MR

I've been listening to this CD alot lately and its really striking how cohesive and well done the CD is. There are very few "junk" cuts and the production is really strong - much better than the recent re-recordings. It also becomes obvious after many listenings that Glen had a big hand in the writing, his phrasing is apparent in many of the songs, not just the ones he sings. It really is, overall a great record.

(and yes I know... they bash Dennis in all the songs - Gowan sucks - they never should have recorded without Dennis - It dosen't sound like STYX - BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA freakin' BLA!)

I agree. It's a very cool album. I played the hell out of it.

I need to get that one.

I loved it. Have any of those songs remained on their current set list?

One With Everything, These Are The Times, More Love For The Money, Do things My Way I would pay to see a few of those cuts.

One with everything is the only one they've kept.

Everett wrote:One with everything is the only one they've kept.

which is really dumb. OWE is great, but there are some other great songs on that record. Do Things My Way was cool and would've gone over well live. The only 'dog' or those little vignettes, but they weren't really intended to be "songs" but more just little pieces like "the message" or "state street sadie" types of things.

brywool wrote:

Everett wrote:One with everything is the only one they've kept.

which is really dumb. OWE is great, but there are some other great songs on that record. Do Things My Way was cool and would've gone over well live. The only 'dog' or those little vignettes, but they weren't really intended to be "songs" but more just little pieces like "the message" or "state street sadie" types of things.

I'm probably in the minority but I really like "Togeather" and "Lennon's Assasin". "One With Everything" Is definately a high point and is really great live. I got to see "These are the Times" live and it was great to see them doing new music live but I understand why it is out of the set, same with "Fields of the Brave" they just didn't go over that well live. Great songs but just didn't quite cut it live. "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" was great live as well but without Glen in the band anymore it just would not work.

mr.v wrote:

brywool wrote:

Everett wrote:One with everything is the only one they've kept.

which is really dumb. OWE is great, but there are some other great songs on that record. Do Things My Way was cool and would've gone over well live. The only 'dog' or those little vignettes, but they weren't really intended to be "songs" but more just little pieces like "the message" or "state street sadie" types of things.

I'm probably in the minority but I really like "Togeather" and "Lennon's Assasin". "One With Everything" Is definately a high point and is really great live. I got to see "These are the Times" live and it was great to see them doing new music live but I understand why it is out of the set, same with "Fields of the Brave" they just didn't go over that well live. Great songs but just didn't quite cut it live. "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" was great live as well but without Glen in the band anymore it just would not work.

I, one who wishes Gowan would vanish from the scene, really like Cyclorama - especially Together, Lennon's Assasin, and yes, Fields of the Brave. Now to trip you all up, my favorite on the disc is These are the Times. The JY (band wrecker) hater I am. Go figure.

mr.v wrote:I've been listening to this CD alot lately and its really striking how cohesive and well done the CD is. There are very few "junk" cuts and the production is really strong - much better than the recent re-recordings. It also becomes obvious after many listenings that Glen had a big hand in the writing, his phrasing is apparent in many of the songs, not just the ones he sings. It really is, overall a great record.

(and yes I know... they bash Dennis in all the songs - Gowan sucks - they never should have recorded without Dennis - It dosen't sound like STYX - BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA freakin' BLA!)

You get the feeling that some of those songs were directed towards DDY. If that is truly the case I for one feel it was a childish and immature thing to do. I'm glad Dennis didn't do something like that. Some of the songs off OYFN actually seem to make me think that he has realized some of the mistakes he has made when it comes to his former band mates.

mr.v wrote: "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" was great live as well but without Glen in the band anymore it just would not work.

Oh come on, Larry is the best thing that ever happened to Styx. He can pull off any song that was performed by a former member of Styx. That's why they hired him. I for one can't wait to hear him do it. Rumor has it he is slated to rerecord this for Regurgitation Volume 62 due out in 2020.

my favorite Styx album (and the first one i ever bought, i got it a week after its release, Grand Illusion is a close second) The songs are great. i just picked up the DVD-Audio version, and played it on my 5.1 system... wow! i hope they record something like this again!

Boomchild wrote:

mr.v wrote:I've been listening to this CD alot lately and its really striking how cohesive and well done the CD is. There are very few "junk" cuts and the production is really strong - much better than the recent re-recordings. It also becomes obvious after many listenings that Glen had a big hand in the writing, his phrasing is apparent in many of the songs, not just the ones he sings. It really is, overall a great record.

(and yes I know... they bash Dennis in all the songs - Gowan sucks - they never should have recorded without Dennis - It dosen't sound like STYX - BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA freakin' BLA!)

You get the feeling that some of those songs were directed towards DDY. If that is truly the case I for one feel it was a childish and immature thing to do. I'm glad Dennis didn't do something like that. Some of the songs off OYFN actually seem to make me think that he has realized some of the mistakes he has made when it comes to his former band mates.

WOW, Really, you went there. The thread actually was up to like five or six great posts about a great record. We were talking about the music and the songwriting. Which songs we like and didn't like. Good conversation. BLAM shot to hell by someone with a one track mind and chip on their sholder - LET IT GO!!!

Keiferb wrote:

mr.v wrote:

brywool wrote:

Everett wrote:One with everything is the only one they've kept.

which is really dumb. OWE is great, but there are some other great songs on that record. Do Things My Way was cool and would've gone over well live. The only 'dog' or those little vignettes, but they weren't really intended to be "songs" but more just little pieces like "the message" or "state street sadie" types of things.

I'm probably in the minority but I really like "Togeather" and "Lennon's Assasin". "One With Everything" Is definately a high point and is really great live. I got to see "These are the Times" live and it was great to see them doing new music live but I understand why it is out of the set, same with "Fields of the Brave" they just didn't go over that well live. Great songs but just didn't quite cut it live. "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" was great live as well but without Glen in the band anymore it just would not work.

I, one who wishes Gowan would vanish from the scene, really like Cyclorama - especially Together, Lennon's Assasin, and yes, Fields of the Brave. Now to trip you all up, my favorite on the disc is These are the Times. The JY (band wrecker) hater I am. Go figure.

Don't get me wrong I love "These are the Times" it is probably the most classic STYX sounding song on the CD. It just didn't hold up live as well as songs like "One With Everything". Do you find Glen's influence spread throughout most of the tracks like I do? His style of phrasing just seems to pop up over and over again.

When I first played it, my favorite songs were Gowan's actually. The first time I saw Gowan (Brave New World Tour), I hated him. I thought he just looked like such a dork on stage. When I got Cyclo, I gained more respect for him, and the next time I saw him live, he'd toned it down a bit and seem to fit really well with the band live. I found his songs on Cyclo to be VERY DeYoung-ian in their lyrical content. Dennis used to write (and now does again on 100 Years-thank God) great political, or comedy of life types of lyrics. He took some time off from doing that for awhile and got caught up in the romantic types of lyrics that, quite frankly, weren't his strong point on most of his solo work. That was something I really missed after Paradise Theatre with Styx. However, I thought Gowan's tracks fit right in with that mold of Styx stuff. I actually thought JYs tracks were pretty good, though, as usual, his lower, vocal delivery was kind of funky. Glenn kind of stole the show for me, which he also did on Edge of the Century. The best tracks on that album (other than Show Me the Way) were his. Also, in Kiss Your Ass Goodbye, that keyboard break that Gowan places is amazingly cool. Tommy's tracks were decent too, but I found the new guys' stuff more interesting.

mr.v wrote:

Boomchild wrote:

mr.v wrote:I've been listening to this CD alot lately and its really striking how cohesive and well done the CD is. There are very few "junk" cuts and the production is really strong - much better than the recent re-recordings. It also becomes obvious after many listenings that Glen had a big hand in the writing, his phrasing is apparent in many of the songs, not just the ones he sings. It really is, overall a great record.

(and yes I know... they bash Dennis in all the songs - Gowan sucks - they never should have recorded without Dennis - It dosen't sound like STYX - BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA freakin' BLA!)

You get the feeling that some of those songs were directed towards DDY. If that is truly the case I for one feel it was a childish and immature thing to do. I'm glad Dennis didn't do something like that. Some of the songs off OYFN actually seem to make me think that he has realized some of the mistakes he has made when it comes to his former band mates.

WOW, Really, you went there. The thread actually was up to like five or six great posts about a great record. We were talking about the music and the songwriting. Which songs we like and didn't like. Good conversation. BLAM shot to hell by someone with a one track mind and chip on their sholder - LET IT GO!!!

Actually, YOU went there...idiot.

Toph wrote:

mr.v wrote:

Boomchild wrote:

mr.v wrote:I've been listening to this CD alot lately and its really striking how cohesive and well done the CD is. There are very few "junk" cuts and the production is really strong - much better than the recent re-recordings. It also becomes obvious after many listenings that Glen had a big hand in the writing, his phrasing is apparent in many of the songs, not just the ones he sings. It really is, overall a great record.

(and yes I know... they bash Dennis in all the songs - Gowan sucks - they never should have recorded without Dennis - It dosen't sound like STYX - BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA freakin' BLA!)

You get the feeling that some of those songs were directed towards DDY. If that is truly the case I for one feel it was a childish and immature thing to do. I'm glad Dennis didn't do something like that. Some of the songs off OYFN actually seem to make me think that he has realized some of the mistakes he has made when it comes to his former band mates.

WOW, Really, you went there. The thread actually was up to like five or six great posts about a great record. We were talking about the music and the songwriting. Which songs we like and didn't like. Good conversation. BLAM shot to hell by someone with a one track mind and chip on their sholder - LET IT GO!!!

Actually, YOU went there...idiot.

Actually I did that on the first post hoping to curb anyone from starting this crap up again. Hoping to have a good conversation about about a great STYX record. Hoping that it would be painfully obvious that most of us here (sorry if I'm wrong about this) are sick of the same old crap overtaking every single thread. Hoping that I wold not have to explain the obvious. OH Well!!! Guess it didn't work.

brywool wrote:When I first played it, my favorite songs were Gowan's actually. The first time I saw Gowan (Brave New World Tour), I hated him. I thought he just looked like such a dork on stage. When I got Cyclo, I gained more respect for him, and the next time I saw him live, he'd toned it down a bit and seem to fit really well with the band live. I found his songs on Cyclo to be VERY DeYoung-ian in their lyrical content. Dennis used to write (and now does again on 100 Years-thank God) great political, or comedy of life types of lyrics. He took some time off from doing that for awhile and got caught up in the romantic types of lyrics that, quite frankly, weren't his strong point on most of his solo work. That was something I really missed after Paradise Theatre with Styx. However, I thought Gowan's tracks fit right in with that mold of Styx stuff. I actually thought JYs tracks were pretty good, though, as usual, his lower, vocal delivery was kind of funky. Glenn kind of stole the show for me, which he also did on Edge of the Century. The best tracks on that album (other than Show Me the Way) were his. Also, in Kiss Your Ass Goodbye, that keyboard break that Gowan places is amazingly cool. Tommy's tracks were decent too, but I found the new guys' stuff more interesting.

When I saw the "Brave New World" Tour I had the exact same reaction to Gowan, he was a bit too manic and over the top, but you're right he has calmed down and found his place in the line up. I enjoy his writing and at least on Cyclorama it did fill some of the Dennis void and Glen filled the rest. Not a replacement for Dennis it just filled that 3rd style place that is present on every STYX record, Which is part of what I have loved about this group since back in the 70's.

Exactly Mr.V. Gowan's voice is no substitutes for Dennis'. But he's good in his own right. There are elements that're different from what it was, there are elements that're the same as what it was. Some of what is missing now is stuff that I didn't like anyway. I refuse to hate the guy just because he's not someone else. That's silly. Same with Arnel. He's not Steve Perry, but he brings a lot to the party.

"manic" definitely. I didn't get that vibe when he played keys as much, more when he'd front the band. I don't mind the spinny keyboard deal, I think it's just showmanship and is pretty cool actually. It's kinda tough for a keyboard player to be any kind of a show man because he's hidden behind this huge rack of stuff. Gowan has done a good of making himself standout on stage and it's pretty freakin unique.

gowans contributions to cyclorama are the highlight for me of what he has done for styx. his songs were excellent on what I consider to be a very stong record and it was also cool to get to hear him be gowan and not gowan trying to sing DDY songs......so i think he did great.

for me personally cyclorama is a very enjoable cd for me....i listen to it often.....i know most people loved it but KYAG was one of my least favorite tracks from the album while killing the thing you love was one of my faves.

overall the highlights on the album for were "more love for the money", "together", "these are the times", "one with everything", "killing the thing you love" and "yes I can".

hey v

I read your post and was glad that we were going to talk music. I don't think you were wrong, there is a bunch of music talk. It is just easier to ignore the other fluff that comes along with any post here.

I love cyclo. I think the decision to try to go for the classic sound again was a good one. I liked the variety, which is one of the reasons I think I liked the band in the first place.

I hated, and I mean hated the fooling yourself thing. Just my opinon, of course.

I am glad that I could transfer the cd to my ipod and leave off the jack black thing, and ever since the famous (in Canada anyway) Billy Bob interview I have stopped listening to BP.

Anyway, great contributions from all members, and in my opinion a much more cohesive project than Brave New World. Coulda, woulda, shoulda, eh?

Nate

mr.v wrote:

Boomchild wrote:

mr.v wrote:I've been listening to this CD alot lately and its really striking how cohesive and well done the CD is. There are very few "junk" cuts and the production is really strong - much better than the recent re-recordings. It also becomes obvious after many listenings that Glen had a big hand in the writing, his phrasing is apparent in many of the songs, not just the ones he sings. It really is, overall a great record.

(and yes I know... they bash Dennis in all the songs - Gowan sucks - they never should have recorded without Dennis - It dosen't sound like STYX - BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA freakin' BLA!)

You get the feeling that some of those songs were directed towards DDY. If that is truly the case I for one feel it was a childish and immature thing to do. I'm glad Dennis didn't do something like that. Some of the songs off OYFN actually seem to make me think that he has realized some of the mistakes he has made when it comes to his former band mates.

WOW, Really, you went there. The thread actually was up to like five or six great posts about a great record. We were talking about the music and the songwriting. Which songs we like and didn't like. Good conversation. BLAM shot to hell by someone with a one track mind and chip on their sholder - LET IT GO!!!

I don't have a chip on my shoulder at all. The current Styx can do whatever they like, doesn't mean that I am going to agree with it or like it. I was commenting on your statement about them bashing Dennis in some of the songs on the album. If you feel that someone's response is not taking the conversation in the direction you intended it to then the best thing to do is ignore the reply, I won't mind. It not like my reply was some huge rant or bashing. In fact, I bought this album when it came out to see if I would like the new line up. I did like some of the songs on it but it left me feeling the stuff that made me a Styx fan was gone with this new version of Styx.

masque wrote:gowans contributions to cyclorama are the highlight for me of what he has done for styx. his songs were excellent on what I consider to be a very stong record and it was also cool to get to hear him be gowan and not gowan trying to sing DDY songs......so i think he did great.

for me personally cyclorama is a very enjoable cd for me....i listen to it often.....i know most people loved it but KYAG was one of my least favorite tracks from the album while killing the thing you love was one of my faves.

overall the highlights on the album for were "more love for the money", "together", "these are the times", "one with everything", "killing the thing you love" and "yes I can".

It really is a strong record and I would love to hear another full record from this line-up. Unfortunately that does not look like it is going to happen anytime soon. Like you I liked hearing Gowan being Gowan, I don't love his solo material but the combination of the styles and sounds really brought his tracks to life. Glen and Tommy seemed to be a natural soung writing team as well. I like the new song "Difference in this World" but it feels like it needed a little something more lyrically, Tommys best stuff seems to come from a calaberation with other writers, be it Dennis, Glen or Jack Blades. Ricky has a pretty strong background as far as writing goes so maybe in the future we will see him fill this role.

nate wrote:hey v

I read your post and was glad that we were going to talk music. I don't think you were wrong, there is a bunch of music talk. It is just easier to ignore the other fluff that comes along with any post here.

I love cyclo. I think the decision to try to go for the classic sound again was a good one. I liked the variety, which is one of the reasons I think I liked the band in the first place.

I hated, and I mean hated the fooling yourself thing. Just my opinon, of course.

I am glad that I could transfer the cd to my ipod and leave off the jack black thing, and ever since the famous (in Canada anyway) Billy Bob interview I have stopped listening to BP.

Anyway, great contributions from all members, and in my opinion a much more cohesive project than Brave New World. Coulda, woulda, shoulda, eh?

Nate

The "Fooling Yourself Thing" does get kinda old, it was cool to hear what someone like Brian Wilson could do producing a group with the vocal talent of STYX but I wouldn't want a full album of it. Same with the Billy Bob part and the Jack Black Track, nice to know the guys have fans out there in the acting world and I'm sure they felt that having those names attached to the recording would bring them a little more notice but those do cause me to hit the skip button now and then.

It would be interesting to see what the production cost on Cyclorama was. The overall sound of the recording is far superior to what they did with the re-recordings, I don't know if that can be credited to the producer on Cyclorama or if they just rushed the re-recordings. The world may never know???

Boomchild wrote:

mr.v wrote:

Boomchild wrote:

mr.v wrote:I've been listening to this CD alot lately and its really striking how cohesive and well done the CD is. There are very few "junk" cuts and the production is really strong - much better than the recent re-recordings. It also becomes obvious after many listenings that Glen had a big hand in the writing, his phrasing is apparent in many of the songs, not just the ones he sings. It really is, overall a great record.

(and yes I know... they bash Dennis in all the songs - Gowan sucks - they never should have recorded without Dennis - It dosen't sound like STYX - BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA freakin' BLA!)

You get the feeling that some of those songs were directed towards DDY. If that is truly the case I for one feel it was a childish and immature thing to do. I'm glad Dennis didn't do something like that. Some of the songs off OYFN actually seem to make me think that he has realized some of the mistakes he has made when it comes to his former band mates.

WOW, Really, you went there. The thread actually was up to like five or six great posts about a great record. We were talking about the music and the songwriting. Which songs we like and didn't like. Good conversation. BLAM shot to hell by someone with a one track mind and chip on their sholder - LET IT GO!!!

I don't have a chip on my shoulder at all. The current Styx can do whatever they like, doesn't mean that I am going to agree with it or like it. I was commenting on your statement about them bashing Dennis in some of the songs on the album. If you feel that someone's response is not taking the conversation in the direction you intended it to then the best thing to do is ignore the reply, I won't mind. It not like my reply was some huge rant or bashing. In fact, I bought this album when it came out to see if I would like the new line up. I did like some of the songs on it but it left me feeling the stuff that made me a Styx fan was gone with this new version of Styx.

Fair enough

mr.v wrote:I've been listening to this CD alot lately and its really striking how cohesive and well done the CD is. There are very few "junk" cuts and the production is really strong - much better than the recent re-recordings. It also becomes obvious after many listenings that Glen had a big hand in the writing, his phrasing is apparent in many of the songs, not just the ones he sings. It really is, overall a great record.

(and yes I know... they bash Dennis in all the songs - Gowan sucks - they never should have recorded without Dennis - It dosen't sound like STYX - BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA freakin' BLA!)

I was just curious which songs you think you hear Glen's lyrical influences in that he didn't sing lead on.

Songs played live from Cyclorama:

Waiting For Our Time
Fields of the Brave
Kiss Your Ass Goodbye
These are the Times
More Love for the Money
One With Everything

I heard they performed Captain America once and Yes I Can was performed at Todd's wedding.

Excellent album overall, I'd put it in their top 3. The comedy bits don't hold up though.

Yes, I hear Glen all over that album. It's interesting, in an interview, Glen stated that he had very little to do with the production of Cyclorama and in hindsite wished he had been more involved.

Were some of the songs digs at Denny? There was some pretty heated discussion on that topic here a few years back.

kansas666 wrote:Songs played live from Cyclorama:

Waiting For Our Time
Fields of the Brave
Kiss Your Ass Goodbye
These are the Times
More Love for the Money
One With Everything

I heard they performed Captain America once and Yes I Can was performed at Todd's wedding.

Excellent album overall, I'd put it in their top 3. The comedy bits don't hold up though.

Yes, I hear Glen all over that album. It's interesting, in an interview, Glen stated that he had very little to do with the production of Cyclorama and in hindsite wished he had been more involved.

Were some of the songs digs at Denny? There was some pretty heated discussion on that topic here a few years back.

Captain America was played at a Milwaukee show (2003), I was one of the camera people filming it. I also have the interview with JY explaining the meaning behind the song. He also talked about DDY in the interview - ALL positive.

yes i can was also played live on regis and kathy lee. i uploaded the clip to youtube.

kansas666 wrote:Songs played live from Cyclorama:

Waiting For Our Time
Fields of the Brave
Kiss Your Ass Goodbye
These are the Times
More Love for the Money
One With Everything

I heard they performed Captain America once and Yes I Can was performed at Todd's wedding.

Excellent album overall, I'd put it in their top 3. The comedy bits don't hold up though.

Yes, I hear Glen all over that album. It's interesting, in an interview, Glen stated that he had very little to do with the production of Cyclorama and in hindsite wished he had been more involved.

Were some of the songs digs at Denny? There was some pretty heated discussion on that topic here a few years back.

I do remember them playing "Captain America" as well, it would have been at the Knoxville show.

I have not had a chance to go back and listen to the CD in the last few days but it seems like I was picking Glen's phrasing out in songs like "Do Things My way" and a few more. I really think that his imput across the board may be part of what makes the record seem so cohesive.

stmonkeys wrote:yes i can was also played live on regis and kathy lee. i uploaded the clip to youtube.

Thank you very much for that. I had never seen it. It's missing the mandolin though. Seems a shame to have 3 accoustic guitars going and no mandolin.