Journey vs. Styx

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Journey vs. Styx

Postby Toph » Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:35 am

OK - since people are always saying that Journey and Styx are similar in story. Compare each of the albums. Which one do you like better

Infinity vs. The Grand Illusion
Evolution vs. Pieces of Eight
Departure vs. Cornerstone
Escape vs. Paradise Theatre
Frontiers vs. Kilroy Was Here

After that the timeframe of album releases diverges - hard to compare Raised On Radio with Edge of The Century since they were 4 years apart.

Discuss
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Re: Journey vs. Styx

Postby brywool » Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:48 am

Toph wrote:OK - since people are always saying that Journey and Styx are similar in story. Compare each of the albums. Which one do you like better

Infinity vs. The Grand Illusion
Evolution vs. Pieces of Eight
Departure vs. Cornerstone
Escape vs. Paradise Theatre
Frontiers vs. Kilroy Was Here

After that the timeframe of album releases diverges - hard to compare Raised On Radio with Edge of The Century since they were 4 years apart.

Discuss


Too much work...
I have yet to hear a Journey album or song that makes me cringe or that comes across as embarrassing. I love Styx but Kilroy and Cornerstone contain a few songs that I'd never play if anyone else was in the room and even when just playing the CD in my car, there are a few I'd hit the skip button on.
The only Journey (with Perry) tune I can't stand is the reggae tune from Trial By Fire, and also Trial By Fire. Sucks, yet not so bad that someone in the room wouldn't like it.
The old OLD Journey stuff I've never really been into as it's not real vocally-oriented stuff.

With Styx, MOST of their stuff stands up, but those two albums had some cringers on em.
NO. He's NOT Steve F'ing Perry. But he's Arnel F'ing Pineda and I'm okay with that.
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Re: Journey vs. Styx

Postby Rockwriter » Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:17 am

brywool wrote:
Toph wrote:OK - since people are always saying that Journey and Styx are similar in story. Compare each of the albums. Which one do you like better

Infinity vs. The Grand Illusion
Evolution vs. Pieces of Eight
Departure vs. Cornerstone
Escape vs. Paradise Theatre
Frontiers vs. Kilroy Was Here

After that the timeframe of album releases diverges - hard to compare Raised On Radio with Edge of The Century since they were 4 years apart.

Discuss


Too much work...
I have yet to hear a Journey album or song that makes me cringe or that comes across as embarrassing. I love Styx but Kilroy and Cornerstone contain a few songs that I'd never play if anyone else was in the room and even when just playing the CD in my car, there are a few I'd hit the skip button on.
The only Journey (with Perry) tune I can't stand is the reggae tune from Trial By Fire, and also Trial By Fire. Sucks, yet not so bad that someone in the room wouldn't like it.
The old OLD Journey stuff I've never really been into as it's not real vocally-oriented stuff.

With Styx, MOST of their stuff stands up, but those two albums had some cringers on em.




For me it's the opposite. Although I think the individual members of Journey are great musicians, it's a situation where I think the whole is actually less than the sum of the parts. It's the songwriting that gets to me. Journey's songs have really wretched lyrics for the most part, just glaringly bad, utterly vacuous lyric writing in that band. For instance, "Any Way You Want It" is a great arrangement, but the lyric sounds like a little kid wrote it. "She loves to move/She loves to groove/She loves the loving things/All night, all night, all every night/So hold tight, hold tight/Baby,hold tight". Now that's not bad enough, then they go into "She said anyway you want it, that's the way you need it,any way you want it". Ummm, what in the world does that chorus have to do with that verse? Nothing! It's like they're from two different songs. A monkey could write a better lyric than that. Lots of Journey songs suffer from that kind of lack of continuity in subject matter in the lyrics, and that is something about the band that makes it virtually unlistenable for me. I've never been able to get through an entire album. I know an awful lot of people disagree with that assessment, LOL. So I'll stop ranting now.

I hope all is well.
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Re: Journey vs. Styx

Postby brywool » Fri Jan 09, 2009 2:20 am

Rockwriter wrote:
brywool wrote:
Toph wrote:OK - since people are always saying that Journey and Styx are similar in story. Compare each of the albums. Which one do you like better

Infinity vs. The Grand Illusion
Evolution vs. Pieces of Eight
Departure vs. Cornerstone
Escape vs. Paradise Theatre
Frontiers vs. Kilroy Was Here

After that the timeframe of album releases diverges - hard to compare Raised On Radio with Edge of The Century since they were 4 years apart.

Discuss


Too much work...
I have yet to hear a Journey album or song that makes me cringe or that comes across as embarrassing. I love Styx but Kilroy and Cornerstone contain a few songs that I'd never play if anyone else was in the room and even when just playing the CD in my car, there are a few I'd hit the skip button on.
The only Journey (with Perry) tune I can't stand is the reggae tune from Trial By Fire, and also Trial By Fire. Sucks, yet not so bad that someone in the room wouldn't like it.
The old OLD Journey stuff I've never really been into as it's not real vocally-oriented stuff.

With Styx, MOST of their stuff stands up, but those two albums had some cringers on em.




For me it's the opposite. Although I think the individual members of Journey are great musicians, it's a situation where I think the whole is actually less than the sum of the parts. It's the songwriting that gets to me. Journey's songs have really wretched lyrics for the most part, just glaringly bad, utterly vacuous lyric writing in that band. For instance, "Any Way You Want It" is a great arrangement, but the lyric sounds like a little kid wrote it. "She loves to move/She loves to groove/She loves the loving things/All night, all night, all every night/So hold tight, hold tight/Baby,hold tight". Now that's not bad enough, then they go into "She said anyway you want it, that's the way you need it,any way you want it". Ummm, what in the world does that chorus have to do with that verse? Nothing! It's like they're from two different songs. A monkey could write a better lyric than that. Lots of Journey songs suffer from that kind of lack of continuity in subject matter in the lyrics, and that is something about the band that makes it virtually unlistenable for me. I've never been able to get through an entire album. I know an awful lot of people disagree with that assessment, LOL. So I'll stop ranting now.

I hope all is well.


I'll give you that on Any Way You Want It. I have also always thought lame lyrics.... however, compared with Mr. Roboto, Eddie, First Time, Homewrecker, Lords of the Ring, She Cares, or Babe it's a way better song and a way better perfromance. The players in Journey are head and shoulders above Styx and Perry was probably the best vocalist in rock. Having said that, I love Styx, both the DeYoung incarnation and the current one, but I just don't think their stuff is as ear-friendly as Journeys.
NO. He's NOT Steve F'ing Perry. But he's Arnel F'ing Pineda and I'm okay with that.
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Re: Journey vs. Styx

Postby foolintherain » Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:48 am

brywool wrote:
Rockwriter wrote:
brywool wrote:
Toph wrote:OK - since people are always saying that Journey and Styx are similar in story. Compare each of the albums. Which one do you like better

Infinity vs. The Grand Illusion
Evolution vs. Pieces of Eight
Departure vs. Cornerstone
Escape vs. Paradise Theatre
Frontiers vs. Kilroy Was Here

After that the timeframe of album releases diverges - hard to compare Raised On Radio with Edge of The Century since they were 4 years apart.

Discuss


Too much work...
I have yet to hear a Journey album or song that makes me cringe or that comes across as embarrassing. I love Styx but Kilroy and Cornerstone contain a few songs that I'd never play if anyone else was in the room and even when just playing the CD in my car, there are a few I'd hit the skip button on.
The only Journey (with Perry) tune I can't stand is the reggae tune from Trial By Fire, and also Trial By Fire. Sucks, yet not so bad that someone in the room wouldn't like it.
The old OLD Journey stuff I've never really been into as it's not real vocally-oriented stuff.

With Styx, MOST of their stuff stands up, but those two albums had some cringers on em.




For me it's the opposite. Although I think the individual members of Journey are great musicians, it's a situation where I think the whole is actually less than the sum of the parts. It's the songwriting that gets to me. Journey's songs have really wretched lyrics for the most part, just glaringly bad, utterly vacuous lyric writing in that band. For instance, "Any Way You Want It" is a great arrangement, but the lyric sounds like a little kid wrote it. "She loves to move/She loves to groove/She loves the loving things/All night, all night, all every night/So hold tight, hold tight/Baby,hold tight". Now that's not bad enough, then they go into "She said anyway you want it, that's the way you need it,any way you want it". Ummm, what in the world does that chorus have to do with that verse? Nothing! It's like they're from two different songs. A monkey could write a better lyric than that. Lots of Journey songs suffer from that kind of lack of continuity in subject matter in the lyrics, and that is something about the band that makes it virtually unlistenable for me. I've never been able to get through an entire album. I know an awful lot of people disagree with that assessment, LOL. So I'll stop ranting now.

I hope all is well.


I'll give you that on Any Way You Want It. I have also always thought lame lyrics.... however, compared with Mr. Roboto, Eddie, First Time, Homewrecker, Lords of the Ring, She Cares, or Babe it's a way better song and a way better perfromance. The players in Journey are head and shoulders above Styx and Perry was probably the best vocalist in rock. Having said that, I love Styx, both the DeYoung incarnation and the current one, but I just don't think their stuff is as ear-friendly as Journeys.

'
There is no way the players in Journey are better than the guys in Styx, compare them individually, there's no way.
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Postby bugsymalone » Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:09 am

I think these two bands are far, far too different for a side-by-side comparison. I love a lot of the music from both groups, but both have songs I cannot stand. That said, I never, ever think to compare the sound, vocals, anything from either of these bands. Completely different.

I will agree that Steve Perry is one of the greatest vocalists, period. Any era, any genre. I also think Dennis DeYoung is a singer for the ages as well. But, again, they are completely different in style, phrasing, voice texture, everything.

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Styx and Journey

Postby cittadeeno23 » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:47 am

These 2 bands have very little in common. The main reason why they get lumped together so often is because they were 2 of to the most popular bands in America at exactly the same time.

Journey's strength was Perry's lead vocals and Neil's lead guitar.
Styx' strength was the incredible harmonizing and a double guitar attack.
Plus Styx had 3 lead singers. It's hard to compare a band with 3 lead vocals to one that only has one. It's apples and oranges. When you listened to a Styx album you got more diversity because you had 3 different lead singers.

Both were great bands. But my favorite part about Styx was the 3 different voices and the harmonizing. Unmatched ever, in my opinion.

When I was in highschool, if you loved Styx, you hated Journey, and vice versa. Now that I've grown up and
"matured" I can appreciate both bands!
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Postby LordofDaRing » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:49 am

Interesting to compare the two:

Neal is probably the most talented guitar player of both bands, Perry vs DeYoung??? voice wise about even with DDY getting the nod for songwriting/producing. As far as the albums go, I am biased towards all the Styx stuff. I actually have to disagree a bit on Any way you want it. Despite the lyrics, I think it it one of the better journey tunes, just a lot of fun. I always picture Rodney Dangerfield dancing to it. I prefer it over the loving touching squeezing droning of nah nah nah and city of the angels. On the other hand Open Arms blows away Babe, Yes I can and any other Styx ballad. The only thing that stacks up against it IMO is Lady. Wheel in the Sky, Stoned in Love are good, but I would prefer POE, Queen of Spades, Born for Adventure, RTP.

Anthem tunes, again I give CSA the nod over any Journey Tune. Journey never could provide that one two vocal punch that TS and DDY give/gave Styx.
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Re: Journey vs. Styx

Postby brywool » Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:18 am

foolintherain wrote:'
There is no way the players in Journey are better than the guys in Styx, compare them individually, there's no way.


gotta be kidding...
Neal Schon is certainly better than Tommy and JY, though I love all 3 of their playing.
Steve Perry is leaps and bounds above all 3 vocalists in Styx. Leaps and bounds above pretty much any singer (during his time as the frontguy of Journey)
Steve Smith was a much better drummer than John
Valory better than Chuck on bass
Cain and DeYoung seem about equal in the keys deptartment and Gowan blows both of them away.
Sucherman is better than Castronovo, second only to Steve Smith as far as I'm concerned.
NO. He's NOT Steve F'ing Perry. But he's Arnel F'ing Pineda and I'm okay with that.
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Postby brywool » Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:22 am

bugsymalone wrote:I think these two bands are far, far too different for a side-by-side comparison. I love a lot of the music from both groups, but both have songs I cannot stand. That said, I never, ever think to compare the sound, vocals, anything from either of these bands. Completely different.

I will agree that Steve Perry is one of the greatest vocalists, period. Any era, any genre. I also think Dennis DeYoung is a singer for the ages as well. But, again, they are completely different in style, phrasing, voice texture, everything.

Bugsy


While Dennis is a great singer, I think that NOW he sounds more Broadway. In Styx's heyday, he had more Rock tendancies vocally. His voice is a lot more 'round' now, which is actually a good thing, but for Styx, I prefer him the way he sounded up until about when he started doing solo albums. His voice changed considerably. Didn't get worse, just got different.

Also, I think Shaw is singing better now than he ever has with Styx. That's going off his recorded stuff, I haven't seen Styx in a few years BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PLAYING ANYTHING NEW IN THEIR SET LIST. Once they do a new album, I'll be there.
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Postby brywool » Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:25 am

LordofDaRing wrote:Interesting to compare the two:

Neal is probably the most talented guitar player of both bands, Perry vs DeYoung??? voice wise about even with DDY ....


Vocally EVEN with DeYoung???? not even... maybe NOW, but not then.
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Postby LordofDaRing » Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:33 am

I will give you its close between the two, I could probably go either way on their pipes. But nobody "Blows" Dennis away vocally at any time in his career. Vocally I hold him up there with Lou Gramm, McCartney, Lennon and Perry. I would have to disagree slightly on the drumming, I think TS is the best drummer I have seen live in the last 15 years. The only guy I can remember who impressed me that much was Carl Palmer (Albiet some time ago).
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Postby brywool » Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:45 am

LordofDaRing wrote:I will give you its close between the two, I could probably go either way on their pipes. But nobody "Blows" Dennis away vocally at any time in his career. Vocally I hold him up there with Lou Gramm, McCartney, Lennon and Perry. I would have to disagree slightly on the drumming, I think TS is the best drummer I have seen live in the last 15 years. The only guy I can remember who impressed me that much was Carl Palmer (Albiet some time ago).


I'm speaking of back then- Steve Smith ruled. Today, I gotta give it to Todd. GREAT player.
On the singing- during Journey's prime, Perry was absolutely untouchable as a vocalist by anyone. I'm the biggest Beatles fan out there and though McCartney's a definite favorite, there's no way that Perry wouldn't just blow them all away. The guy had untouchable range and great feel. DeYoung, Shaw, etc. are good singers, but to put them in the same class as Perry- I don't see it. As far as vocal versatility, I gotta give it to McCartney. Great ballad voice even greater screamer voice. Helter Skelter rules.
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Postby LordofDaRing » Fri Jan 09, 2009 9:13 am

Lennon could be quite the screamer too (Twist and Shout, Cold Turkey, etc)

The live note on Suite Madame Blue and the accapella version of show me the way. I am not sure that any of the aforementioned singers could tackle that.
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Postby StyxCollector » Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:35 pm

brywool wrote:While Dennis is a great singer, I think that NOW he sounds more Broadway. In Styx's heyday, he had more Rock tendancies vocally. His voice is a lot more 'round' now, which is actually a good thing, but for Styx, I prefer him the way he sounded up until about when he started doing solo albums. His voice changed considerably. Didn't get worse, just got different.

Also, I think Shaw is singing better now than he ever has with Styx. That's going off his recorded stuff, I haven't seen Styx in a few years BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PLAYING ANYTHING NEW IN THEIR SET LIST. Once they do a new album, I'll be there.


Dennis is less Broadway than 1996 at this point. That first reunion tour he still had a lot of that vibrato/leftover stuff from Jesus Christ Superstar and 10 on Broadway. It's still there to some degree, but nothing like it was.

TS' voice isn't necessarily better; he sometimes struggles a little on some songs live with some of the higher notes (TMTOMH comes to mind), but still has a great voice. The Shaw Blades stuff is fantastic.
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Postby stmonkeys » Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:59 pm

i think DDY blows away perry. just MHO, but perry's voice grates on me... it's whiney and nasally, and when i hear a journey song i have to change the station (unless it's wheel in the sky). when i was 16 i loved journey, but for some reason now, they just rub me the wrong way. i know i'm prob going to be crucified for saying this... but i just don't dig 'em.
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Postby sadie65 » Fri Jan 09, 2009 2:02 pm

I think it's pretty doggone subjective. I like both, but I have a far greater attraction to Styx than Journey. Journey for me...has material that if I hear it on the radio...yeah I'll probably crank it. But if I want to listen to an entire album, definitely going to be Styx. That includes Cornerstone and Kilroy.
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Postby RedWingFan » Fri Jan 09, 2009 3:44 pm

stmonkeys wrote:i know i'm prob going to be crucified for saying this... but i just don't dig 'em.

I've got the nails!!!! :lol:
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Re: Journey vs. Styx

Postby Moon Beam » Fri Jan 09, 2009 3:53 pm

brywool wrote:I have yet to hear a Journey album or song that makes me cringe or that comes across as embarrassing.
The only Journey (with Perry) tune I can't stand is the reggae tune from Trial By Fire


I agree, don't know what they were thinking with Baby I'm Leaving You.
Have you heard Homemade Love?
Them two songs make my skin crawl.
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Postby Don » Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:39 pm

The older Styxs albums are a lot like the Moody Blues albums (to me anyway). You appreiciate the whole album far more than the individual songs, if that makes any sense.
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Re: Journey vs. Styx

Postby Toph » Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:22 am

Moon Beam wrote:
brywool wrote:I have yet to hear a Journey album or song that makes me cringe or that comes across as embarrassing.
The only Journey (with Perry) tune I can't stand is the reggae tune from Trial By Fire


I agree, don't know what they were thinking with Baby I'm Leaving You.
Have you heard Homemade Love?
Them two songs make my skin crawl.


Baby I'm Leaving You doesn't even fit with the rest of the TBF album. It is a loose thematic album and BILY doesn't fit the theme at all. A waste.
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Re: Journey vs. Styx

Postby Toph » Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:24 am

Toph wrote:OK - since people are always saying that Journey and Styx are similar in story. Compare each of the albums. Which one do you like better

Infinity vs. The Grand Illusion
Evolution vs. Pieces of Eight
Departure vs. Cornerstone
Escape vs. Paradise Theatre
Frontiers vs. Kilroy Was Here

After that the timeframe of album releases diverges - hard to compare Raised On Radio with Edge of The Century since they were 4 years apart.

Discuss


Well I will compare the albums since I asked the question.

Infinity vs. Grand Illusion - Infinity peaked at #21 had 0 top 40 singles, but 2 great rock classics in Wheel In The Sky and Lights (not to mention Feeling Thay Way/Anytime), but Grand Illusion #6 with a top 10 single CSA #8 and Top 40 single FY, in addition to rock classic TGI and Miss America wins hands down. Journey shows promise with Infinity, but Styx hits a grand slam with TGI. Outside of Superstars, not a weak song in the bunch. There are a few duds at the end of Infinity. Winner - Grand Illusion

Evolution vs. Pieces of Eight - Evolution peaks at #20 and Journey finds the singles chart with LTS peaking at #16 and also featuring the Gregg Rollie sung rock track "Just The Same Way". Pieces of Eight is essentially Grand Illusion II, but not as strong. Hit singles BCM #21 and Renegade #16 lead Styx's hardest rocking album ever. Sing For The Day is a B side single hit at #41. Winner - Pieces of Eight

Departure vs. Cornerstone - Both bands were very excited about the dawn of the 80s as seen by comments on the record jacket (Journey's "Join up for our departure in the 80s") and on the record (Styx's "Don't look now, but here come the 80s!"). Albums that were pretty opposed to one another in production value and content. Styx goes soft with Babe #1, Why Me #26, Boat on the River #1 Europe, with rock track Borrowed Time also getting airplay. Journey rocks out with AWYWI (#23) and blues it up with Walks Like A Lady. Although they still don't have a top 10 single, Journey's Departure lands in the top 10 (#8) while Styx peaks at #2 with Cornerstone which is nominated for a Grammy, wins the People's Choice award for Babe, and the band is voted the most popular band in America after its release. Arguably history has shown that these are the two weakest albums by either group of their "classic albums". At the time, Cornerstone was clearly more successful, but has caused a rip in the fan base that continues on today. Winner - TIE - Strictly a matter of personal preference.

Escape vs. Paradise Theatre – Both bands were at their commercial peak. Both hit #1. Both have classic songs on them. Journey’s ESC4P3 though had 4 top 20 singles, 3 of which hit the top 10 and also all charted on mainstream rock and ac charts. Styx Paradise Theatre had 2 top 10 singles, both of which charted on mainstream rock and an additional top 10 mainstream rock single. Both albums were solid, but Escape was the bigger seller and has had much better staying power. Winner – ESC4P3

Frontiers vs. Kilroy Was Here – They came out within a week of each other, both featured robot like characters on their cover. Styx had the higher charting singles, with two top 5 smashes, but once again, Journey had more shelf life – charting 4 singles, one in the top 10 and another at #12. Neither album was as good or as successful as their previous seller, but both were respectable chart wise with Journey peaking at #2 and Styx at #3. Both got experimental – the Styx sound became techno poppy and alienated an entire legion of fans. The second side of Journey’s Frontiers made a critical error in dropping two mainstream songs, Only The Young and Ask The Lonely, and replacing them with two songs, Troubled Child and Back Talk, which were weak at best. At the end of the day though, Frontiers is the stronger of the two albums. Winner – Frontiers

Overall score Styx 2, Journey 2, Toss Up 1

One man’s opinion…
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Postby brywool » Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:00 am

LordofDaRing wrote:Lennon could be quite the screamer too (Twist and Shout, Cold Turkey, etc)

The live note on Suite Madame Blue and the accapella version of show me the way. I am not sure that any of the aforementioned singers could tackle that.


The high note on Suite is Falsetto. Not a big deal or difficult for a decent singer. Lennon could be quite the screamer, but he sure didn't have the screamer voice Paul did. Oh! Darling is one of the hardest tunes to sing. Twist and Shout... not that difficult either. Cold Turkey would've been a much better song without the screaming at the end.
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Re: Journey vs. Styx

Postby brywool » Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:02 am

Moon Beam wrote:
brywool wrote:I have yet to hear a Journey album or song that makes me cringe or that comes across as embarrassing.
The only Journey (with Perry) tune I can't stand is the reggae tune from Trial By Fire


I agree, don't know what they were thinking with Baby I'm Leaving You.
Have you heard Homemade Love?
Them two songs make my skin crawl.


yeah, homemade love is funky, but the notes that Perry does in it are pretty cool. Nice Macca sketch!
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Re: Journey vs. Styx

Postby brywool » Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:07 am

Toph wrote:
Toph wrote:OK - since people are always saying that Journey and Styx are similar in story. Compare each of the albums. Which one do you like better

Infinity vs. The Grand Illusion
Evolution vs. Pieces of Eight
Departure vs. Cornerstone
Escape vs. Paradise Theatre
Frontiers vs. Kilroy Was Here

After that the timeframe of album releases diverges - hard to compare Raised On Radio with Edge of The Century since they were 4 years apart.

Discuss


Well I will compare the albums since I asked the question.

Infinity vs. Grand Illusion - Infinity peaked at #21 had 0 top 40 singles, but 2 great rock classics in Wheel In The Sky and Lights (not to mention Feeling Thay Way/Anytime), but Grand Illusion #6 with a top 10 single CSA #8 and Top 40 single FY, in addition to rock classic TGI and Miss America wins hands down. Journey shows promise with Infinity, but Styx hits a grand slam with TGI. Outside of Superstars, not a weak song in the bunch. There are a few duds at the end of Infinity. Winner - Grand Illusion

Evolution vs. Pieces of Eight - Evolution peaks at #20 and Journey finds the singles chart with LTS peaking at #16 and also featuring the Gregg Rollie sung rock track "Just The Same Way". Pieces of Eight is essentially Grand Illusion II, but not as strong. Hit singles BCM #21 and Renegade #16 lead Styx's hardest rocking album ever. Sing For The Day is a B side single hit at #41. Winner - Pieces of Eight

Departure vs. Cornerstone - Both bands were very excited about the dawn of the 80s as seen by comments on the record jacket (Journey's "Join up for our departure in the 80s") and on the record (Styx's "Don't look now, but here come the 80s!"). Albums that were pretty opposed to one another in production value and content. Styx goes soft with Babe #1, Why Me #26, Boat on the River #1 Europe, with rock track Borrowed Time also getting airplay. Journey rocks out with AWYWI (#23) and blues it up with Walks Like A Lady. Although they still don't have a top 10 single, Journey's Departure lands in the top 10 (#8) while Styx peaks at #2 with Cornerstone which is nominated for a Grammy, wins the People's Choice award for Babe, and the band is voted the most popular band in America after its release. Arguably history has shown that these are the two weakest albums by either group of their "classic albums". At the time, Cornerstone was clearly more successful, but has caused a rip in the fan base that continues on today. Winner - TIE - Strictly a matter of personal preference.

Escape vs. Paradise Theatre – Both bands were at their commercial peak. Both hit #1. Both have classic songs on them. Journey’s ESC4P3 though had 4 top 20 singles, 3 of which hit the top 10 and also all charted on mainstream rock and ac charts. Styx Paradise Theatre had 2 top 10 singles, both of which charted on mainstream rock and an additional top 10 mainstream rock single. Both albums were solid, but Escape was the bigger seller and has had much better staying power. Winner – ESC4P3

Frontiers vs. Kilroy Was Here – They came out within a week of each other, both featured robot like characters on their cover. Styx had the higher charting singles, with two top 5 smashes, but once again, Journey had more shelf life – charting 4 singles, one in the top 10 and another at #12. Neither album was as good or as successful as their previous seller, but both were respectable chart wise with Journey peaking at #2 and Styx at #3. Both got experimental – the Styx sound became techno poppy and alienated an entire legion of fans. The second side of Journey’s Frontiers made a critical error in dropping two mainstream songs, Only The Young and Ask The Lonely, and replacing them with two songs, Troubled Child and Back Talk, which were weak at best. At the end of the day though, Frontiers is the stronger of the two albums. Winner – Frontiers

Overall score Styx 2, Journey 2, Toss Up 1

One man’s opinion…


Chart position doesn't mean squat to me. Number one songs USUALLY stink. Highly selling albums usually suck as well. Look at the current number one albums for verification. I agree with most of your points though.
NO. He's NOT Steve F'ing Perry. But he's Arnel F'ing Pineda and I'm okay with that.
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Re: Journey vs. Styx

Postby Moon Beam » Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:12 am

brywool wrote:
Moon Beam wrote:
I agree, don't know what they were thinking with Baby I'm Leaving You.
Have you heard Homemade Love?
Them two songs make my skin crawl.


yeah, homemade love is funky, but the notes that Perry does in it are pretty cool. Nice Macca sketch!


It just doesn't do anything for me as a listenable song, think it's a bit to repetitive and over the top for me.
Agreed that it sure ain't Perry's pipes that strike me sourly with it.
Schpanks Sir for your say on the sketch, it's one of my better efforts and never is there a bad time to
have Paul around. :lol:
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Re: Journey vs. Styx

Postby brywool » Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:54 am

Moon Beam wrote:
Schpanks Sir for your say on the sketch, it's one of my better efforts and never is there a bad time to
have Paul around. :lol:


Paul BE DA MAN!
NO. He's NOT Steve F'ing Perry. But he's Arnel F'ing Pineda and I'm okay with that.
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Postby stmonkeys » Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:22 am

brywool wrote:
LordofDaRing wrote:Lennon could be quite the screamer too (Twist and Shout, Cold Turkey, etc)

The live note on Suite Madame Blue and the accapella version of show me the way. I am not sure that any of the aforementioned singers could tackle that.


The high note on Suite is Falsetto. Not a big deal or difficult for a decent singer. Lennon could be quite the screamer, but he sure didn't have the screamer voice Paul did. Oh! Darling is one of the hardest tunes to sing. Twist and Shout... not that difficult either. Cold Turkey would've been a much better song without the screaming at the end.


FTR- twist and shout was one of the last songs recorded in that session, and john had a sore throat. they did it in one take, and pretty much everything he had left vocally he used on that song. his voice was shot for days afterwards. love that record- very raw and primal. :D

and Oh! Darlin' --- wow. puddle of jelly on the floor. glen does a great job on this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7Di2cxQyc8


and for comparison- the fab faux:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEForAv0 ... re=related

the original:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEpiFFnE ... re=related (unfortunately, i couldn't find a real live version)
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Postby Moon Beam » Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:39 am

stmonkeys wrote:Oh! Darlin' --- wow. puddle of jelly on the floor. glen does a great job on this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7Di2cxQyc8

the original:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEpiFFnE ... re=related (unfortunately, i couldn't find a real live version)



Yes Glen does do a fine job on that one for surely but I'm sweet on the sound of Paul's voice.
Thanks for posting those stmonkeys, I wouldn't have known that Mr Burtnik took that one out for a stroll.
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Postby bugsymalone » Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:24 am

Schpanks Sir for your say on the sketch, it's one of my better efforts and never is there a bad time to
have Paul around.


It is a nice one of Sir Paul.

I do agree, Paul is DA MAN, but I oh so loved my George!

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