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Styx - Discography [Flac][TechUK][H33T] (Size: 3.24 GB)
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Review by Lindsay Planer For Styx II (1973), the Chicago-based quintet continue much in the same vein as their eponymous debut. The primary difference was the inclusion of the Dennis DeYoung power ballad "Lady" -- which catapulted the combo into the Top Ten pop singles survey at an admirable number six. The collection was their first to rely entirely upon band-penned originals, kicking off with the rousing "You Need Love." The performance sounds similar to Queen's earliest sides, especially DeYoung's commanding vocals which provide a distinct and dramatic quality. The aforementioned "Lady" is equally dynamic, contrasting the delicate and ethereal introduction with the comparatively emphatic conclusion. The extended "A Day" is an outlet for Curulewski's underrated skills as both a composer and singer. The brooding melody is fused to an aggressive instrumental centerpiece highlighting the dual fretwork of Curulewski and Young as they rival the Allman Brothers' synchronous string-benders Duane Allman and Dickey Betts. "You Better Ask" is a more predictable straightforward rocker, again displaying Curulewski's diversity and versatility, although beyond that the track is not really all that interesting. Conversely compelling is DeYoung's transcription of a Johann Sebastian Bach tune, titled here Little Fugue in 'G'. The overture is played to great effect on an organ in the sanctuary of the Cathedral of St. James, located just down the street from the recording studio. Engineers ran audio cables between the two, capturing the interlude live. It takes the listener into another key entry, the seven-plus-minute "Father O.S.A.," "Earl of Roseland" and "I'm Gonna Make You Feel It" suitably bring Styx II to a close with a pair of hearty up-tempo harbingers, pointing toward the AOR direction that Styx would continue to explore on subsequent albums. Tracks Title Time 1 You Need Love 3:44 2 Lady 2:56 3 A Day i 8:19 4 You Better Ask 3:54 5 Little Fugue in "G" 1:17 6 Father O.S.A. 7:08 7 Earl of Roseland 4:39 8 I'm Gonna Make You Feel It 2:23 Enjoy! TechUK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Styx - The Serpent Is Rising (1974)  Artist: Styx Album: The Serpent Is Rising Rating: 2 Stars Release Date: Feb 1974 Label: RCA Records Time: 40:07 Genre: Prog-Rock AMG Album ID: R 19285 Review by Lindsay Planer With the Top Ten pop hit "Lady" under their belts, Styx continued to blend interesting conceptual progressive elements into The Serpent Is Rising, their third LP and first band-co-produced offering. Although James "J.Y." Young had contributed significantly to Styx' self-titled debut, his compositions were conspicuously absent from the John Curulewski- and Dennis DeYoung-dominated Styx II, which had been issued only months earlier. Young's upbeat and commanding opener "Witch Wolf" firmly re-establishes him as a formidable writer, not to mention an intricate and skilled instrumentalist. While their progressive leanings would remain prominent in Styx' musical evolution, perhaps eager to build upon the national exposure afforded them by "Lady," much of the disc is less arty and more straight-ahead album rock. "Winner Takes All" bears some stylistic parallels to Queen as both have a flair for the dramatic. "22 Years" unquestionably foreshadows future Styx classics such as "Suite Madame Blue" and "Rockin' the Paradise." The distinctive dual-lead guitars of Curulewski and DeYoung soar on the epic tale of "Jonas Psalter," while the memorable syncopated melody from "The Serpent Is Rising" proves the quintet had not entirely abandoned their prog rock origins. Similarly effective is DeYoung's baroque-flavored introduction to the lithe and limber "Drove of Eglantine." The unusual ending is a combination of disparate elements. The electronic composition "Krakatoa" is a synthesizer progression from Paul Beaver and Bernie Kraus and was adopted by filmmaker George Lucas as the aural trademark of his THX theater sound system. It incongruously segues into a full 90 seconds of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, proving that the combo were still willing to experiment with their identity and the expectations of their audience. Tracks Title Time 1 Witch Wolf 3:57 2 The Grove of Eglantine 5:00 3 Young Man 4:45 4 As Bad as This 6:10 5 Winner Take All 3:10 6 22 Years 3:39 7 Jonas Psalter 4:41 8 The Serpent Is Rising 4:55 9 Krakatoa 1:36 10 Hallelujah Chorus 2:14 Enjoy! TechUK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Styx - Man of Miracles (1974)  Artist: Styx Album: Man of Miracles Rating: 2.5 Stars Release Date: Nov 1974 Label: RCA Records Time: 37:20 Genre: Prog-Rock AMG Album ID: R 19280 Review by Lindsay Planer Man of Miracles was Styx' fourth and final album on the Chicago-based indie label Wooden Nickel and even though the band had co-produced their previous two efforts -- The Serpent Is Rising and Styx II -- former producer John Ryan returned to the fold for this project. His presence may have contributed to the collection's polished feel not only in terms of production value, but the quintet -- featuring John Curulewski, Dennis DeYoung, brothers Chuck Panozzo and John Panozzo and James "J.Y." Young -- seem to have made concerted strides toward becoming increasingly palatable to the mainstream rock crowd. The pumped up anthemic "Rock & Roll Feeling" is the first of two collaborations between Young and Curulewski. The other, "Havin' a Ball" follows with a further example of their departure out of prog and into comparatively accessible rock & roll. They certainly haven't lost their penchant for diversity however, as DeYoung's haunting and poignant "Golden Lark" provides a brief deviation from his dark "Evil Eyes," or the melodically and texturally rich power ballad "A Song for Suzanne." Styx had not worked many cover tunes on to their studio LPs, making the spirited interpretation of the Knickerbockers' Fab Four soundalike "Lies" a welcome and familiar inclusion. They pull it off exceptionally well, remaining faithful to the original while unleashing their own performance style. The rough-and-ready "Southern Woman" also delivers the goods in a big way, laying down a briskly paced boogie that conjures the rhythm and soul of Delta R&B. Instrumentally, DeYoung shines once again with alternately sanctified and searing electric organ runs. Fittingly, the title track "Man of Miracles" bears a resemblance to the grandiose and somewhat over-the-top delivery that informed incipient Styx sides such as the "Movement for the Common Man." Increased national attention resulted in the combo simply outgrowing the admittedly limited distribution and promotion that Wooden Nickel could offer. They were more than ready to take their music to the next level and a potentially larger audience. 1975 saw them sign with A&M Records and, although Curulewski stayed for the recording of their next disc Equinox (1975), he was permanently replaced by Tommy Shaw before Styx hit the road to support it. Shaw became a missing link of sorts, supplying the aggregate with much of their best and most memorable material during the late '70s and early '80s. Tracks Title Time 1 Rock & Roll Feeling 3:02 2 Havin' a Ball 3:53 3 Golden Lark 3:23 4 A Song for Suzanne 5:15 5 A Man Like Me 2:57 6 Lies 2:41 7 Evil Eyes 4:02 8 Southern Woman 3:10 9 Christopher, Mr. Christopher 4:02 10 Man of Miracles 4:55 Enjoy! TechUK ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Styx - The Grand Illusion (1977)  Artist: Styx Album: The Grand Illusion Rating: 4 Stars Release Date: Jul 1977 Label: A&M Time: 38:59 Genre: Prog-Rock AMG Album ID: R 19279 Review by Mike DeGagne Other than being their first platinum-selling album, The Grand Illusion led Styx steadfastly into the domain of AOR rock. Built on the strengths of "Come Sail Away"'s ballad-to-rock metamorphosis, which gained them their second Top Ten hit, and on the high harmonies of newcomer Tommy Shaw throughout "Fooling Yourself," The Grand Illusion introduced Styx to the gates of commercial stardom. The pulverized growl of "Miss America" reveals the group's guitar-savvy approach to six-string rock, while De Young pretentiously struts his singing prowess throughout the title track. Shaw's induction into the band has clearly settled, and his guitar work, along with James Young's, is full and extremely sharp where it matters most. Even the songwriting is more effluent than Crystal Ball, which was released one year earlier, shedding their mystical song motifs for a more audience-pleasing lyric and chord counterpoise. Reaching number six on the album charts, The Grand Illusion was the first to display the gelled accomplishments of both Tommy Shaw and Dennis De Young as a tandem. Tracks Title Time 1 The Grand Illusion 4:36 2 Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) 5:29 3 Superstars 3:59 4 Come Sail Away 6:07 5 Miss America 5:01 6 Man in the Wilderness 5:49 7 Castle Walls 6:00 8 The Grand Finale 1:58 Enjoy! TechUK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Styx - Pieces of Eight (1978)  Artist: Styx Album: Pieces of Eight Rating: 4 Stars Release Date: Sep 1978 Label: A&M Time: 42:18 Genre: Prog-Rock AMG Album ID: R 19283 Review by Mike DeGagne Styx's feisty, straightforward brand of album rock is represented best by "Blue Collar Man" from 1978's Pieces of Eight, an invigorating keyboard and guitar rush -- hard and heavy, yet curved by Tommy Shaw's emphasized vocals. Reaching number 21, with the frolicking romp of "Renegade" edging in at number 16 only six months later, Pieces of Eight maintained their strength as a front-running FM radio group. Even though these two tracks were both mainstream singles, the rest of the album includes tracks that rekindle some of Styx's early progressive rock sound, only cleaner. Tracks like "Sing for the Day," "Lords of the Ring," and "Aku-Aku" all contain slightly more complex instrumental foundations, and are lyrically reminiscent of the material from albums like The Serpent Is Rising or Man of Miracles, but not as intricate or instrumentally convoluted. While the writing may stray slightly from what Styx provided on The Grand Illusion, Pieces of Eight kept their established rock formula in tact quite firmly. Tracks Title Time 1 Great Whi Related Torrents
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