Semi OT Chicago XXX/Cyclorama

[BlackWall]

Did anyone else grab the new Chicago XXX CD?

It's amazing to me, that the band had 15 years between albums of completely new material, and this is what they came up with..

I just don't get it, I realize they were probably pushed to record a certain type of sound from the label, but I don't even find this as interesting as what they were doing in the '80s. They didn't go back to the Rock/Jazz fusion that they were doing in the early '70s(which really wasn't expected), but then they also didn't do anything nearly as commercial as anything they had success with later on. It seems like they more or less recreated an album they would have done in the '80s, but managed to take away any of the power or slickness that would have turned the songs into hits. It's too bad Toto already used the title "Falling In Between".

Why do old bands that do new albums always hold back so much? With all of the stuff happening in the world today, we really could have had a brilliant Chicago album..

This leads me back to "Cyclorama": As much as I couldn't get into the subtle(and not so) stabs at Dennis, and missed his contributions, they did manage to put out an album that really touched on the classic sound of Styx, with a modern twist put on things. No, not every song was gold, but I guess this new release from Chicago just made me looks back and appreciate the effort that was made.

[Angiekay]

Did anyone else grab the new Chicago XXX CD?

It's amazing to me, that the band had 15 years between albums of completely new material, and this is what they came up with..

I just don't get it, I realize they were probably pushed to record a certain type of sound from the label, but I don't even find this as interesting as what they were doing in the '80s. They didn't go back to the Rock/Jazz fusion that they were doing in the early '70s(which really wasn't expected), but then they also didn't do anything nearly as commercial as anything they had success with later on. It seems like they more or less recreated an album they would have done in the '80s, but managed to take away any of the power or slickness that would have turned the songs into hits. It's too bad Toto already used the title "Falling In Between".

Just an FYI for you to maybe make things clearer....apparently, this album started out as a Robert Lamm solo project. He eventually talked the other guys into joining in and making it a Chicago album. This could be why it has a different sound or is just not "Chicago".

[ChicagoSTYX]

What CD did you guys listen to? I think this is the best Chicago CD since 17. It’s a great mix of 70’s Chicago, power ballad 80’s Chicago with a bit of an update. The vocals are crystal clear and the harmonies are over the top. The songs are full of hooks and the are radio friendly. Tracks 7 through 12 take me back to Chicago V through X. Give it a few more spins and see if you feel any different. As far as I know Robert Lamm only sings 3 songs on the CD. You can here Rascle Flatts on “Love Will Come Back” where the harmony stands out. I think most Styx fans who appreciate the harmony will really like this CD.

[DarwinNebraska]

Do the diehards really like the 80s/90s schlock they released, especially after Cetera left?

It's unfortunate that the band recorded an album called "Stone Of Sisyphus" that really harkened back a lot more to their original sound but couldn't get it released.

I love early Chicago and some of the 80s Cetera stuff, albeit commercial, was memorable.

They've released nothing since he left that I wasn't embarassed to listen to, however, except their Christmas album.

[gr8dane]

I just heard for the first time the first .Chicago Transit Auth.
Great stuff.Can't say I know to much about the rest,except the hits.

[Abitaman]

Do the diehards really like the 80s/90s schlock they released, especially after Cetera left?

It's unfortunate that the band recorded an album called "Stone Of Sisyphus" that really harkened back a lot more to their original sound but couldn't get it released.

I love early Chicago and some of the 80s Cetera stuff, albeit commercial, was memorable.

They've released nothing since he left that I wasn't embarassed to listen to, however, except their Christmas album.

Yes, I like the stuff after Cetera left. 18, 19, 21 were all good. New cd is pretty good too. Really like the first two songs one it. Skip only two. Rest is pretty good. Sounds new, but still the old true Chicago feel to it.

They had a cd set to be released in the early mid 90's called the Stone of Sisyphus. Did not sound like your normal Chicago cd. It was so far from the norm, that the record company refused to release it. That is why the group has their own record label now. But SoS was a good cd, sounds like Toto and Chicago mixed.

[Abitaman]

Do the diehards really like the 80s/90s schlock they released, especially after Cetera left?

It's unfortunate that the band recorded an album called "Stone Of Sisyphus" that really harkened back a lot more to their original sound but couldn't get it released.

I love early Chicago and some of the 80s Cetera stuff, albeit commercial, was memorable.

They've released nothing since he left that I wasn't embarassed to listen to, however, except their Christmas album.

Yes, I like the stuff after Cetera left. 18, 19, 21 were all good. New cd is pretty good too. Really like the first two songs one it. Skip only two. Rest is pretty good. Sounds new, but still the old true Chicago feel to it.

They had a cd set to be released in the early mid 90's called the Stone of Sisyphus. Did not sound like your normal Chicago cd. It was so far from the norm, that the record company refused to release it. That is why the group has their own record label now. But SoS was a good cd, sounds like Toto and Chicago mixed.

[Monker]

What CD did you guys listen to? I think this is the best Chicago CD since 17. It’s a great mix of 70’s Chicago, power ballad 80’s Chicago with a bit of an update. The vocals are crystal clear and the harmonies are over the top. The songs are full of hooks and the are radio friendly. Tracks 7 through 12 take me back to Chicago V through X. Give it a few more spins and see if you feel any different. As far as I know Robert Lamm only sings 3 songs on the CD. You can here Rascle Flatts on “Love Will Come Back” where the harmony stands out. I think most Styx fans who appreciate the harmony will really like this CD.

I completely agree with this...

I bought it today and was listening to it in the car. I think it's a great CD, not a bad song on it.

[BlackWall]

I don't think it's a horrible album, but I guess I was just expecting something different. I had heard the three "SOS" tracks released on the box set, and was fairly impressed. Then, after hearing the new single, I guess I just had my hopes up a little too much.. I won't lie, there's a chance that some of these songs will grown on me after some repeated listenings, that's been known to happen..

For me, as far as the history of Chicago goes, I really enjoy the stuff they did between "CTA" and Chicago V". They lost me a little with the Cetera ballads that started in the mid '70s.. I'm not saying there's nothing worthwhile, "I've Been Searchin' So Long" is a great song, and "Old Days" isn't bad. I remember in the aftermath of 9/11, listening to songs like "Lowdown", "Dialogue" and even "Another Rainy Day In New York City", and really being moved at the fact that all of these songs that were written so long ago were still so relevant.

They really lost me with most of the'80s stuff, but I have to admit that when Bill Champlin began taking over as lead, I was able to get into some songs like "You're Not Alone", "Chasin' The Wind", and even "Look Away".

I guess I just feel like the new album fails to capture any of their past glory. There's nothing to me that's as stunning as their early '70s material, and nothing that's even as commercial as the songs from "Twenty 1". "King Of What Might Have Been" reminds me of a thin rewrite of "Hard Habit To Break", and I can't really stomach the duet with "Rascal Flats" on "Love Will Come Back". I will give it some more time, though, it can take me a few listens before I really start to appreciate new stuff sometimes.