of The Century 5/10
Brave New World 8.5/10
Cyclorama 7/10
Brave New World 7/10

I'm with Sloppo. My individual album ratings might vary a tad but overall I think his rankings of the Styx catalog accurately reflect my opinion of their career arc.

Tough one there. Very different bands who started a bit similar but went very different paths.
Early to mid 70's: Kansas. Much better musicianship and direction. They seemed to have a better sense of who they were than Styx.
Mid to late 70's: slight edge to Styx(Leftoverture slightly over Grand Illusion but Pieces Of Eight beats out Point Of Know Return and Cornerstone beats Monolith)
Early 80's: Kansas. I love those 2 albums they did with John Elefante. Styx put out a great album with Paradise Theater but Kilroy Was Here is lame.

Even without Kerry Livgren Kansas continues to put out quality albums and Somewhere To Elsewhere was a great comeback/reuinion album. Styx really hasnt put out anything great in decades IMO.

Overall I think Kansas had more integrity in their music as far as entire catalog but Styx had more hits and rockers. I used to listen to Kansas more than Styx but the last few years I probably listen to Styx more.

so edge: Kansas.
Why? because they never put out songs like Mr. Roboto and Styx wrote way too many sappy love songs.

All said both those bands have exceptional singers and vocal harmonies.

I voted for Kansas though not a fan I do like the song Carry On Wayward Son

Journey... but Kansas out of those two.

I pyck Styx, I just think song to song, album to album, Styx just has more to offer. I think Kansas is a great group, don't get me wrong, but I just think Styx has better overall songs.

Early Kansas was great. Leftoverture and Point Of Know Return are two of my all-time favorite albums, especially POKR. However, imo, Kansas had peaked about the same time Styx was just coming into their own with Equinox, Crystal Ball and Tommy Shaw. This was also about the time I really started getting into music, so Styx had a much bigger impact on me. Equinox thru Paradise Theater was an awesome string of albums. KISS, Aerosmith, and Styx were my favorite bands in the late seventies.

Voted for Kansas. Top 10 favorite bands. I love all of their work.

Kansas yeah there newer releases are pretty good too.

I simply adore dust in the wind

That's the one Kansas song I never want to hear ever again........completely burnt out on it.

All I know from either band is the stuff that gets played on the radio, so I guess I don't really have much of a preference. They're both OK by me.

Quote :

I simply adore dust in the wind

Quote :

That's the one Kansas song I never want to hear ever again........completely burnt out on it.

When I was in college, my fraternity performed "Dust In The Wind" at our campus' annual "Songfest" competition one year, followed by a cover of Eric Clapton's "Cocaine."

Our theme was "Just Say No," which, if you knew me or any of my frat brothers at that time, would've been hilariously ironic Apparently the judges didn't think it was as funny as we did; we came in 3rd.

Kansas by a million miles...

Definitely Kansas.

Styx has a couple good songs scattered here and there, but honestly they are pretty much the nadir of that style music. Kansas is miles better.