|
When Styx sacked their former keyboardist/vocalist and
guiding light Dennis Deyoung at the end of the 90's, they
sacked their credibility. They were now ready for the bars
and state fair circuit. Apparently, Deyoung's more ballad-oriented
and synth/conceptual leanings had long grated on the more
rock & roll faction of the band(Tommy Shaw and James Young).
Some would state that Deyoung had forgotten how to rock and
was lost in his own concepts, unable to conform to a 'band'
ethic. Others would state that Shaw and the others lacked
Deyoung's vision and just wanted to make money from the Styx
brand name playing dumbed-down heavy rock. What all involved
had apparently overlooked was that it was the combined power
of their variety and individual strengths which made up Styx-
the hard rock edge of James Young, the art-rock bombast, ballads
and theatre leanings of Deyoung, the southern rock leanings
and soulful vocals of Shaw. I was pleasantly bewildered that
2003's CYCLORAMA album, the first studio work without Deyoung
and much of Chuck Panozzo, was actually a great album of songs,
I begrudgingly gave it my respect. It contained memorable
material, though judging by the line-up, it was hard to acknowledge
it as a Styx album. But it had the harmonies, the guitar solos,
the whole nine yards and everything you may expect from Styx,
except maybe songs about Kilroy. They were back, sorta. Kinda.***
Unfortunately they didn't go with their creative momentum,
and opted for a quick covers album instead. The results vary.
They sound like they're having fun on one hand, but it's easy
to knock them for taking an easier path. At this stage, Styx
are in the same boat as Kansas and similar 70's acts, happy
to perform the hits, occasionally emerging to make an album-
most often either an anthology or live album. No longer current,
and existing on classic rock radio in their eternally young
incarnations. Perhaps this is an unfair observation. Rock
radio doesn't play any new old bands' material anyway. But
this is hardly the creative band that brought you THE GRAND
ILLUSION. But, hey, BIG BANG rocks too, it serves a purpose:
to be a cover album of some of the band's favorite rock songs,
material which is special to them. Interesting to note that
much of these songs were from artists which were popular around
the same time as Styx were. A lot are 60's classics too. And
being as such, a lot of the keyboards are downplayed a bit,
though there's plenty of hard rockin' from Shaw and J.Y.***
The line-up these days is Tommy Shaw, James Young(the
only original Styx member left), drummer Todd Sucherman(who
had replaced the late John Panozzo), Canadian singer songwriter/keyboardist
Lawrence Gowan who replaced Deyoung, and new bassist Ricky
Phillips replacing Glen Burtnik. The retired Chuck Panozzo
makes a guest cameo on 'LOCOMOTIVE BREATH'. I wouldn't say
that they all stand out or add any 'Styx'-like arrangements
to these classics, and I'm tempted to say that much of BIG
BANG is well done, yet unremarkable. You be the judge.***
the trax:
I AM THE WALRUS: vocals by Lawrence Gowan. He does a
decent job with both vocals and symphonic keys until he begins
to muck it up by hamming it and add libbing like a rock &
roll buffoon towards the end. Best cover version of 'Walrus'
is still by CRACK THE SKY. This is a live cut.***
I CAN SEE FOR MILES: vocals by Tommy Shaw. This one is
faithful to the original Who classic. Nothing really revelatory
here, though it's done rather well with solid harmonies.***
CAN'T FIND MY WAY HOME: excellently sung by Tommy. Nice acoustic
guitar vibe on this Steve Winwood-written track.***
IT DON'T MAKE SENSE(If You Can't Make Peace): sticks
with the bluesy direction of the last track, and vocals are
handled by James Young.***
I DON'T NEED NO DOCTOR: a rocker with Lawrence on vocals,
sounding rocking but still a bit out of character, considering
his past as a singer-songwriter with a softer edge(check out
MOONLIGHT DESIRES and similar 80's Gowan material).***
ONE WAY OUT: back into a bluesy shuffle with Tommy on
vocals. Todd Sucherman hammers it out on drums.***
A SALTY DOG: powerful track which returns Styx to some
more art-rock flavors with this cover of the Procul Harem
classic. Lawrence Gowan makes it his own.***
SUMMER IN THE CITY: another one faithful to the original,
vocals by Tommy.***
MANIC DEPRESSION: the Hendrix classic wails and rocks.
Of all the Styx guys, only James J.Y. Young has the voice
for this kind of song, and evokes the raw edge he had back
in their 70's heyday.***
TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD TIMES: vocals by Lawrence. With
this one, Styx capture a certain psychedelic element. Nice
sound and harmonies.***
LOCOMOTIVE BREATH: the Jethro Tull classic. See 'Manic
Depression'. Guitar replaces flute, though perhaps Gowan should
have added a synth-flute contibution or something.***
FIND THE COST OF FREEDOM: Stephen Still-written folky
track which is short and features vocals by Tommy. Nice harmonies.***
WISHING WELL: can't remember if this was originally Bad
Company of was it Free? Tommy handles it rather well, and
one can hear the similarities in this track and Shaw-written
Styx tracks like Blue Collar Man and Renagade. ***
BLUE COLLAR MAN @ 2120: the other live track is a new
and slower version of the Styx classic from 1978's PIECES
OF EIGHT, the only non-cover song here. Here, this version
is perhaps a bit drawn-out and hardly necessary, with honky
tonk piano and acoustic guitars. It's slightly too long.***
What's next for Styx? For that, we would need a Crystal
Ball.***
|
