Styx appreciation

[TAC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk7gmblQ5Tc

Yowza!!

Dude, that is awesome. is that you?

[King Postwhore]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk7gmblQ5Tc

Yowza!!

Dennis, as always,  awesome. 

[TheAtliator]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk7gmblQ5Tc

Yowza!!

Dude, that is awesome. is that you?

Yep! 

Thanks guys!! Help me share around and like our Facebook - facebook.com/styxology  I am submitting the band to casinos and festivals, the more action, the better!

[King Postwhore]

Already following.

[KevShmev]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk7gmblQ5Tc

Yowza!!

Good stuff. Well done! 

On a somewhat-related note, Styx fans, I finally got the Tommy Shaw solo CD's from the 80's earlier this year and to say I am pleased would be an understatement. I am loving the heck out of both Girls with Guns and Ambition.  Really good stuff!

And this is where Joe tells me about when he saw Tommy Shaw live in the 80's...

[King Postwhore]

 

With the Kinks in 84.

[KevShmev]

Haha, of course.

Do you have those Shaw solo albums?  I would think any fan of the Tommy Shaw songs in Styx would love them.  They rock pretty good at times and have great melodies all over the place.

[King Postwhore]

You know what? Never got them on CD's. I loved "What If."

[Orbert]

A friend of mine is a huge Styx fan and he played some of Girls With Guns one time.  It was pretty good.  I never went out and got a copy or anything, but it was pretty good stuff.

[KevShmev]

You know what? Never got them on CD's. I loved "What If."

What If is easily the least best of the three, although I like the title track and This Is Not a Test are both quite nice.  Girls with Guns and Ambition would be right up your alley! 

A friend of mine is a huge Styx fan and he played some of Girls With Guns one time.  It was pretty good.  I never went out and got a copy or anything, but it was pretty good stuff.

I like it a lot.  Little Girl World should have been a huge hit.  There is another case of a record company dropping the ball, probably because they thought DDY was the hit maker in Styx and didn't give Shaw's solo material the push it deserved.

[King Postwhore]

I owned them all on album. Man, it's been forever listening to them.

[KevShmev]

Both are definitely worth getting on CD, sir.

[King Postwhore]

I just might.

[pg1067]

Completely random and nothing new:

I was listening to Crystal Ball at lunch, and holy crap!

I've been a Styx fan since about 1981.  Styx was my first "favorite band" after the Beatles.  I don't remember what my progression was through the albums, but I've always thought Crystal Ball was one of the weakest of the "classic era" albums.  I was initially drawn to Put Me On, but the title track is really the only song that still holds up.

Anyway...I had listened to Put Me On and Mademoiselle, and then Jennifer started.  It has been a long time since I listened to it, and even longer since I really paid attention to the lyrics beyond the opening line about Jennifer drinking her "sherry wine."

Is this Dennis's anthem to statutory rape or what?!  I get that it was 1976 and all, but how does someone write something like that and not think, "hmm....maybe I should rethink this"?

Anyway, I'm mostly surprised that it took me so long to realize this.

[Orbert]

Yeah, the lyrics there certainly make you think.  I was in high school at the time, and teenagers see and think of themselves as basically adults, so the idea of a 20-something guy being attracted to a teenaged girl didn't seem out of place.  For every girl who knew that it was weird and creepy, there were ten who were flattered that an older guy thought they were hot.

Those same lyrics now... whoa.

Also, "sherry wine" is a stupid lyric.

[KevShmev]

Yep, lyrics like that in the mid 70's were not unusual at all and considered part of the normal rock cannon; if that song came out nowadays, it would be a different story.

Also, it is worth noting that 17 is the legal age to have sex in many states, Illinois included (where Styx was from), so there is no statutory rape subject in this instance (technically speaking).  I feel dirty just typing that given the nature of the song, but just felt it needed to be pointed out.

[pg1067]

Yeah, the lyrics there certainly make you think.  I was in high school at the time, and teenagers see and think of themselves as basically adults, so the idea of a 20-something guy being attracted to a teenaged girl didn't seem out of place.  For every girl who knew that it was weird and creepy, there were ten who were flattered that an older guy thought they were hot.

Those same lyrics now... whoa.

Exactly.  When I bought the album in high school, it had lyrics on the inner sleeve, and in those days, I'd basically lie on my bed with the lyrics sheet the first several times listening.  Didn't give a second thought then.

Also, it is worth noting that 17 is the legal age to have sex in many states, Illinois included (where Styx was from), so there is no statutory rape subject in this instance (technically speaking).  I feel dirty just typing that given the nature of the song, but just felt it needed to be pointed out.

LOL!

TBH, I actually thought about that when I posted yesterday.  As a result some volunteer stuff I do, I have learned that California's hardline "under 18 is statutory rape" rule is not the norm (although it's not the only state where that's the law).  Most states have the "age of consent" at 16 or 17, and a lot of states have "Romeo and Juliet" laws that cover situations where the adult and the minor (or two minors) are relatively close in age.

[Dittomist]

I went through a Styx phase last summer where I finally listened to complete albums rather than just the singles, and Crystal Ball is definitely one of my favorites. "Mademoiselle," "Clair De Lune," "Put Me On," and the title track are so good.  I also like "Jennifer" a great deal despite that one unfortunate line that also made me cringe, but it's immediately followed by that catchy and well-harmonized "Her love gives me the power, her dreams carry me on" part and so the disapproval was very short-lived.
Also, does anyone else consider "Just Get Through This Night" from Kilroy to be one of their greatest songs?

[KevShmev]

I went through a Styx phase last summer where I finally listened to complete albums rather than just the singles, and Crystal Ball is definitely one of my favorites. "Mademoiselle," "Clair De Lune," "Put Me On," and the title track are so good.  I also like "Jennifer" a great deal despite that one unfortunate line that also made me cringe, but it's immediately followed by that catchy and well-harmonized "Her love gives me the power, her dreams carry me on" part and so the disapproval was very short-lived.
Also, does anyone else consider "Just Get Through This Night" from Kilroy to be one of their greatest songs?

Eh, Just Get Through This Night is a solid tune, but I can't give it any more props than that.

I am with ya on Crystal Ball.  Damn fine album, and most of the deep cuts are really good (except for Shooz).

[pg1067]

I went through a Styx phase last summer where I finally listened to complete albums rather than just the singles, and Crystal Ball is definitely one of my favorites. "Mademoiselle," "Clair De Lune," "Put Me On," and the title track are so good.  I also like "Jennifer" a great deal despite that one unfortunate line that also made me cringe, but it's immediately followed by that catchy and well-harmonized "Her love gives me the power, her dreams carry me on" part and so the disapproval was very short-lived.
Also, does anyone else consider "Just Get Through This Night" from Kilroy to be one of their greatest songs?

Eh, Just Get Through This Night is a solid tune, but I can't give it any more props than that.

I am with ya on Crystal Ball.  Damn fine album, and most of the deep cuts are really good (except for Shooz).

Ditto re Just Get Through (although I have to say I haven't listened to Kilroy in a LONG time).

I was surprised how much I liked Crystal Ball on the whole when I listened to it recently.  I don't care for the opening part of Shooz (which gets repeated about halfway through), but the rest of it is pretty good.  The problem with side 2 is that there isn't really a standout track.  All three songs are good but not great.

[Orbert]

I was re-reading the thread, and we had this same discussion about the "Jennifer" lyrics five years ago.  I thought it all sounded familar.  (I even said almost the exact same thing both times  )

[BelichickFan]

Also, does anyone else consider "Just Get Through This Night" from Kilroy to be one of their greatest songs?

I love Just Get Through This Night and also Haven't We Been Here Before.  KWH was vastly under rated to me.  I still don't get the love for The Mission, though, there's very little on there that I consider above average.  Bottom tier Syx album for me.  Without both Dennis and Tommy, I don't really consider it to be Styx, tbh.

[King Postwhore]

But Tommy is on The Mission and still in the band.  Or are you going back to EOTC?

[BelichickFan]

But Tommy is on The Mission and still in the band.  Or are you going back to EOTC?

Tommy is but Dennis isn't.  Both or no Styx.  For me.

[KevShmev]

Fun fact: of the 16 studio albums Styx has released (or 15 if you want to ignore the all-covers album from '05), only 7 have had both Dennis DeYoung and Tommy Shaw.

[Orbert]

True.  But for many, that was the magic combination.  It is for me.  That 70's-80's run with Tommy on board before DDY left was amazing.

[BelichickFan]

True.  But for many, that was the magic combination.  It is for me.  That 70's-80's run with Tommy on board before DDY left was amazing.

I don't really like any without them both.  Leaving the pre-Tommy ones out, EotC was mediocre, Cyclorama was juvenile, The Mission was mediocre.

Crystal Ball . . . Kilroy was some of the best stuff ever.

[King Postwhore]

But Tommy is on The Mission and still in the band.  Or are you going back to EOTC?

Tommy is but Dennis isn't.  Both or no Styx.  For me.

Ah, gotcha!

[pg1067]

I was re-reading the thread, and we had this same discussion about the "Jennifer" lyrics five years ago.  I thought it all sounded familar.  (I even said almost the exact same thing both times  )

LOL!  I just read those posts from 2015.  Podaar's comments were very similar to mine, and someone else pointed out the other weird thing that occurred to me yesterday (when I was listening to Man of Miracles):  Dennis and Suzanne had been married for several years at the time he wrote Jennifer (and Lorelei before that).  I'll mark my calendar for 2025 for someone else to realize this.

True.  But for many, that was the magic combination.  It is for me.  That 70's-80's run with Tommy on board before DDY left was amazing.

I don't really like any without them both.  Leaving the pre-Tommy ones out, EotC was mediocre, Cyclorama was juvenile, The Mission was mediocre.

Crystal Ball . . . Kilroy was some of the best stuff ever.

That's kinda how I feel as well, although I like Equinox and probably an album's worth of songs on the Wooden Nickel albums.  Also, while Cyclorama might be juvenile, it does feature the best Styx song released in the past 35 years.

[BelichickFan]

Also, while Cyclorama might be juvenile, it does feature the best Styx song released in the past 35 years.

I actually like a good bit of the music on Cyclorama.  But with songs like Bourgeois Pig and Kiss Your Ass Goodbye, I just don't want to listen.

[pg1067]

Also, while Cyclorama might be juvenile, it does feature the best Styx song released in the past 35 years.

I actually like a good bit of the music on Cyclorama.  But with songs like Bourgeois Pig and Kiss Your Ass Goodbye, I just don't want to listen.

I haven't heard the rest of the album because I missed when it came out and didn't know anything until I heard One with Everything about five years ago.  I would have bought the album, but it appears to be out of print and not even available on iTunes (although I suppose I could find a copy on eBay or something).

[King Postwhore]

I saw a tour before the album came out in 2001. When I got the album I recognized 2 songs they played from the album.

They toured with Survivor & REO Speedwagon. 

[KevShmev]

True.  But for many, that was the magic combination.  It is for me.  That 70's-80's run with Tommy on board before DDY left was amazing.

For sure, and I am sure most Styx fans would agree that it was their golden era, but the albums outside of that era all had their moments and a couple of those albums are among their best, IMO (Equinox, The Mission).

That's kinda how I feel as well, although I like Equinox and probably an album's worth of songs on the Wooden Nickel albums.  Also, while Cyclorama might be juvenile, it does feature the best Styx song released in the past 35 years.

The aforementioned Bourgeois Pig and Kiss Your Ass Goodbye (which musically rips off Tommy's other band Damn Yankees) are embarrassing and it's too bad the band didn't stay above taking shots that low, but One with Everything and These Are the Times are both really good tunes, and would have stood out on just about any Styx album.

[KevShmev]

I was surprised how much I liked Crystal Ball on the whole when I listened to it recently.  I don't care for the opening part of Shooz (which gets repeated about halfway through), but the rest of it is pretty good.  The problem with side 2 is that there isn't really a standout track.  All three songs are good but not great.

I think both This Old Man and Ballerina are great tunes.  Some amazing harmonies in both of those songs, and the ride-out to the Ballerina at the end if one of the most epic things the band has ever done.  I often say that the band was prog lite, as they would sometimes stick their toes in the deep end of prog but never stayed long, but the end of Ballerina was them jumping in feet first.

[pg1067]

I think both This Old Man and Ballerina are great tunes.  Some amazing harmonies in both of those songs, and the ride-out to the Ballerina at the end if one of the most epic things the band has ever done.  I often say that the band was prog lite, as they would sometimes stick their toes in the deep end of prog but never stayed long, but the end of Ballerina was them jumping in feet first.

I like that description.  Sometimes they were really subtle about it, and I think that's an indication that they really knew what they're doing.  Fooling Yourself is all over the place with time signatures and does it in a really clever way, but has a much wider appeal than most songs  that play around with that sort of thing.