Higgy wrote:Món wrote:Two questions here:
1.- Where has DDY gone with his new stuff besides Canada? 'Cause as far as I know, Styx is far more remembered than him as a solo artist in the rest of the world....
2.- Isn't it weird that DDY is making it this big (apparently from what I read here) in Canada nowadays, being that the current Styx singer is a "canadian rock icon" as well? 
The album has only been released in Canada. It has been extremely well received so it bodes well for a US release. As for Styx being far more remembered - no shit. Of course, the songs they are remembered for are the songs he wrote and the concepts he came up with and the albums he produced, etc. etc. etc - hey, one of those remembered songs was Babe! Maybe thats why when he tours - he can sing only his songs and people leave feeling like they have seen a Styx show while new Styx has to have someone else sing a bunch of songs Dennis wrote and people still leave feeling cheated.
The songs they are most remembered for are NOT necessarily ALL DeYoungs. It's THEIR SONGS as a collective. Granted, Dennis penned a lot of songs. If you were speaking up till Paradise Theatre with the odd song after that point thrown in, you'd have a point. The fact is, Dennis's song quality since PT has been suspect. And as proof, here's a 2005 setlist:
1. The Grand Illusion
2. Lady
3. Desert Moon
4. Lorelei
5. Pieces of Eight
6. Show Me the Way
7. Don't Let it End
8. Light Up
9. Castle Walls
10. Hello God
11. Rockin' the Paradise
12. Mr. Roboto
13. Suite Madame Blue
14. Babe
15. Best of Times
Encore:
16. Come Sail Away
MOST of the songs date from Paradise Theatre and before that. Had Dennis not gone ballad-heavy, there'd still be a fully intact Styx (and yes, I would imagine that John might even be around because the band would never have fractured- could be wrong). Sorry, couldn't find a more recent list.
After PT, Dennis's writing became increasingly syrup-heavy and dull.
If his are the only ones remembered, why has "Renegade" been their standard encore forever? Shouldn't it have been "Babe?". The fact is, the entire band (Jy too) contributed to what made Styx what they are. Dennis is what made Styx be watered down.
I think up until Paradise Theatre, Dennis's stuff was great. Had he not gone so wussy after that album, I'd probably give Babe (not First Time) a bit more slack. But the fact is, he dove headlong into the Robert Gullet pool and has yet to emerge the rock guy that he was.
Also, regarding Kilroy, I LOVED the concept of that album. I thought that generally, that idea was pretty cool. The pre-concert film was also cool and fun. What I didn't dig was that with that album, Styx nearly became a novelty act AND it broke them up. I'll never forget waiting for the premiere of their new tune on Mtv. When it was Mr. Roboto and they're dancing around in robot suits (probably not even them), I thought "What in the hell is this? Where's the guitar? Where's the POINT? Mr. Roboto? Who the f*ck knows what that is??".
The fact is, it baffled record buyers. If you didn't know the concept, you were lost and so the album didn't do as well as the others had. It also was a VERY cheesy sounding record. "High Time" with those wimpy harmonies is just SO white. It's like listening to The Brady Six. THIS IS STYX?? There was no balls to that track or the album. Little kids shrieking after "Heavy Metal Poisoning"?? Seriously, how many of us could put that album on in a room of friends today and not have people walk out of the room? Not so "The Grand Illusion", "Eotc", or even "Styx II". KWH is a time capsule that's incredibly dated and corny. Just as DeYoung himself is. At least Styx (with Cyclo) tried to update their sound and I think they did it quite successfully. It's a pity that they took that momentum and did a covers album afterwards.
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:59 pm
