Styx

[Michael Baryshnikov]

Hello All!

Залит Styx/(2021)_Crash_Of_The_Crown

"Вы не поверите..." (с)
Да, новый номерной диск _того_самого_ Стикса.
Если коротко: концептуальный альбом из коротких 1-4-минутных песенок,
соединённых воедино, на тему эпидемии. Утверждается, что музыка и тексты были
написаны ещё до короновируса. Ну, допустим.
По музыке: Квин, Генезис, ранний Флойд, Зе Ху (!) - короче, кондовый олд-скул.
К музыке раннего Стуха всё это практически не имеет никакого отношения. Однако,
ЗВУЧИТ!
Резюмируя: старички создали очень приличный, пожалуй, лучший из последних,
альбом.
ВЕСЬМА ВЕСЬМА ВЕСЬМА РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

===
Styx biography
Founded in Chicago, USA in 1972 - Hiatus between 1985-1989 and 1992-1994 -
Still active as of 2017

STYX is one of those bands that are always mentioned with some fear and shame
by the Progressive Rock fan, because they always played in the border that
divides Prog from plain POP, I believe the best way to describe them is as Prog
Related (understanding this description as the simplest and more commercial
form of Progressive Rock) blended with AOR, somehow in the same vein as JOURNEY
or BOSTON but much more complex.

Officially born in 1972 from the ashes of "The TRADEWINS" and "TW4" was formed
by the Panozzo twins (Chuck on bass and John on drums), Dennis de Young (vocals
and keyboards), James Young (guitar, vocals) and John Curulewski (guitar,
vocals).

In the first years they were closer to progressive rock than ever, from 1972 to
1974 the band released four albums, "Styx", "Styx II", "The Serpent is Rising"
and "Man of Miracles", even though they were popular in Chicago, still the band
couldn't reach commercial success. As a curiosity, in their first album they
recorded "Movement for a Common Man" based in Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the
Common Man, almost five years before ELP. In 1975 they release their more
commercially consistent album (at that point of course) "Equinox" which blended
Rock & Roll, Pop and Progressive Rock in an efficient way, "Light Up",
"Lorelei" and "Suite Madam Blue" are the first songs in which the band achieve
some financial success and show the sound they pretended to create.

1976 was a crucial year for "STYX", John Curulewski leaves the band and is
replaced by Tommy Shaw who became the front man with his California boy image
(Even when he was born in Montgomery Alabama) and melodic but elaborate style,
the band finally had the face capable of reaching the female public and massive
acceptance, but writing some of the best STYX themes. "Crystal Ball" was
released in the same year with a moderate success, "Crystal Ball",
"Mademoiselle" and "Put me On" became favorites in their massive concerts, the
band was reaching their commercial peak but started to abandon prog rock and
turning into an ARENA band.

At this point the story is well known, "The Grand Illusion" became a platinum
album with major hits like "Fooling Yourself" and of course "Come Sail Away",
also their three next albums "Pieces of Eight", "Cornerstone" and "Paradise
Theater" reached commercial success with tracks that go from light prog' to
soft pop ballads.

This era ends in 1983 with the infamous "Kilroy Was Here" a weak concept album,
and which according to critics and fans reached their lowest musical point with
the ultra commercial, repetitive and way bellow their standards track "Mr.
Roboto".

Then came the Live album "Caught in the Act" recorded before Tommy Shaw left
the band, after that the tragedy hits the band, John Panozzo dies in 1996 and
his brother Chuck contracted Aids, after a few albums the band joins again for
another successful tour and the release of their album and video "Return to
Paradise" featuring the excellent drummer Todd Sucherman.

The story turns more turbulent when Dennis DeYoung sues the rest of the band
and settle in 2001. In the spring of 2003 they release "Cyclorama" with a
different formation and only two members (James Young and Tommy Shaw) from the
classic lineup, but with the nice addition of Lawrence Gowan, who has earned a
place in the band and "The Big Bang Theory" in 2005 (A tribute to the bands
that influenced them) with Ricky Phillips who became the official bass player,
and shares stage with Chucky in some live acts.

(c) Ivan Melgar Morey, PA
===

(c) Review by FragileKings, PA

In June of this year (2021), Styx released their 17th studio album, titled
"Crash of the Crown". It was their first album in four years after 2017's "The
Mission" and for many it was a very welcome release as the previous original
studio album was "Cyclorama" from 2003. The new album was also welcomed because
"The Mission" turned out to be a very successful piece of work, earning praise
from critics and fans alike.

The personnel includes long-time key member, Tommy Shaw, covering songwriting,
vocals, guitar and probably that's him on the banjo as well. There's James JY
Young on guitars and vocals, who has been with the band since they changed the
name to Styx and recorded their first album in 1972. And original founding
member, Chuck Panozzo, holds down the bass on a couple of tracks. For health
reasons, Chuck has not remained a full-time member over the last couple of
decades but always plays on an album and goes on tour to play a couple of
tracks when he can. In his stead, Ricky Phillips has kept up bass duties for
the last 15 years or so. Completing the line-up are Todd Sucherman, the band's
drummer since he took over for ailing founding drummer, John Panozzo back in
the mid-nineties before John succumbed to his alcoholism, and Lawrence Gowan on
vocals and keyboards, who has carved out a solo career since the 80's in his
home country of Canada. Not present, of course, is Denis DeYoung, whose absence
for many mean that this band is not really Styx. However, it seems Styx without
Denis still maintains a huge following.

For my ears, this album is just brilliant! It features the big sounds, the
pomp, and earworm choruses of late seventies arena and pomp rock but has plenty
of clever music and lyrics to keep it within the progressive spectrum. The
songs are quite short but deliver a lot of music in that short time. A song
like the title track goes through three main changes and a couple of good
transitions in under 4 minutes. It's almost as if Styx wanted to write a
progressive rock album but kept in mind that many people today have short
attention spans. So, the music comes in, grabs a hold of your attention, gets
your approval, and then is soon replaced by the next melody, riff, or motif.
There are wonderful chorus vocals as in "To Those" and "Our Wonderful Lives"
and at other times more serious tones. I like the moody atmosphere set in "Hold
Back the Darkness" and how Gowan starts singing like a concerned parent
speaking to a child that has left home for the first time and is living away on
their own, and then Shaw comes in taking the role of the child, saying he needs
to learn how to make his own mistakes.

As I mentioned, this is not an album that lets the music sit and build up
slowly. There are moments that remind me of The Flower Kings or Spock's Beard,
but where those bands might take their time with a musical theme, this album
ushers it away shortly as the next thing needs to come it. If bands like The
Flower Kings and Spock's Beard serve up full course meals, this Styx album is
more like a buffet where you take small portions of many different delicious
foods.

I have no strong criticism about this album. Anything critical I might point
out is that we didn't get a fast-fingered Gowan piano solo this time; the track
"Another Farewell" is a bit of a headscratcher as to why they would put a 26-
second orchestral composition on the album; and the final track, "Stream", is
short and fades out as the band is building up a guitar solo / organ solo bit.
I guess the message is, "The band plays on", but it begins fading out as the
solos are getting interesting.

So, one more time, let me say that Styx has released a really fine piece of
work here. Everyone is playing their parts so well and crafting some really
great music. I really hope that the band will feel they have enough for at
least one more album. Denis DeYoung recently released the second disc in his
farewell studio album, double album, and I am curious to hear it. But if he's
throwing in the towel, I really hope the others are not ready to do so yet.
===

Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.