MR

I hadn't listened to this album in a long time, and I put it on the other day and took a listen. I had forgotten how good PT was and how it flows together so well. Great job of sequencing by DDY on this one - the first "side" arguably is the best Styx side on any of their albums. And the second side is good in it's own right too. I know that "She Cares" is often everybody's whipping boy and I admit that I've made fun of it too, but in the context of the album, I think it works a lot better. It is really the last upbeat positive "poppy" song before the album goes quite dark and heavier. Paradise Theatre in my opinion is really one of those albums that should be listened to in its entirely - the "gestalt" is more powerful than the individual songs. With Escape, the best album of 1981.

I still feel that "Lonely People" is one of Dennis' best compositions -- lyrically and musically -- ever. My only bone to pick with it is the long, sotto voce intro that I would have preferred not be on the album at all. Or at least it should have been a separate track (so you could skip it if you wished!).

I also think "Half-Penny, Two-Penny" is one of JY's very best contributions to any Styx album.


Bugsy

agree about Paradise, I think it's such a complete album, well produced, performed and mixed. And the added value of the packaging. The way the album cover opened and the laser etching on the record.

I still can't comprehend how you go from that to Kilroy though.

Here's my earlier opinion of PT from this board:

http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=27930&highlight=hodo

Bearded Clam wrote:agree about Paradise, I think it's such a complete album, well produced, performed and mixed. And the added value of the packaging. The way the album cover opened and the laser etching on the record.

I still can't comprehend how you go from that to Kilroy though.

Exactly... where would STYX be without good producers, mixers and packaging? I'm mean, they need SOMETHING to sell those albums.

Great album, very underated.

STYX Fan wrote:

Bearded Clam wrote:agree about Paradise, I think it's such a complete album, well produced, performed and mixed. And the added value of the packaging. The way the album cover opened and the laser etching on the record.

I still can't comprehend how you go from that to Kilroy though.

Exactly... where would STYX be without good producers, mixers and packaging? I'm mean, they need SOMETHING to sell those albums.

Yeah because god knows people buy the packing and not the MUSIC right? They must have SOMETHING to sell them .... ::fucktard::

It was a good come-back after Cornerstone.

But I could have done without the horns.

My favorite Styx album.. I might be somewhat biased because it was one of the first that I purchased, but then again, I think I bought "Cornerstone" the same night, and I don't have nearly the same admiration for it.

Like "The Grand Illusion", "PT" totally works as a complete album, but the problem with "GI" is that I've come to the point where I feel burned out on several of the songs due to the exposure on radio and various greatest hits/live compilations. It seems as though"PT" has more songs that have gone unnoticed. Like several here, I love "Lonely People"; and "Nothing Ever Goes As Planned" is right up there as well. Those two songs, and even "Half Penny/Two Penny", being the fan favorite that it seems to be, haven't received that much exposure over the years. Of course, neither has, "She Cares", but no one seems to really care about that, lol. Personally, I can see where it's weak compared to the other gems, but I've always kinda enjoyed it..

"PT" can be bombastic like "GI", but it seems to be a perfect marriage of the Styx of the '75-'78 time period, and '79-'83. It touched on several styles, and it just seems like, whether they ALL were content with what they were doing or not, the writers were just on fire for this release.