Styx have a new studio album (their eighteenth) and are currently selling it at shows and on their website. It’s called Circling From Above and the first single (Build And Destroy) is streaming. The entire album is set to fully release on July 18th. I really like the single and have ordered the album on vinyl (Yes, I still listen to vinyl). I will obviously share my thoughts once it has arrived and I have had time to listen and process it. A few days ago, I decided it would be fun to listen to every Styx album as I eagerly await this new one. I went to Spotify and started with the new single and worked my way back to their first one. That covers a period of fifty-three years.
I only listened to studio albums and the handful of “bonus” tracks (seven to be specific) found on live albums and compilations. A quick glance at Spotify and Wikipedia shows ten live albums and at least seventeen compilations. There are also two collections of re-recorded songs that are darn near impossible to find. Someone has posted them on YouTube so you can check them out if you are curious.
This won’t include extensive reviews but I will drop a thought or two along the way. That being said, let’s grab our paddles and start rowing. Here is how I rank the seventeen studio albums that I had access to this week.
#17 – The Serpent Is Rising (1973) – Everything about this album is weird, including the cover art. The band supposedly hates this one and I can’t say I blame them. Don’t get me wrong, there is some stellar musicianship on display but there isn’t one song that just grabs me. Those who follow me on TwiXter may recall that I said I never need to hear this one again. However, as I skim back over it to write this, I’ve changed my mind. There is some solid proggy wonkiness in places that warrants an occasional listen. I was somewhat surprised to hear how much James Young sings lead. As I read up on this one, I was amused (shocked) to find out how many veiled sexual references are scattered throughout. Apparently, The Grove Of Eglantine (the second track) is about lady parts. There is also a really weird bit called Don’t Sit On The Plexiglas Toilet that is hidden at the end of As Bad As This. Weird Al supposedly named this as one of his top five novelty songs. It got played on the Dr. Demento radio show back in the day. Who knew?
#16 – Styx (1972) – I was two years old when Styx unleashed their debut album on the world. It begins with the thirteen-minute Movement For The Common Man, which mashes up compositions by James Young and Dennis DeYoung with John Ryan’s Street Collage and Aaron Copland’s Fanfare For The Common Man. It’s part boogie-woogie, part prog, part psychedelia, and all fun. I liked it much more than I thought I was going to. Four of the remaining five tracks are cover tunes. Given that they began their career as a cover band, that isn’t so surprising. The remaining original (Best Thing) hints at what was down the river. Once again, James Young sing a lot. One thing I must point out, the Panozzo brothers absolutely rock as the rhythm section.
#15 – Big Bang Theory (2005) – Sonically speaking, this album may sound a bit better than a couple that are ranked higher. I took that into consideration but ultimately, albums of cover tunes don’t do much for me. I realize that I just mentioned Styx began as a cover band but after thirty-two years, I don’t need to hear them. Unless you have something really interesting up your sleeve, just give me new songs. The usual suspects are here (The Beatles, The Who, Jimi Hendrix) but none of them expand on the originals in a creative way. Blind Faith’s Can’t Find My Way sounds nice and is probably my favorite on the album. Tommy Shaw’s voice never ceases to amaze me. For what it’s worth, we never need another Manic Depression cover. If you’re going to do Hendrix, pick something no one else has done.
#14 – Man of Miracles (1974) – According to Wikipedia, this album was released a couple of different times. The version I streamed on Spotify contains the original track listing and title so that’s what I’m going by. It is obvious that the songwriting (and vocal) duties are being split (almost evenly) by James Young and Dennis DeYoung. Second guitarist/vocalist John Curulewski is in the background and I’m sure he made some sort of contribution but he is not the focal point. He had much more input on The Serpent Is Rising. Perhaps it’s not surprising he only stuck around for one more album. Havin’ A Ball is a fun track featuring Young and A Song For Suzanne shows exactly where DeYoung was about to take Styx.
#13 – Cyclorama (2003) – For most of my life I have been a fan of the “classic” line up. That began when Tommy Shaw joined for Equinox and ended when he left after Caught In The Act in 1984. I didn’t follow the band after 1991’s Edge Of The Century but was aware that Shaw had returned and De Young had departed. Cyclorama is the first album featuring Lawrence Gowan on keyboards and vocals. It also features Glen Burtnik, who replaced Tommy Shaw when he left. I don’t think I heard this one when it was originally released. I don’t know that I had ever listened to the entire album until this week. There are some interesting guest musicians including: Tenacious D, Brian Wilson, Billy Bob Thorton, and John Waite. It’s obvious that Shaw had become the creative force behind the band. Do Things My Way and Waiting For Our Time sound like lost Damn Yankee tracks. Burtnik’s Kiss Your Ass Goodbye is a slice of power-pop featuring Tenacious D on backing vocals. Overall, the album is a bit disjointed but fun to listen to. I’ll be revisiting it.
#12 – Brave New World (1999) – This is the last album with Dennis DeYoung. It’s also the last album to feature Chuck Panozzo as a full-time member of the band. It’s the first album to feature Todd Sucherman on drums. He joined for the 1996 live album Return To Paradise after John Panozzo passed away. At the time, this was Styx’s worst performing album since The Serpent Is Rising. This is another one that I had only given a cursory listen until this week. I don’t remember its release but I’m going to assume that many thought this would be a return to the glory days. They had completed a successful “reunion” tour and album (with three new tracks) and I imagine things were hopeful. There are some really cool moments on this one. Shaw gives us the funky I Will Be Your Witness and the trippy Brave New World. Don’t worry, there is plenty of DeYoung’s sentimental crooning (While There’s Still Time). Much like Cyclorama, it is uneven. However, it serves as a passable swansong for one of the last two original members.
#11 – The Mission (2017) – This is one of the few later albums I paid attention to when it was released. By this point I was super active on Spotify so I was able to listen to this one from Day One. Part of the excitement was due to the fact that it was the first new studio album since 2005 and that was a collection of cover tunes. The last album of original material was 2003’s Cyclorama. This one is a concept album about a mission to Mars. Tommy Shaw and producer Will Evankovich came up with the idea. Even though the two of them wrote the bulk of the album, each member is allowed to shine. It is really cool to see them dip their toes back into their prog background. Hundred Million Miles From Home, Radio Silence, and Gone, Gone, Gone are standout tracks.
#10 – Crash Of The Crown (2021) – Styx are road warriors and play the “legacy act” well so it’s not surprising that they don’t put out much new material. That’s sad because The Mission and Crash Of The Crown are two of their finest albums. Once again, Tommy Shaw and Will Evankovich are pulling the strings but it produces a consistent product. One interesting note is that outside of Big Bang Theory (the album of covers), this is the first album since Styx II without a James Young songwriting credit. I remember listening to this one when it went up on Spotify and was pleased that they had picked up where The Mission left off. Over the years I have become a fan of Neal Morse and this sounds like something he would put out. The Fight Of Our Lives is a great lead off track. A Monster has some Yes-like vocals and keyboards. Common Ground is classic Styx. Drummer Todd Sucherman and bassist Ricky Phillips really hold down the groove throughout this album.
#9 – Kilroy Was Here (1983) – Some fans may be upset that I put this one so low on the list. Honestly, it should be lower. I don’t know how many times I have listened to it since 1983 but as I revisited it this week, I came to the conclusion that it’s not a very good album. The nostalgia factor prevents me from totally dissing it but I really don’t think I want to listen to it again any time soon. The quirky Mr. Roboto is still enjoyable but I’ve heard it so many times that it borders on cringe. The rest of them album plays like the soundtrack for a bad musical that never got made. Don’t Let It End is a typical Dennis DeYoung ballad and isn’t so bad. James Young’s Heavy Metal Poisoning isn’t horrible. The rest is just forgettable.
#8 – Edge of The Century (1990) – If my ranking of Kilroy Was Here ticked people off, I can only imagine what this will do. I foresee a day in the not-too-distant future when neither of these will be in the top ten. As I become more familiar with those latter-day Styx albums they will definitely move up. For now, this one is riding high on the wave of sentimental memories. It was released in October 1990. I had gotten engaged in March and had just gotten my band back together. I had friends in the military and Operation Desert Shield was in full swing. It was as if Show Me The Way had been written for that moment in time. It was true that some of the magic left with Tommy Shaw but man, Glen Burtnik killed it on Love Is The Ritual. That is still one of my favorite Styx tunes.
#7 – Styx II (1973) – Going into this one I already knew Lady. That was it. Guitarist/vocalist John Curulewski wrote and sang two of these tracks. Other than Bach’s Little Fugue in G, the rest are Dennis DeYoung songs. This is the one that threw a wrench into my little experiment. Lady is a quintessential Styx tune. After working my way back to this one, I assumed it was an anomaly and would stick out on the album. Outside of the dated production, this is what expect when I think Styx. I was amazed at how much of the “classic” Styx sound is there. That is especially true when you consider it is sandwiched in between what I believe are their two weakest albums. James Young stands out on album opener You Need Love. Curulewski’s two tracks (A Day and You Better Ask) are solid. DeYoung has Lady and well, we all know how good that one is. I’ve seen more than one internet guru claim that it is the first true power ballad. I don’t know if that’s true but it is a darn fine one. This album is a keeper and I think I’m going to search it out on vinyl and listen to it the way it was meant to be.
#6 – Equinox (1975) – I will be honest, before this week I only knew Lorelei and Suite Madame Blue. I had heard both of them on classic rock radio when I was in high school. I didn’t know anything about Styx until I first saw them on MTV in the early 1980s. I knew that I liked them but that was it. I put Equinox here because I like it, even though it wasn’t as familiar to me. For the sake of this blog post, I’m leaving it here. However, after several repeat listens, I know that it’s going to have to move up. I just haven’t decided how much. The “classic” Styx sound is here. I do believe Tommy Shaw helped refine it on Crystal Ball but it’s all here. Light Up kicks things off and it never lets up. Mother Dear, which does feature Curulewski on co-vocals, is my favorite track at the moment. This is one I definitely need to pickup on physical media. I can see it eventually breaking into my top ten.
****EDIT****
I decided to leave my original comments intact even though I decided to move this one up while I was writing the bit about Cyclorama. Then something funny happened. Each time I skimmed an album while writing about it I thought, “Equinox is better than this” and I would move it up again. That happened seven times and now it’s here for good. Or is it?
#5 – Crystal Ball (1976) – As the old-timers back home used to say, “We’re in the short rows now.” I’ve heard people say that phrase is connected to both farming and knitting. I couldn’t tell if either is true but I do know it means we’re almost done. I guess it should not be surprising that my top five come from the “classic” line up of DeYoung, Shaw, Young, and the Panozzo brothers. This one marks Shaw’s debut and he makes an immediate impact. His extremely high vocals are noticeable and his guitar skills fit perfectly with James Young. Shaw’s first lead vocal is Mademoiselle and it is obvious that he was the missing ingredient. His first solo composition (Crystal Ball) perfectly blends the soft/heavy dynamic that characterizes so many of Styx’s massive hits.
#4 – Cornerstone (1979) – This was Styx’s third straight multi-platinum album. It was their first album to get a Grammy nomination. It was their first Top Five album and reached #2. It also contains their only #1 song (Babe). This is a rock and roll machine firing on all cylinders. I do believe they were starting to get weary at this point but there are still a ton of great songs. Lights is the perfect album opener. It is one of Shaw and DeYoung’s best collaborations. Why Me has an excellent dueling guitar and saxophone section. I believe the Panozzo brothers don’t get nearly enough credit for anchoring this band. To me, the stand out track is Shaw’s slightly Zeppelinesque Boat On A River. Truthfully though, there’s not a bad song here.
#3 – Pieces of Eight (1978) – This album came out when I was eight and going into third grade. For reasons I won’t get into here, that was quite possibly the worst of year of my life. I’ll save that for another blog post. Two of my favorite Styx songs are up here and I’d even go so far as to say they are two of their best. Shaw hit it out of the park with both Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) and Renegade. James Young’s Great White Hope is a banger as well. DeYoung’s Pieces Of Eight is another epic that starts off softly but rocks out before it’s all over.
#2 – The Grand Illusion (1977) – Let me begin by saying that this is my favorite Styx album cover. This is one I have to get on vinyl so I can look at it in all its 12.375” by 12.375” glory. A great cover doesn’t make a great album but in this case, they match perfectly. Every song on side one is killer. I mean, you have: The Grand Illusion, Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man), Superstars, and my absolute favorite Styx song, Come Sail Away. By the way, on the outside chance that Michael Sweet sees this, I want to hear Stryper cover this one. James Young keeps it rocking with Miss America and it never lets up. As one of my TwiXter buddies pointed out, Castle Walls has some serious John Carpenter Halloween vibes. This is pretty close to a perfect album in my opinion. If backed into a corner I may even say it’s my favorite Styx. So, why is it #2?
#1 – Paradise Theatre (1981) – This one was #1 on Billboard three times. It was their fourth album in a row to be certified triple platinum (3,000,000). Three songs made the top ten. Like The Grand Illusion, this one has a perfect side one. Like The Grand Illusion, there is not a bad song on it. I honestly went back and forth trying to decide which one was going to be #1 and which one was going to be #2. In the end it came down to nostalgia. The Best Of Times and Too Much Time On My Hands were staples on radio and MTV during a pivotal point in my life. As I turned eleven and went into sixth grade, this album was a constant presence. It is part of the soundtrack to the best days of my life. It was literally The Best Of Times. That song really punches hard now that I am fifty-five and those day are long gone.
There. That was so much longer than I intended it to me. I also didn’t anticipate changing my ranking seven times while I was writing it. As soon as I get the new album this whole thing will change again. We’ll see how it turns out. Hey, if you are still reading, let me know what you think. What are your favorites? Which ones did I get wrong? Also a massive shout out to Bill and David for encouragement and basically egging me on.
Grace and peace.
That 80s Pastor Dude 