To: ChicagoStyx - My Review of COTC
Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 6:41 amCS, once again you asked. Good tidings from Queen B
The Music
I will make this brief. Far too much on this album sounds like an attempt to sound like other bands. This has been pointed out on web sites, YouTube, on their own Facebook page and even in reviews. Even the positive ones mention it. These are the bands I saw listed. Kansas, ELO, The Who, Pink Floyd, The Beatles and the most glaring “Queen”.
It doesn’t make it bad just less like Styx. (Save your breath Hello Goodbye is an actual tribute).
Lyrics.
The lyrics on most of the songs have a common theme. One of survival and rebirth but tinged with doubt. These are times of doubt. There is no “Get up get back on your feet” etc. something catchy that you can bite into although that’s what they’re aiming for. Deeper meanings are absent. Very similar to Mission where we learn nothing from the journey.
I have said it before that Tommy’s singular lyrical voice is absent. Crystal Ball etc. please. I noticed “castle wall” and the dreaded line from First Time “ don’t be afraid of love” in there.
For some, words to do not matter as much as the music, in fact Dennis has said so. Regardless Classic Styx lyrics hold up remarkably well. Thoughtful, human and deep.
For instance the awkwardness of the line “a monster chasing its tail” detracts from a good song. The vagueness of all these lyrics in general take away from the music which is good.
For fun go back and reread the lyrics on GI and PO8 and see the glaring deficiencies of COTC.
The miscalculations of Prog.
Lady is what got me interested in Styx in the first place and to me it was just a ballad turned rocker on my favorite station. I wanted to be someone’s Lady and have somebody sing that song to me. The dynamics the harmonies and that voice is what instantly captured me. I didn’t really know what art rock was. Or care really, I wanted songs on the radio that I liked. When I started buying albums my tastes expanded but I’m a song person so;
I agree with Dennis when he says they were a “fake prog band” not only is it funny but honest.
Watch Pete Pardo it’s all explained right there. I loved that interview. Even on the first album Styx sounded more like an American rock band than a prog band. The first song was Children of the Land. Take Fanfare For The Common Man and Mother Nature‘s Matinee off Styx I and there isn’t any prog. All the WN albums are a combination of an American rock band fused with prog elements. Rock n Roll Feelin to Serpent is Rising.
Father OSA to 22 Years. They were never just one style and to to think so is indefensible if you just listen.
Which brings me to the Mission and COTC.
Whomever is in charge today seems enamored with the delusion that Styx was simply a prog band, or should be now.
Any prog “doo dad” that is encouraged to the current arrangements for credibility are distracting rather than enhancing. Too often they are there without actual validity to the song itself. I have said it before “tricky time signatures” have no meaning to me. I’m not a musician so I can’t be impressed. Too many times on this album they’re distracting. If that’s a preference for some that’s fine but not for me and millions of Styx fans.
The songs are short and seem cobbled together through arrangements to give it a sense of importance. Mission did the same thing. As I think back Classic Styx rarely did this. Golden Lark into SFS with the thunderstorm and Castle Walls into Grand Finale are the only ones I can remember. There could be others.
Too many songs on COTC seem half formed or cut short just when they get going. No one was there to recognize the important parts. For guys who said we just wanna rock They don’t unless they mean we just wanna prog rock. I read Abbey Road was their goal. But that was not prog. Mission not accomplished. Sorry.
Classic Styx we’re a combination of three distinct singer songwriters who were brought together into a cohesive whole. The singers were different and unique and the harmonies were some of the best in music.
Not on COTC. I’m not a technical wiz but the harmonies are lifeless and feel dull and without passion and there are a lot of them. And they do not sound like Styx because Dennis is missing. Too much Gowan and almost no JY. Maybe JY can’t do it the same way anymore who knows. The parts being sung are good but not the sound.
Lead vocals.
Tommy for the most part sings great. He bares the weight here as he should which only points to the horrible decision to release COTC and Reveries first. I was not kind to these songs and many Styx fans felt the same way. What were they thinking? The album itself is better and those songs, they belong at the bottom of the list.
When Dennis was in charge of production Tommy’s voice never “sounded” better.
As good as Tommy is singing here he never “sounds” great. He deserves more from his producer. By comparison the most recent example would be Dear John which is truly magnificent. Our Wonderful Lives is a good song. He needed to sound more welcoming like the old days. I have no idea how that’s done.
I did notice more southern, country Shaw on this record then on any Classic Styx. Only an observation. Y’all.
If Tommy’s not singing lead there’s no one else I care to listen to. I’m not alone nor am I a minority.
Guitars
The guitar playing focus’s on the acoustic. This is Tommy’s strength and he is still great. Nothing really stands out on electric guitar, sorry. Nothing bad at all mind you, just no wow moments like Miss America or Half Penny Two Penny or Snowblind and many others. JY where are you? It should be apparent by now that JY was not in favor of these new albums and it shows. They needed him as the hard rock conscious of the group.
Finally
For those who always wanted Styx to be more prog than they actually were, I get why you would like this. I really do. But for the millions of Styx fans who loved their incredible songs, their 3 singers, their insightful lyrics and variety this will leave you like me pinning for the good old days.
Actually I only listened to 30 seconds of each song on iTunes so I give it a B-. Sorry I couldn’t resist!
The Music
I will make this brief. Far too much on this album sounds like an attempt to sound like other bands. This has been pointed out on web sites, YouTube, on their own Facebook page and even in reviews. Even the positive ones mention it. These are the bands I saw listed. Kansas, ELO, The Who, Pink Floyd, The Beatles and the most glaring “Queen”.
It doesn’t make it bad just less like Styx. (Save your breath Hello Goodbye is an actual tribute).
Lyrics.
The lyrics on most of the songs have a common theme. One of survival and rebirth but tinged with doubt. These are times of doubt. There is no “Get up get back on your feet” etc. something catchy that you can bite into although that’s what they’re aiming for. Deeper meanings are absent. Very similar to Mission where we learn nothing from the journey.
I have said it before that Tommy’s singular lyrical voice is absent. Crystal Ball etc. please. I noticed “castle wall” and the dreaded line from First Time “ don’t be afraid of love” in there.
For some, words to do not matter as much as the music, in fact Dennis has said so. Regardless Classic Styx lyrics hold up remarkably well. Thoughtful, human and deep.
For instance the awkwardness of the line “a monster chasing its tail” detracts from a good song. The vagueness of all these lyrics in general take away from the music which is good.
For fun go back and reread the lyrics on GI and PO8 and see the glaring deficiencies of COTC.
The miscalculations of Prog.
Lady is what got me interested in Styx in the first place and to me it was just a ballad turned rocker on my favorite station. I wanted to be someone’s Lady and have somebody sing that song to me. The dynamics the harmonies and that voice is what instantly captured me. I didn’t really know what art rock was. Or care really, I wanted songs on the radio that I liked. When I started buying albums my tastes expanded but I’m a song person so;
I agree with Dennis when he says they were a “fake prog band” not only is it funny but honest.
Watch Pete Pardo it’s all explained right there. I loved that interview. Even on the first album Styx sounded more like an American rock band than a prog band. The first song was Children of the Land. Take Fanfare For The Common Man and Mother Nature‘s Matinee off Styx I and there isn’t any prog. All the WN albums are a combination of an American rock band fused with prog elements. Rock n Roll Feelin to Serpent is Rising.
Father OSA to 22 Years. They were never just one style and to to think so is indefensible if you just listen.
Which brings me to the Mission and COTC.
Whomever is in charge today seems enamored with the delusion that Styx was simply a prog band, or should be now.
Any prog “doo dad” that is encouraged to the current arrangements for credibility are distracting rather than enhancing. Too often they are there without actual validity to the song itself. I have said it before “tricky time signatures” have no meaning to me. I’m not a musician so I can’t be impressed. Too many times on this album they’re distracting. If that’s a preference for some that’s fine but not for me and millions of Styx fans.
The songs are short and seem cobbled together through arrangements to give it a sense of importance. Mission did the same thing. As I think back Classic Styx rarely did this. Golden Lark into SFS with the thunderstorm and Castle Walls into Grand Finale are the only ones I can remember. There could be others.
Too many songs on COTC seem half formed or cut short just when they get going. No one was there to recognize the important parts. For guys who said we just wanna rock They don’t unless they mean we just wanna prog rock. I read Abbey Road was their goal. But that was not prog. Mission not accomplished. Sorry.
Classic Styx we’re a combination of three distinct singer songwriters who were brought together into a cohesive whole. The singers were different and unique and the harmonies were some of the best in music.
Not on COTC. I’m not a technical wiz but the harmonies are lifeless and feel dull and without passion and there are a lot of them. And they do not sound like Styx because Dennis is missing. Too much Gowan and almost no JY. Maybe JY can’t do it the same way anymore who knows. The parts being sung are good but not the sound.
Lead vocals.
Tommy for the most part sings great. He bares the weight here as he should which only points to the horrible decision to release COTC and Reveries first. I was not kind to these songs and many Styx fans felt the same way. What were they thinking? The album itself is better and those songs, they belong at the bottom of the list.
When Dennis was in charge of production Tommy’s voice never “sounded” better.
As good as Tommy is singing here he never “sounds” great. He deserves more from his producer. By comparison the most recent example would be Dear John which is truly magnificent. Our Wonderful Lives is a good song. He needed to sound more welcoming like the old days. I have no idea how that’s done.
I did notice more southern, country Shaw on this record then on any Classic Styx. Only an observation. Y’all.
If Tommy’s not singing lead there’s no one else I care to listen to. I’m not alone nor am I a minority.
Guitars
The guitar playing focus’s on the acoustic. This is Tommy’s strength and he is still great. Nothing really stands out on electric guitar, sorry. Nothing bad at all mind you, just no wow moments like Miss America or Half Penny Two Penny or Snowblind and many others. JY where are you? It should be apparent by now that JY was not in favor of these new albums and it shows. They needed him as the hard rock conscious of the group.
Finally
For those who always wanted Styx to be more prog than they actually were, I get why you would like this. I really do. But for the millions of Styx fans who loved their incredible songs, their 3 singers, their insightful lyrics and variety this will leave you like me pinning for the good old days.
Actually I only listened to 30 seconds of each song on iTunes so I give it a B-. Sorry I couldn’t resist!