Pittsburgh Show

[blt man]

lol...I promise I won't rip the CD. But it is far from "excellent," IMO. Too many inconsistancies and bad poetry for me to consider it as such. But it's not terrible either. I really want to give it more listens before I review it in case stuff grows on me, grows off me, or there are elements I've missed.

God, In sincerely hope Glen didn't have anything to do with the lyrics on this album.

I...just...don't know how to answer these questions when they're worded this way, Ypgi. I find the album so far to be fair at best. NOT even in the same universe as stuff Dennis has done with Styx in the past, perhaps in par with Boomchild or Back to World...altho, I still think those were a tad better. It seems very obsious to me that Styx fans are comprised of two or three different groups of taste buds, and you and I clearly aren't part of the same group. I just don't get what you all find so magnificant.

Not sure why, but it grows on you with each listen. So, give it a few more listens.

IMO - 2, 3, 4, and 6 are very good songs (I hated 4 the first 2 or 3 times I heard it). 10 is cornball but well done and I like it (but is not a radio single). 11 is fine for a last song (but is also not a radio single). 1 sounds good as a duet and has some nice guitar work.

I agree that Styx fans have different taste buds. Other than a couple of songs, I don't think anything on this CD can be classified as being worse than recent Styx releases. Each of Styx and DDY have some good and some bad stuff since the breakup. Though Rubicon is for me a better song than most everything any of them have released since Paradise Theatre and has replaced One with Everything as my personal favorite of recent Styx related songs. Others may prefer something else, music is a very personal taste. In past posts you indicated that you love Just Be. For me, its not a bad song, but is certianly not leaps and bounds better than the songs on this CD.

[ChicagoSTYX]

Be honest with your review Zan.

As for me I dont see how ANY fan of Styx could rip this CD. It is EXCELLENT!


...Hanging with Glen may have helped.

...The BEST work Dennis has ever done...
...How could ANYONE think different???

lol...I promise I won't rip the CD. But it is far from "excellent," IMO. Too many inconsistancies and bad poetry for me to consider it as such. But it's not terrible either. I really want to give it more listens before I review it in case stuff grows on me, grows off me, or there are elements I've missed.

God, In sincerely hope Glen didn't have anything to do with the lyrics on this album.

I...just...don't know how to answer these questions when they're worded this way, Ypgi. I find the album so far to be fair at best. NOT even in the same universe as stuff Dennis has done with Styx in the past, perhaps in par with Boomchild or Back to World...altho, I still think those were a tad better. It seems very obsious to me that Styx fans are comprised of two or three different groups of taste buds, and you and I clearly aren't part of the same group. I just don't get what you all find so magnificant.

Great Post Zan! Styx has always been a band of many styles. I can honestly say that the one thing about Styx that I did not like was the cornball sap the DDY brought to the plate from Cornerstone thru Brave New World. It is apparent that some people like that stuff but I’m not one of them. I think people listen to DDY’s new stuff and wish he could come up with songs like Queen of Spades. They wish so hard that they start to believe it’s true. WAKE UP!!! If you’re looking for more Babe, First Time, Music Time, and Boys Will Be Boys you should be very happy! But I just don’t hear the Classic Styx that I like in any of this. DDY fans have fun,……..I’ll stick with Styx!!

[blt man]

Rubicon is ok. The bridge (for me) positively SUCKS. Totally out of place - like it was phoned in. For me, it ruins what would have otherwise been a pretty good song.

While I like the bridge, I think it would have worked much better if it was a classic line-up Styx song. The collaboration would have made the guitar work better at that point. There are a lot of recent Styx and DDY songs that probably fall into the "classic Styx collaboration would have made them better" category.

[froy]

Styx has always been a band of many styles.

Really what Style are they now CS?
Cover band doing cover cds?

I can honestly say that the one thing about Styx that I did not like was the cornball sap the DDY brought to the plate from Cornerstone thru Brave New World.

I loved Why Me thought it was great
Borrowed Time awesome
Good Bye To Roseland killer
Back to Chicago kick ass

It is apparent that some people like that stuff but I’m not one of them.

Who cares,.

I think people listen to DDY’s new stuff and wish he could come up with songs like Queen of Spades.

He did its called Rubicon in fact it blows it away.

They wish so hard that they start to believe it’s true. WAKE UP!!!

You wake up this cd is killer
Every single song

If you’re looking for more Babe, First Time, Music Time, and Boys Will Be Boys you should be very happy!

You have not even heard this cd
Its very apperant

But I just don’t hear the Classic Styx that I like in any of this.

And you hear the classic Styx in Big Band theory instead?
Your deaf man.

.I’ll stick with Styx!!

You will be the first in the water when the boat sinks

[blt man]

Great Post Zan! Styx has always been a band of many styles. I can honestly say that the one thing about Styx that I did not like was the cornball sap the DDY brought to the plate from Cornerstone thru Brave New World. It is apparent that some people like that stuff but I’m not one of them. I think people listen to DDY’s new stuff and wish he could come up with songs like Queen of Spades. They wish so hard that they start to believe it’s true. WAKE UP!!! If you’re looking for more Babe, First Time, Music Time, and Boys Will Be Boys you should be very happy! But I just don’t hear the Classic Styx that I like in any of this. DDY fans have fun,……..I’ll stick with Styx!!

I know you like to be the anti-Froy (and I don't blame you), but comparing anything on this CD to Music Time or Boys will be Boys is an extreme. I don't think anyone is looking for those songs and this CD is nothing like them. Is there a Babe on this CD? There are a couple of ballads, so I would say there is. But, there are not 11 Babes on the CD. A couple of them ain't the end of the world.

[ChicagoSTYX]

' Damn this is some of the GREATEST work Styx has EVER done'.

How could ANYONE think different???

If someone was to play this CD for and I knew nothing of DDY and they told me this was his best work ever I would beg them not to make me listen to his earlier work!!

[ChicagoSTYX]

Styx has always been a band of many styles.

Really what Style are they now CS?
Cover band doing cover cds?

I can honestly say that the one thing about Styx that I did not like was the cornball sap the DDY brought to the plate from Cornerstone thru Brave New World.

I loved Why Me thought it was great
Borrowed Time awesome
Good Bye To Roseland killer
Back to Chicago kick ass

It is apparent that some people like that stuff but I’m not one of them.

Who cares,.

I think people listen to DDY’s new stuff and wish he could come up with songs like Queen of Spades.

He did its called Rubicon in fact it blows it away.

They wish so hard that they start to believe it’s true. WAKE UP!!!

You wake up this cd is killer
Every single song

If you’re looking for more Babe, First Time, Music Time, and Boys Will Be Boys you should be very happy!

You have not even heard this cd
Its very apperant

But I just don’t hear the Classic Styx that I like in any of this.

And you hear the classic Styx in Big Band theory instead?
Your deaf man.

.I’ll stick with Styx!!

You will be the first in the water when the boat sinks

Froy you have got to be joking!!! Next you’ll be telling me that you like Neil Diamond.

[styxfansite]

Have what? Another slanted opinion from a DeYoungian?

No, that was the opinion of my wife who is certainly more accepting than I am of this line-up...

I, on the otherhand, refuse to see Styx without their heart and soul, Mr. Dennis DeYoung.

Your loss. IMO Styx is much better without him.

and after hearing his new CD (downloaded it for free, no way I would pay for it) all I can say is thank God those songs will not be on a Styx CD. There are a few people here who lead me to think this CD was going to be good. It sounds like Weird Al doing a Styx parody. I tried to like it but it really made me laugh a few times. That CNN song sounds like “Music Time” part 2 and the 2nd song on the CD is a bad “High Time” rip off. Do we really need to hear another song about his wonderful wife?????!!!!??? There are maybe 2 songs that were just okay. It is DDY at his cornball best and that’s not good.

A serious question here.

Ok, Dennis "loves" his wife and family more than anything in this world. If you were in his shoes and "really" loved your wife/husband and you were a musician like him and really really cared for your wife, wouldn't you write something for her every chance you get to show that you still love her and care for her?

I am not married and I am not a musician, but if I was Dennis, I would do the same thing.

That is just me.

[stabbim]

If you were in his shoes and "really" loved your wife/husband and you were a musician like him and really really cared for your wife, wouldn't you write something for her every chance you get to show that you still love her and care for her?

Depends on the artist. Some folks don't write from personal experience at all. Some do, but are a little more circumspect about it.

[DarwinNebraska]

Anyone that has a problem with Dennis writing a song on each album to his wife, is probably just jealous and long to have that sort of lifelong relationship.

[Zan]

If you were in his shoes and "really" loved your wife/husband and you were a musician like him and really really cared for your wife, wouldn't you write something for her every chance you get to show that you still love her and care for her?

Depends on the artist. Some folks don't write from personal experience at all. Some do, but are a little more circumspect about it.

Agreed. A little more figurative, a little less literal, please.

[Zan]

Anyone that has a problem with Dennis writing a song on each album to his wife, is probably just jealous and long to have that sort of lifelong relationship.

yeah that's it.

[Jodes]

I may not Agree with a lot of what you say Darwin, but you are bang on with that comment.

It's why it's so hard to me to see my parents fading so fast right now. My dad's got terminal cancer and is going fast and my mom, well we think she has the beginnings of alziemher's, so she's not the same person she was even last year.

When I saw my them together yesterday before we left the hospital, you could still tell after 45 years of marriage they still love each other deeply.

Seeing that is what threw me over the edge yesterday.. There I was hugging my dad at 35 years old and balling like a baby because I know that very soon he's going to be gone and I'm going to be left alone. He's a braver man than I. Hands down.

And what am I listening to to try and get through which has got to be the hardest year of my life right now? Save Me, Hello God, Goodbye To Roseland and Crystal Ball.

Sorry to ramble, I'm just not doing so well right now.

[styxfansite]

If you were in his shoes and "really" loved your wife/husband and you were a musician like him and really really cared for your wife, wouldn't you write something for her every chance you get to show that you still love her and care for her?

Depends on the artist. Some folks don't write from personal experience at all. Some do, but are a little more circumspect about it.

Agreed. A little more figurative, a little less literal, please.

So what your saying is some musicians don't love there family's enough to write a song for them? They love there music a hell of a lot more they there love ones. That is sad if true.

[MtlLady]

And what am I listening to to try and get through which has got to be the hardest year of my life right now? Save Me, Hello God, Goodbye To Roseland and Crystal Ball.

Sorry to ramble, I'm just not doing so well right now.

Whatever helps you get through it, Jodes, go for it. Music has always been a balm for my soul when things go bad.

[yogi]

You are taking my orginal quote out of context.

I wrote that this is the best COLLECTION of DDY songs that Dennis has ever done Styx or solo.

You all omit the word COLLECTION.

In my opinion he has 5 VERY VERY good songs on this CD.

He has 2 songs I deem EPIC.

That is 7 excellent songs.


Find me ANY other DDY or Styx CD where DENNIS has 7 GREAT songs.

You cant!!!!!

[Zan]

Find me ANY other DDY or Styx CD where DENNIS has 7 GREAT songs.

You cant!!!!!

I *still* can't. lol

[Zan]

If you were in his shoes and "really" loved your wife/husband and you were a musician like him and really really cared for your wife, wouldn't you write something for her every chance you get to show that you still love her and care for her?

Depends on the artist. Some folks don't write from personal experience at all. Some do, but are a little more circumspect about it.

Agreed. A little more figurative, a little less literal, please.

So what your saying is some musicians don't love there family's enough to write a song for them? They love there music a hell of a lot more they there love ones. That is sad if true.

Ummmm...Not real sure how what either of us said sends that message. Some musicians just don't write a boatload of songs about their spouse, that's all. Some prefer not to wear their every waking emotion towards their loved ones on an album sleeve, so to speak. Some write about their passion for life in general, their beliefs, their experiences, their observations, their disappointments, world tragedies, their achievements, their failures, religion, struggles, hopes, sex, lack of sex, jobs, money, corruption...everything. And the ones who do choose to write lots and lots and LOTS of songs for their wives/husbands/girlfriends/significant others are often a little less blunt (read: hit you on the head with a hammer blunt) about it. It is my opinion that someone like Dennis appears to lack diversity when it seems every other song is written for his wife. I mean, doesn't he, the musical genius that he is have a plethora of other topics to write about? It doesn't seem that way to me.

And it isn't because I'm jealous. I actually admire anyone who stays together for *life* (hell, even longer than 10 years the way relationships last these days), but I find it tiresome to have to hear about it constantly. That's just me. You love your wife, I get it. What else ya got?...sorta thing.

On a side note, Jody, I'm sorry to hear you're going through all this. You & your parents are in my thoughts.

[yogi]

Shit Zan, He wrote an entire album about robots. He wrote another album about a run down theatre. He wrote a screen play about a Hunchback.

Does Suzzanne qualify in any of the above mentioned??????


I REALLY look forward to your answer!!!!

Jodes- You are in my thoughts. Most of us have to go through it, and it SUCKS! There isnt a day that goes by that I dont think of my parents. Hang in There!!!!

[stabbim]

He wrote an entire album about robots. He wrote another album about a run down theatre. He wrote a screen play about a Hunchback.

Does Suzzanne qualify in any of the above mentioned??????

Well, she's not a robot, a theater, or a hunchback....as far as I know, anyway.

What was the question again?

[Zan]

Shit Zan, He wrote an entire album about robots. He wrote another album about a run down theatre. He wrote a screen play about a Hunchback.

Does Suzzanne qualify in any of the above mentioned??????

I REALLY look forward to your answer!!

Well, far be it for me to keep you in suspense like that.

First of all, and I hate to keep doing this, but I think if you are a Styx fan of ANY camp, you SHOULD KNOW BY NOW how to spell the name Suzanne, so allow me to show you, hopefully for the last time:

S-U-Z-A-N-N-E

(That's ONE "Z" TWO "N's") Thank you.

Next order of business: The album about "nothing but Robots," had a song called "Don't Let it End," which was not only a love song, but also featured Mrs. DeYoung IN THE VIDEO.

The "run down theatre" album had "Best of Times," which was, I'm going out on a limb here, written with the Mrs. in mind.

Hunchback featured 2 songs, one titled "Paradise" and another titled "While There's Still Time" which, while not directly about Suzanne, WERE re-written, revamped, whatever you want to call it to be about Suzanne for Styx's next 2 releases. Not only that, but both songs on Hunchback were sung by Suzanne's freakin' SISTER.

Oh, and let's not forget "Beneath the Moon," which was originally featured on Boomchild - about...guess who??? And then reworked to fit the Hunchback theme later on. Please stop foolin' yourself. And for God's sakes, spell my name right.

[DarwinNebraska]

So in other words.... Dennis please stop writing about how much you love your wife. It makes Zan uncomfortable.

Zan's on her 3rd marriage now so how *dare you* profess your love for your soulmate.

[styxfansite]

Shit Zan, He wrote an entire album about robots. He wrote another album about a run down theatre. He wrote a screen play about a Hunchback.

Does Suzzanne qualify in any of the above mentioned??????

First of all, and I hate to keep doing this, but I think if you are a Styx fan of ANY camp, you SHOULD KNOW BY NOW how to spell the name Suzanne, so allow me to show you, hopefully for the last time:

S-U-Z-A-N-N-E

(That's ONE "Z" TWO "N's") Thank you.

Next order of business: The album about "nothing but Robots," had a song called "Don't Let it End," which was not only a love song, but also featured Mrs. DeYoung IN THE VIDEO.

The "run down theatre" album had "Best of Times," which was, I'm going out on a limb here, written with the Mrs. in mind.

Hunchback featured 2 songs, one titled "Paradise" and another titled "While There's Still Time" which, while not directly about Suzanne, WERE re-written, revamped, whatever you want to call it to be about Suzanne for Styx's next 2 releases. Not only that, but both songs on Hunchback were sung by Suzanne's freakin' SISTER. Please stop kidding yourself. And for God's sakes, spell my name right.

But those were only one or two songs per album, not a whole album about his wife, which is what I think yogi was getting at.

[styxfansite]

I may not Agree with a lot of what you say Darwin, but you are bang on with that comment.

It's why it's so hard to me to see my parents fading so fast right now. My dad's got terminal cancer and is going fast and my mom, well we think she has the beginnings of alziemher's, so she's not the same person she was even last year.

When I saw my them together yesterday before we left the hospital, you could still tell after 45 years of marriage they still love each other deeply.

Seeing that is what threw me over the edge yesterday.. There I was hugging my dad at 35 years old and balling like a baby because I know that very soon he's going to be gone and I'm going to be left alone. He's a braver man than I. Hands down.

And what am I listening to to try and get through which has got to be the hardest year of my life right now? Save Me, Hello God, Goodbye To Roseland and Crystal Ball.

Sorry to ramble, I'm just not doing so well right now.

Hang in there Jodes. I went through some of what your going through with the death of my father back in March. He was only 65 and I am 30. I miss him a bunch.

[Zan]

So in other words.... Dennis please stop writing about how much you love your wife. It makes Zan uncomfortable.

Zan's on her 3rd marriage now so how *dare you* profess your love for your soulmate.

I threw up a little when I read this.

And it's my 2nd. But nice try DaN. Do you really not understand the difference between being uncomfortable and being ambivilent or BORED? Or...how about me saying I'd rather see a more creative side to Dennis than the same old-same old subject material, not "hey I can't handle your deep, undying love?"

Good grief. Do you really need everything spelled out for you?

[cittadeeno23]

Zan, your last couple of posts cracked me up!
I agree about the relationship thing. I would have given anything to have married my highschool sweetheart like Dennis did and stayed together forever (whatever forever is!). But that doesn't happen very often in this world. Dennis is very lucky.

He does write a lot of songs about his wife. But this new album has quite a few that have nothing to do with her. He is at his best when he writes songs that are NOT love songs, but those are the songs that pay the bills and he makes it very clear how much she has inspired him.
I also think that the Suzzzanne (just kidding! Only one Z!!) inspired ballads on this CD have a little "meat" to them. No "First Time" or "Babe" softies on this disc, in my opinion.

I am sure you have talked about this, but I am curious of what you thought about Cyclorama.

Jimmy

[DarwinNebraska]

And it's my 2nd. But nice try DaN.

Ok I was off by one... keep trying! Who's DaN?

Do you really not understand the difference between being uncomfortable and being ambivilent or BORED?

I certainly understand bored.... see Styx 2007. Why does this *really* eat at your soul though, Zan?

Or...how about me saying I'd rather see a more creative side to Dennis than the same old-same old subject material, not "hey I can't handle your deep, undying love?"

There's plenty of that all over the album but you've found other reasons to knock those tunes. No shocker that you don't like the album... I could have placed that bet a few years back. You simply *don't like him* and thus it clouds your view of his music.

Good grief. Do you really need everything spelled out for you?[/color][/b]

No, Charlie Brown.

[styxfansite]

Zan, your last couple of posts cracked me up!
I agree about the relationship thing. I would have given anything to have married my highschool sweetheart like Dennis did and stayed together forever (whatever forever is!). But that doesn't happen very often in this world. Dennis is very lucky.

He does write a lot of songs about his wife. But this new album has quite a few that have nothing to do with her. He is at his best when he writes songs that are NOT love songs, but those are the songs that pay the bills and he makes it very clear how much she has inspired him.
I also think that the Suzzzanne (just kidding! Only one Z!!) inspired ballads on this CD have a little "meat" to them. No "First Time" or "Babe" softies on this disc, in my opinion.

I am sure you have talked about this, but I am curious of what you thought about Cyclorama.

Jimmy

Great post about this.

Cyclorama? I didn't buy it, but I listened to some of the songs through a free download service and could tell the album was not the Styx music that I once loved.

[Zan]

But those were only one or two songs per album, not a whole album about his wife, which is what I think yogi was getting at.

mmmm....Not that I can tell. The question was raised "wouldn't any musician want to write a song for her or his loved one every chance she or he got?" Stabbim and I tried to answer it, but got "if that's true, they must love other stuff more than their loved ones" or something, and "that's really sad." *sigh*

We are only pointing out that Dennis writes LOTS of songs for Suzanne. Many of which, are blatently obvious, which, TO ME, doesn't work poetically (to some, I realize it does, and that's all well and good for those people who enjoy it, but I am not one of them - I find it artistically stagnant and overly redundant)

Yogi asked where Suzanne fit into the concept albums Dennis wrote, and asked me to give examples, which I believe I did. We had a good run with Crystal Ball, GI, and Po8 though. He wrote some good shit on those albums. Well, the last 2, anyway. CB's efforts were just okay for me.

I think Stabbim said it best: what was the question?

[stabbim]

You are taking my orginal quote out of context.

I wrote that this is the best COLLECTION of DDY songs that Dennis has ever done Styx or solo.

You all omit the word COLLECTION.

Ok, then. On that basis, I think this could very well be his best solo collection. There are individual songs on his other solo records that are better than anything here, but there's better material here overall.

I have a hard time comparing it fairly to the Styx of yore, but IMO he's only written 2 or 3 good Styx songs in the past 2 decades, so I guess it ends up on top in that comparison as well.

Find me ANY other DDY or Styx CD where DENNIS has 7 GREAT songs.

You cant!!!!!

I *still* can't. lol

What she said.