I'll take The Grand Illusion over Coldplay any old day- or Radiohead even.
Ayn forgive me, but I've been listening to Styx. I've been listening repeatedly to The Grand Illusion, and digging it. There, I said it.…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Article comments
76 - Al Barger
Mr Schultz- I had forgotten Iggy's co-authorship of "China Girl." That's an outstanding song, so I definitely must chalk 1 up in Iggy's column. I don't believe I've heard his version, though.
Also, participation in the unredeemably godawful Damn Yankees costs Styx points retroactively. Not Ted Nugent's proudest day, either.
I didn't mean to slag the Ramones, though. I've had more Ramones albums than of all these other groups combined, including Nugent.
77 - eric schultz
Senator Al (if I may call you Al), first off, please call me eric - second, I find Iggy's version of Chian Girl superior to that of Bowie's (and I an a huge Bowie fan) because it is a bit more raw and unpolished. I thikn that is a big reason I like Iggy and so many punk bands is that it doesn't take a glossy sheen (and I am talking more than Tommy Shaw's hair here) for them to make a statement.
they got in, they ripped the tunes, they got out. Leave it stripped with all the hairy warts and bad notes - not that I don't appreciate a band or musician that takes the time in some serious post production (read Frank Zappa, God rest his soul) - but it is nice to have a variety of "good" music to bounce around with.
I do not catgorize Styx as good. I am a huge Kiss fan - were they cheesy? Absolutley. But they are still out there kicing it (for the bucks to be sure) with some of the best 70s pure rock songs ever written. Styx can't cut it compared to a band like Kiss - they would run away like little girls at the first rumblings of the huge bass intro of God of Thunder. and that is what rock is all about - scaring the hell out of people no mater what.
78 - Al Barger
Mr Schultz, Eric, I appreciate this sentiment, "that is what rock is all about - scaring the hell out of people." Ever heard the Feederz "Jesus Entering from the Rear"? That one would make even Gene Simmon's wee-wee draw back up into his belly.
I was never much of a Kiss fan, though I did see the Lick It Up tour, and currently have their big honkin' box set (overdue) from the library. There's no denying "Beth" or "Detroit Rock City" though.
Listening now, I'm taking Styx more in the framework of "singer-songwriters" than "ROCK!" They're definitely more, if you will, songwriter-y than is Kiss. Then again, Dennis DeYoung never breathed fire like Gene Simmons, literally or metaphorically. Even I have far more Kiss in the collection than Styx, in the ultimate ratings.
Do, of course, feel free to call me Senator Al. I'm certainly happy to have the moniker, though to re-iterate the obvious, I was, to use the technical terminology, beaten like an ugly red headed step child by Senator (future president?) Bayh.
Thus, plain old "Al" is fine. In short, feel free to call me whatever you like. Just don't call me late for supper.
I'd be happy to refer to you simply as "Eric," but here at Blogcritics that would be likely assumed a reference to our Dear Leader and site owner Eric Olsen.
79 - Bob A. Booey
"Just don't call me late for supper."
I think he was asking you out, Mr. Schultz.
Singer-songwriter? Please tell me he's joking and he knows what that means.
"Al," you're too hard on yourself. You're not a step child ....
You rent music from the library, Senator? How do they justify buying a KISS box set with taxpayer money? Wasteful.
That is all.
80 - eric schultz
A date? Maybe - only if Styx is not to be heard... Anyway - we can go on songwriting and ROCK all day - we got Zappa, we got the Kinks, Ithrown down the Ramones against Styx - maybe not for melodic value, but for pur effect. Who else?
Soundgarden; my sons' new favorite System of a Down, Tool, and the list goes on and on and if we wanna talk 70s writers, I will throw out Terrbile Ted Nugent (yeah,the Damn Yankees brain trust) over the DYs old band - I would much rather hear about Great White Buffalos or Mouths like Masseratis than the Grand Illusion any day.
o yeah - put out the bucks for the Kiss box set - even if it isn't the one set up like a guitar case - money well spent!
81 - Bob A. Booey
Mazeltov.
I think that's the Senator's first "maybe" ever. This will be the Summer of Al.
Just don't let him play "Entering from the Rear" because that has a way of killing the mood.
There's a kind of hush all over the world tonight,
All over the world you can hear the sound of lovers in looooovveeeee....
That is all.
82 - Arkpod
Bob: As someone who just happened by and got caught up in reading the thread. I have to say you look quite foolish. You have tried everything but insult his mother to provoke a reply, all to no avail. Take your toys and go home. If you don't agree with him, state your position and leave it at that. Years of punk music have seemingly rotted your brain!
83 - Bob A. Booey
Listen, "Arkpod."
I'm not trying to provoke. I'm right and Al's afraid of me. He gave up long ago trying to debate me on anything because he knows he's usually wrong.
That doesn't mean it's not fun to point out when he's wrong for your benefit, dear reader.
That is all.
84 - Jeff
As someone who can afford to attend any concert I want to (McCartney, U2, Stones, etc.) Styx is awesome in concert. I have seen them 3 times and they hold their own with anyone I have seen.
85 - lelo
you need new songs get a life
86 - Gary
Styx gave me so many childhood memories with their songs, and isn't that what's its all about anyway? Long live Dennis DeYoung!