I just received DDY's New Record

[Ash]

Dennis' new solo record came today. And I just have to say it. Some of you will dismiss me out of hand based on my preference toward liking Dennis in years past, but I think I've been pretty even handed of late.

I'll say this... this record sounds like a classic pre "Brave New World" Styx record. It's just undeniable. From the vocal production to the song arrangements. I can hear bits of "Little Suzie" in "This Time Next Year", bits of Equinox here and there - and bits of what you heard around 1997. I've only listened all the way through a few times.

Hell in a few places I could almost swear I could hear Tommy Shaw singing backing vocals.

[froy]

Dennis' new solo record came today. And I just have to say it. Some of you will dismiss me out of hand based on my preference toward liking Dennis in years past, but I think I've been pretty even handed of late.

I'll say this... this record sounds like a classic pre "Brave New World" Styx record. It's just undeniable. From the vocal production to the song arrangements. I can hear bits of "Little Suzie" in "This Time Next Year", bits of Equinox here and there - and bits of what you heard around 1997. I've only listened all the way through a few times.

Hell in a few places I could almost swear I could hear Tommy Shaw singing backing vocals.

Thats Kevin and that is the STYX sound that Dennis brought to the table.
This cd is unbelievable after about 5 run throughs.

[DarwinNebraska]

I love how quiet it got around here now that Dennis has come back strong and faux-Styx withers away....

I can see the reunion card being played as soon as Dennis' solo disc runs it's course... Styx has nowhere else to go... they have to beg him back and play that card.

Gowan... pack your bags.

[Skates]

It's not quiet. Some of us have lives. Thanks for caring.

[DarwinNebraska]

It's not quiet. Some of us have lives. Thanks for caring.

Where's all the excitement for this latest Styx tour? : cackle :

[GrandIllusionist725]

Im only on song three of the album and i love it!

[froy]

I love how quiet it got around here now that Dennis has come back strong and faux-Styx withers away....

I can see the reunion card being played as soon as Dennis' solo disc runs it's course... Styx has nowhere else to go... they have to beg him back and play that card.

Gowan... pack your bags.

Yep
Pack em and get lost
Your keyboard spinning days are over
You brought nothing and I mean nothing to this band
JY you will be lucky If I even look at you at the reunion concert/
These guys were on the radio today in Chicago
First time I ever heard a radio station giving awaytickets for an opening act
Talk is cheap thats all they got left.

[froy]

Im only on song three of the album and i love it!

Number 6 will send you flying

[GrandIllusionist725]

I finished the record and i loved it! By far one of my favorite solo efforts ever. I never doubted this album in the first place, i have looked forward to this one for awhile. I loved it all! I have it going again right now

[DavidD]

I have always been a big fan of STYX. My favorite STYX was a band that included Dennis. I have to say for the most part that I have not really liked DDY's past solo efforts. Yeah there were some moments for me. But, for the most part they just didn't have the sound and body.

I'm still trying to separate myself from what I didn't like about DDY's work since STYX. I kind of wish that I didn't start to look at his work as show tunes/broadway as many have observed. I probably would have warmed up to this CD faster on the first listen. Not that I didn't like it on the first spin. But, there were still some of those elements that I didn't care for. But, this one has more of the sound I want to hear.

After my second spin, I feel some real body in this work. The mix is awesome. The quality of the engineering is impeccable. The players are right on. The lyrics are very good and at times ... I feel like I am them.

I think I'll give it another spin.

David

[GrandIllusionist725]

Agreed.

See, i liked Dennis' other solo work, im proud to say it. Desert Moon was great while Back to the World wasn't too bad and i honestly liked Boomchild. 10 On Broadway was alright but its something i don't listen to on a daily basis, same thing with the Hunchback. This new CD of his is great, i was naming my favorite songs from the album and i saw myself name 7 out of the 11 on there. I can't wait for the US release because if Froy is right, extra tracks could be added? I know they do that with releases in different countries (i.e One With Everything CD import had I don't need no doctor on it) so either way, i know i will buy the US version as well.

My hats off to Dennis!

[stabbim]

I love how quiet it got around here now that Dennis has come back strong and faux-Styx withers away....

Beg to differ on the "quiet" (and the "faux," but that's neither here nor there.)

Supposing it actually was quieter around here since DDY's album came out, wouldn't that be a bad thing from your pov? Wouldn't you rather discussion of your hero merited a little more noise?

[Ash]

Im only on song three of the album and i love it!

Number 6 will send you flying

I gotta tell ya froy... I am with you. Crossing the Rubicon may be Dennis best song since Come Sail Away - and I dare say that CTR is better lyrically. I actually think it should have been the title of the album because it is album-title worthy.

It's proof that a song doesn't have to have screaming guitars and 200 beats a minute to be a complete classic.

Crossing The Rubicon has reduced me to tears. Not in years has a song been so timely to my life. I'm such a sissy. I'm honestly sobbing like a child.

[bugsymalone]

Ash. So happy you finally got the CD. I am hoping the slow service was because they had so many orders to fill.

What I love about this work from Dennis is (as I have mentioned oh about 100 times here and there) so multi-layered. It requires many listenings just to get into it. And each song has something brilliant to say if given a chance.

"Crossing the Rubicon" is a masterwork from him, no question. There are so many aspects to it, is is astonishing. And, as a friend of mine said, how many songwriters reference ancient history and "Waiting for Godot" with such ease and purpose.

I find I keep coming back to "I Don't Believe in Anything" a lot. (Well, actually, I listen to the entire CD over and over because I like everything on it). That song is so incredible and I LOVE that it is in a style Dennis has never really used before. Delta blues slide dobro? Fantastic! The lyrics are a blast furnace that I, for one, SO identify with, while I am laughing my butt off at what he says.

The other thing I love is the throwback feel of the synthesizers. I am such a fan of that sound!

Bugsy

[Ash]

I find I keep coming back to "I Don't Believe in Anything" a lot. (Well, actually, I listen to the entire CD over and over because I like everything on it). That song is so incredible and I LOVE that it is in a style Dennis has never really used before. Delta blues slide dobro? Fantastic! The lyrics are a blast furnace that I, for one, SO identify with, while I am laughing my butt off at what he says.

The other thing I love is the throwback feel of the synthesizers. I am such a fan of that sound!

Bugsy

I Don't Believe In Anything in parts reminds me of the Damn Yankees song "Mr. Please". I think they are stylistically similar.

To anyone who is saying Dennis has lost something vocally must be listening to a different album.

Very impressed.

[Zan]

I Don't Believe In Anything in parts reminds me of the Damn Yankees song "Mr. Please". I think they are stylistically similar.

It is rumored that Tommy actually wrote the original score with MS Funk back in 1974, and Denny just changed the lyrics.

[froy]

I find I keep coming back to "I Don't Believe in Anything" a lot. (Well, actually, I listen to the entire CD over and over because I like everything on it). That song is so incredible and I LOVE that it is in a style Dennis has never really used before. Delta blues slide dobro? Fantastic! The lyrics are a blast furnace that I, for one, SO identify with, while I am laughing my butt off at what he says.

I can see the video for this
Dennis rides up on a white horse with his cowboy hat on
Spits out his tabacca
Maybe the same train station he used for Desert Moon but 100 years earlier.
He gets off his horse and is in a duel gun fight with JY
Jy rides up in his yugo and his botox is wearing off so his face is kinda cockeyed.
Dennis says I dont believe in anything and pow shoots JY is the gun fight,
I need more acid to finish this video back later,

The other thing I love is the throwback feel of the synthesizers. I am such a fan of that sound!

You have no idea what this means to hear you say this,

[froy]

I Don't Believe In Anything in parts reminds me of the Damn Yankees song "Mr. Please". I think they are stylistically similar.

It is rumored that Tommy actually wrote the original score with MS Funk back in 1974, and Denny just changed the lyrics.

Hey Zan were is your review of this masterpiece
You blast away and now say 0
Come on babe

[styxfanNH]

I find I keep coming back to "I Don't Believe in Anything" a lot. (Well, actually, I listen to the entire CD over and over because I like everything on it). That song is so incredible and I LOVE that it is in a style Dennis has never really used before. Delta blues slide dobro? Fantastic! The lyrics are a blast furnace that I, for one, SO identify with, while I am laughing my butt off at what he says.

I can see the video for this
Dennis rides up on a white horse with his cowboy hat on
Spits out his tabacca
Maybe the same train station he used for Desert Moon but 100 years earlier.
He gets off his horse and is in a duel gun fight with JY
Jy rides up in his yugo and his botox is wearing off so his face is kinda cockeyed.
Dennis says I dont believe in anything and pow shoots JY is the gun fight,
I need more acid to finish this video back later,

Then you'll hear everyone saying before they hear the song that Dennis has gone country.... and he's on his high horse.....

[styxfanNH]

The other thing I love is the throwback feel of the synthesizers. I am such a fan of that sound!

You have no idea what this means to hear you say this,

Froy, you hitting on Bugsy? ...... Sorry Bugsy, it was there

[Zan]

Hey Zan were is your review of this masterpiece
You blast away and now say 0
Come on babe

Blast away? I'll assume you're referring to DDY in general and not the CD itself, of which, I haven't said boo about. Not even the cover. lol

Someone wanna send me a copy?

[Zan]

I need more acid to finish this video...

I think it's safe to say that more acid is probably the last thing you need, Froyline.

[bugsymalone]

The other thing I love is the throwback feel of the synthesizers. I am such a fan of that sound!

You have no idea what this means to hear you say this,

Froy, you hitting on Bugsy? ...... Sorry Bugsy, it was there

Naaaah. He just wants me to give him some of my acid.

Bugsy

[froy]

Hey Zan were is your review of this masterpiece
You blast away and now say 0
Come on babe

Blast away? I'll assume you're referring to DDY in general and not the CD itself, of which, I haven't said boo about. Not even the cover. lol

Someone wanna send me a copy?

Hey is that little Zan?

[Zan]

Hey is that little Zan?

It is. Although, I'm not sure I'd curse her with THAT title. lol

Her name is Sadie (no relation to our Sadie) - she's a week old today.

And that reminds me - you never sent me those mp3s I asked for.

[yogi]

Congrats Zan!!!!!!!

[MtlLady]

Hey is that little Zan?

It is. Although, I'm not sure I'd curse her with THAT title. lol

Her name is Sadie (no relation to our Sadie) - she's a week old today.

And that reminds me - you never sent me those mp3s I asked for.

Holy cow! Congratulations! She's beautiful!

I had no idea you were expecting.

[froy]

Hey is that little Zan?

It is. Although, I'm not sure I'd curse her with THAT title. lol

Her name is Sadie (no relation to our Sadie) - she's a week old today.

And that reminds me - you never sent me those mp3s I asked for.

Awesome Zan
Now how do I do Mp3s?
I can email it to you
That would be a great cd for Sadie

[Zan]

Hey is that little Zan?

It is. Although, I'm not sure I'd curse her with THAT title. lol

Her name is Sadie (no relation to our Sadie) - she's a week old today.

And that reminds me - you never sent me those mp3s I asked for.

Awesome Zan
Now how do I do Mp3s?
I can email it to you
That would be a great cd for Sadie

Yes it would! I enjoyed it last time you sent it. I know the CD is in my house somewhere, but I'm not the most organized person on the planet. lol

Send me an email at my aol account, and I'll try to walk you through the mp3 process. lol

[shaka]

Hey Zan were is your review of this masterpiece
You blast away and now say 0
Come on babe

Blast away? I'll assume you're referring to DDY in general and not the CD itself, of which, I haven't said boo about. Not even the cover. lol

Someone wanna send me a copy?

I can't comment either seeing how it hasn't yet been released in my country. Maybe the silence of the board comes from the fact that most of us do not have the cd and can't review or comment.