Carrot Styx Review

[SuiteMadameBlue]

I don't know if this was posted before??

Anybody else go HUH?? on this article? I'm sure there will be comments on this one - LOL

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117928 ... id=34&cs=1


Posted: Mon., Oct. 3, 2005, 12:48pm PT

Styx

(Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles; 2,000 seats; $50 top)

Presented by Avalon. Reviewed Sept. 29, 2005.

Tommy Shaw, who brought a hard-rock quality to Styx in 1976, left in '88 and rejoined nine years ago, was recently quoted saying the act was designed with the intention of members coming and going -- the elaborate album artwork, for example, never featured photos of the band. Shaw, though, in his reinvention of the band sans its other leading light, singer Dennis DeYoung, has shaved off the baroque textures and created a hard-rock outfit that takes a ham-fisted approach to nearly everything in their canon.

Styx's current album, "Big Bang Theory," is being distributed by Universal Music, their first major-label affiliation in 15 years. Driving home his point about interchangeability, the band's last major label release, "Edge of the Century" on A&M, featured James Young of the current members. Yet its original bassist Chuck Panozzo, who plays about half of Styx's current show, who provides a connective tissue between DeYoung and Shaw, the two songwriters who gave Styx its signature sound.

With two walls of amplifiers behind them, Styx made the usually reliable Wiltern sound atrocious. Todd Sucherman's drumming was overbearing; he played with one level of attack, often slipped as a timekeeper and found little need for anything approaching nuance. Shaw's co-leaders -- Young and keyboardist Lawrence Gowan -- bring in styles that run counter to Shaw's blue collar approach. Gowan appears to have developed his chops playing in a Styx tribute band at a bad Las Vegas lounge, and both musicians are far too showy.

Shaw, who still has rock-star swagger at 52 and can nail some impressive solos, created room in the set to play some of the covers that fill "Big Bang Theory." None were very impressive: The Beatles' "I Am the Walrus" was over the top, Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home" exposed Shaw's weaknesses as a singer and Humble Pie's "I Don't Need No Doctor" gave anyone who remembers the Humble Pie version newfound appreciation for Steve Marriott and Peter Frampton.

Besides a reasonable "Come Sail Away," band had one moment when it all clicked: "Crystal Ball," a soft number that built layer by layer without venturing into rococo excess. Unlike the rest of the 100-minute show, for four minutes this edition of Styx proved it could perform a textured song without bombast.

Styx will play the Ritz Theater in Elizabeth, N.J., on Nov. 11.

[sadie65]

Wow.

Ouch. Ham fisted?

Well to each his own I guess.

[bugsymalone]

Tommy Shaw, who brought a hard-rock quality to Styx in 1976, left in '88 and rejoined nine years ago, was recently quoted saying the act was designed with the intention of members coming and going -- the elaborate album artwork, for example, never featured photos of the band.

The new "party" line, it seems.

Bugsy

[styxfanNH]

well there is a lot to say about this, I'll keep it short til others weigh in.

Does this guy work for Rolling Stone?

[classicstyxfan]

IF......and ONLY if you can produce a review from this writer that has a positive outlook on a band of this genre ( Journey, Forgeiner, Boston, Kansas, etc. ) Then I will take this review seriously.

I'd bet a weeks pay this guys mind was made up and the review was written in his mind before he ever set foot in the door.

[BlackWall]

Yeah, the fact that he shoots down the band for being bombastic, they've always been, haven't they? Weren't they kind of considered America's answer to Queen? In my opinion, they always have been somewhat bombastic, but we're not talking about Meat Loaf here, they aren't that extreme. This guy does sound like classic Rolling Stone.. If anything, I think they are slightly less bombastic without Dennis, and no, I don't think that's a good thing. I guess I will just never understand why critics turn up their noses so much when it comes to Styx. I was just talking about this, but out of all the bands that they are always grouped with, I feel like they are the least commercial, and at least lyrically, I think they stretch a bit further, and give us material that touches on a variety of subject matter. I don't know, I guess guys like this only respect artists who can't really sing, and are a yawn and a half in concert.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

There's a lot more reviews from both parties. I just thought this one was one of the goofiest ones that I read.

I'm still baffled by this one:

Tommy Shaw, who brought a hard-rock quality to Styx in 1976, left in '88 and rejoined nine years ago, was recently quoted saying the act was designed with the intention of members coming and going -- the elaborate album artwork, for example, never featured photos of the band.

First, I would like to see this actual quote and

Second, I thought there were a couple of albums that featured "photos" of the band, right?

Styx (the first one) had the group like in flames
Styx - had their pictures in the word STYX
Grand Illusion - had their picture on back of the album
Pieces of Eight - had their pictures inside the album

What? This guys a real goof! No wonder it's been said that 10% of what you read in a newspaper is the truth (don't quote me on that one) LOL

[bugsymalone]

Yeah, the fact that he shoots down the band for being bombastic, they've always been, haven't they? Weren't they kind of considered America's answer to Queen? In my opinion, they always have been somewhat bombastic, but we're not talking about Meat Loaf here, they aren't that extreme. This guy does sound like classic Rolling Stone.. If anything, I think they are slightly less bombastic without Dennis, and no, I don't think that's a good thing. I guess I will just never understand why critics turn up their noses so much when it comes to Styx. I was just talking about this, but out of all the bands that they are always grouped with, I feel like they are the least commercial, and at least lyrically, I think they stretch a bit further, and give us material that touches on a variety of subject matter. I don't know, I guess guys like this only respect artists who can't really sing, and are a yawn and a half in concert.

Well stated, BW.

And, may I add, did anyone else notice not just what was said, but how poorly WRITTEN this "review" was? Incomplete sentences and incomprehensible, unfinished thoughts. The writer sounded high or stupid, or both, to me.

And that's my "review" of this "review".

Bugsy

[sadie65]

Those who can...do.

Those who can't...critique.

Apparently, this individual cannot do either well.

[mr.v]

"Todd Sucherman's drumming was overbearing; he played with one level of attack, often slipped as a timekeeper and found little need for anything approaching nuance."

I don't care if you are a fan of the current line up or not - this statement proved to me that the guy was just nuts. Todd is an incredable drummer, he has had way to much success as a studio drummer to "Slip as a time keeper"

Sheesh!

[LordofDaRing]

Obviously I am not a big fan of the current line up, but Mr V has a point...Todd is a great drummer. In addition to that, I do not see a weakness in Tommy's voice, if anything last time I heard him on stage with this line up, he sounds better than ever.

[Abitaman]

"Todd Sucherman's drumming was overbearing; he played with one level of attack, often slipped as a timekeeper and found little need for anything approaching nuance."

I don't care if you are a fan of the current line up or not - this statement proved to me that the guy was just nuts. Todd is an incredable drummer, he has had way to much success as a studio drummer to "Slip as a time keeper"

Sheesh!

Everybody has an off night, maybe Todd did, but I doubt it-ERIC