Artist: Styx
Title: “Icon”
Label: Universal Music
Release Date: 8/31/2010
Genre: Progressive Hard Rock
Rating: 2.5/5
Let’s say that you are one of those fans that only likes a certain amount of a bands repertoire and outside of those tunes there is not a single song that you have any interest in. If this is you, then some of the single CD edition “Icon” series of releases is right up your alley. When it came to the band Styx, the folks at Universal Music released two separate editions and these are some views on the single CD version. The bottom line is while this is a very sound release and features some notables like “Come Sail Aawy”, “Babe” and “Too Much Time On My Hands”; it will clearly leave you wanting more oince the album have completed its run. Powerful numbers from the bands catalog that don’t often get the proper attention are touched upon as “Lorelei” and “Renegade” along with “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” help to melt your stereo speakers but at only twelve tunes you will still be hungry after this appetizer is finished. I love and hate the “Icon” albums for a few reasons and the first is because they play it a little too safe with the hits instead of tossing in something that might surprise a listener. The tunes also only present the vocal talents of Dennis DeYoung who has not be in the band for many years at this point in time. For many these are the bands “Best Of Times” if you pardon the obvious pun. They are also to be considered a “no frills” release since they are often omitting band images and artwork or liner notes. We don’t get much of that with these eco-friendly albums. They would have served their public better by using the example set by Sony Music who did the “Setlist” albums, as each released offered you artwork, web-links and additional information if you played the CD in your computer. I have to think that these should have been exclusive online releases and available only via MP3 downloading services like I-tunes or Amazon MP3. Today’s younger generation of listeners are accessing music in this fashion anyway while the legacy fans want something substantial to hold. We are clearly in the minority.
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![“One With Everything” [Blu-ray] by Styx](https://i0.wp.com/www.piercingmetal.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Bluray-Styx-One-With-Everything-e1419830747220.jpg?resize=300%2C372&ssl=1)
Artist: Styx
Title: “One With Everything” [Blu-ray]
Label: Eagle Vision
Release Date: 4/21/2009
Genre: Progressive Hard Rock
Rating: 4/5
Originally released as a standard DVD in 2006, the advances in media technology finds this great video from Styx being released in Blu-ray format. There are no differences between this version and its predecessor in terms of overall content but the picture is clearer and brighter while the sound all the more intense. As I’ve the same opinion of the release as I did when it was first discussed I am re-presenting it to you now and then a few more words about the Blu-ray will be entertained.
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Artist: Styx
Title: “One With Everything”
Label: Eagle Vision
Release Date: 11/21/2006
Genre: Progressive Hard Rock
Rating: 4/5
The band Styx has come a long way since their debut in 1972 and since that time they have delivered some of the best Arena Rock in music history. In 2006, we find a Styx that is composed of almost entirely different members from their not so humble beginnings but at the same time they not too far from their original musical premise. The release of “One With Everything” is a great concert DVD for it is here that we find the band in rock solid form and joined by the Contemporary Youth Orchestra. Based out of Cleveland, OH, the CYO is a 115-piece Orchestra plus a 60 voice chorus and what makes them most impressive is the fact that they range in ages from 13-19. The Orchestra is conducted by Liza Grossman, who was the key factor in building this unique performance and actually is the one who contacted band Management about doing this adventure with the Styx guys. If you ask me, I felt that this idea would offer a refreshing change from the all too common “Rock Band meets Symphony Orchestra” videos as by this time almost everyone has done one. It was high time this blending of Rock and Symphony got a much needed kick in the tail to make it interesting once again. Together, Styx and the Orchestra deliver many of the bands most staple numbers as well as some new music that was written for this special sold-out concert. Lead singer, keyboardist Lawrence Gowan does an amazing job of filling the shoes once worn by Dennis DeYoung in the group while guitarist Tommy Shaw’s voice is exceptional on every track he does. I never heard JY sing, and yet on this piece he did one of my very favorite Styx numbers, “Lorelei”. Shaw, JY Young and Chuck Panozzo form the remaining three longest members though Chuck does not always tour with the band anymore. Ricky Phillips handles the bass for the most part and Todd Sucherman the drums. Sucherman is an incredible player who does justice to the drumming introduced by John Panozzo, the bands original drummer who passed away in 1996. He is both technical and powerful and shows the level of technique he brings to the table for the band best in the medley number. This is an epic piece on the DVD and it features pieces of some 16 Styx classics from across their catalog. Despite this DVD being very fun to watch I did have some other favorites and those were “I Am The Walrus” and “Fooling Yourself” along with “Renegade”.
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Artist: Styx
Title: “Gold” (remaster)
Label: Universal Music
Release Date:
Genre: Progressive Hard Rock
Rating: 4/5
Styx is a band who many feel were one of the finest of the Progressive Hard Rock outfits ever established and this view finds little argument when you add up the number of hit makers they have in their songbook. “Gold” has done right by the fans in its issue because unlike a typical greatest hits package that gives you but a sampling, this as an anthology works very well and touches upon a lot more music. While no release can ever capture every single amazing song that a group might have I think that 35 selections is a great start for any fan. As you peruse this particular track listing you do find a representation from some of their most pivotal and respected albums. The band was started in the early 60’s under a different name eventually becoming Styx for the release of their first record in 1972. The brothers Panozzo, Dennis DeYoung and James “JY” Young formed the nucleus of what was to become a musical blockbuster. Eventually recruiting Tommy Shaw the band would mix powerful Melodic Arena-styled Rock with elements of Progressive bands of the day. Listen to “Lorelei” on Equinox if you have any doubts on that. The band would find a breakthrough epic in their release “The Grand Illusion” and lead them to the chart-topping “Paradise Theatre”. Songs from all of these albums are here to enjoy (with five of them from “Paradise” alone). There is even some music from the confusing “Kilroy Was Here”, an album that essentially caused the end of the band of the time before the reunions with varied memberships would take place in the following years.
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