Styx: Behind the Music

[Bo Diddley]

I really enjoy The Mission. I bought the vinyl and run it on my bedroom turntable sometimes to listen as I go to bed. The backstory is cool and lends context to the songs.

I think it's a good listen from start to finish. They got the sound level wrong on JY's singing in Trouble at The Big Show. I'm sure it's JY you can hear scream in the background during the climax of Radio Silence--that's just his style. You can also see where Dennis DeYoung's influence can still be felt in the music composition with the keyboard. That's part of the unique Styx sound. I think he is probably jealous of what Gowen was able to do on Khedive with the piano.

Speaking of Gowen, listening to him sing, I thought he must be British. But after watching that special, he's American. I mean he sounds a lot like Davey Jones. I'd actually prefer if Tommy Shaw and JY sang everything new.

Ricky Phillips brings a lot at base. Sucherman doesn't quite imitate John Panozzo's style of playing in the new stuff, and that's ok, but I miss John.

[Bo Diddley]

Shaw might be a better guitar player than is Ted Nugent. Terrible Ted has an incredible instinct for leads and soloing, but to my ear Shaw is a little tighter technically. Shaw is certainly the more talented singer of the two.

I agree with all of this. And I actually prefer Tommy Shaw's singing to Dennis DeYoung. His voice has a richer quality, and I think he does a better job expressing emotion.

[old_gregg]

styx?? foreigner?!?!?!?!?

[Jeff Lebowski]

I was a Styx fan as a teenager. I listen to a lot of classic rock, but I have zero interest in Styx now. One of those bands that didn't seem to age well for me. Interesting to see others feel differently.

I don't listen to much foreigner now either. Saw them in concert once in the salt palace. I think I lost some hearing at that one.

[beefytee]

Speaking of Gowen, listening to him sing, I thought he must be British. But after watching that special, he's American. I mean he sounds a lot like Davey Jones. I'd actually prefer if Tommy Shaw and JY sang everything new.

I always thought he was Canadian. He was really popular in Canada anyways, at least compared to the states. I had his Strange Animal album back in the 80's.

[Bo Diddley]

I always thought he was Canadian. He was really popular in Canada anyways, at least compared to the states. I had his Strange Animal album back in the 80's.

I said American, not US. tooblue is going to be ticked at you!

[Bo Diddley]

I think I suffered some permanent hearing loss from a Foreigner concert I attended at the Salt Palace when I was in high school. Seriously.

I was a Styx fan as a teenager. I listen to a lot of classic rock, but I have zero interest in Styx now. One of those bands that didn't seem to age well for me. Interesting to see others feel differently.

I don't listen to much foreigner now either. Saw them in concert once in the salt palace. I think I lost some hearing at that one.

I heard you the first time!

[Pelado]

Was it at a dance?

That's not on Paradise Theater.

[Sleeping in EQ]

I was a Styx fan as a teenager. I listen to a lot of classic rock, but I have zero interest in Styx now. One of those bands that didn't seem to age well for me. Interesting to see others feel differently.

I don't listen to much foreigner now either. Saw them in concert once in the salt palace. I think I lost some hearing at that one.

I think Styx is alright. They're certainly a band that sounds like their era--the harmonies, keyboards, and dramatic mixing just feel like the mid-70s-early 80s to me.

Lex DeAzevedo tried to rip off their keyboard and percussion sounds for Saturday's Warrior.

[Applejack]

Where is the flock of seagulls thread?

[Shaka]

I was a Styx fan as a teenager. I listen to a lot of classic rock, but I have zero interest in Styx now. One of those bands that didn't seem to age well for me. Interesting to see others feel differently.

I don't listen to much foreigner now either. Saw them in concert once in the salt palace. I think I lost some hearing at that one.

Give The Mission a few spins after reading what inspired it. It's musically interesting and they pay homage to a lot of influences. It's a pretty nice album for a band of that age.

[Shaka]

Ricky Phillips brings a lot at base. Sucherman doesn't quite imitate John Panozzo's style of playing in the new stuff, and that's ok, but I miss John.

Love Panozzo but Sucherman is a monster drummer. He wasn't hired to imitate. He's one of the best rock drummers in the world.

[old_gregg]

Where is the flock of seagulls thread?

in ipu's heart. that dude loved nothing more than moody 80s teen pop and white separatism.

[snowcat]

I enjoyed this version of Fooling Yourself with a youth orchestra. The violin soloist is great.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I heard you the first time!

Dammit. Now you are going to heckle me for repeating myself?