Review: 'The Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight Live' DVD

[Rockwriter]

Hello:

Here is my review of the new Styx DVD http://www.examiner.com/classic-hard-ro ... eight-live

Has anyone else heard it yet? I'm wondering what everyone else thinks.

Thanks! I hope everyone is well.

Sterling

[Archetype]

I'm three songs in and will already say that this is one of the best concert DVDs I've ever seen. Great video and amazing audio quality.

[StyxCollector]

Got my copies from Japan today. Good video production quality, audio is better mixed than the CYO, but still not great. They still have mixing issues. The CD sounds worse the Blu-Ray (not surprisingly). Will eventually do a formal review.

Not going to comment on much else yet. Not the best music Blu-Ray or DVD I've ever seen, but based on past Styx releases, I'm glad they stepped up the production value and sunk some money in this.

[ChicagoSTYX]

http://somethingelsereviews.com/2012/01/31/styx-the-grand-illusion-pieces-of-eight-live-dvdcdbluray-2012/

[ChicagoSTYX]

http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Music-DVD-Review-Styx-The-Grand-Illusion-2781008.php

[pinkfloyd1973]

http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Music-DVD-Review-Styx-The-Grand-Illusion-2781008.php

From the Seattle PI:
"The group rock convincingly, and Lawrence Gowan's voice and keyboards actually do a very good impression of Dennis De Young's."
and....
"I honestly have to give Gowan credit for sounding so much like the man he replaced."




I'm sorry, but sounding like an off-key Alvin and the Chipmunks does not make a good impression of or a soundalike of Dennis DeYoung

[Cassie May]

http://jemzz.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/s ... he-legacy/

http://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2012/01 ... -live.html

http://oregonmusicnews.com/2012/01/31/r ... ight-live/

Just got home late from work to find my copy waiting. I'm off to watch it now.

[Archetype]

#7 on Amazon Convert DVDs right now. Wonder how many copies were purchased

[Boomchild]

http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Music-DVD-Review-Styx-The-Grand-Illusion-2781008.php

From the Seattle PI:
"The group rock convincingly, and Lawrence Gowan's voice and keyboards actually do a very good impression of Dennis De Young's."
and....
"I honestly have to give Gowan credit for sounding so much like the man he replaced."




I'm sorry, but sounding like an off-key Alvin and the Chipmunks does not make a good impression of or a soundalike of Dennis DeYoung

These people need hearing tests.

[Boomchild]

http://jemzz.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/styx-review-blu-ray-the-grand-illusionpieces-of-eight-live-respecting-the-legacy/

http://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2012/01 ... -live.html

http://oregonmusicnews.com/2012/01/31/r ... ight-live/

Just got home late from work to find my copy waiting. I'm off to watch it now.

Be sure to tweet blow by blow while watching it.

[ChicagoSTYX]

http://www.kiowacountysignal.com/community/blogs/popculturebeast/x1192852668/DVD-CD-Review-STYX-The-Grand-Illusion-Pieces-of-Eight-LIVE

[Cassie May]

http://jemzz.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/styx-review-blu-ray-the-grand-illusionpieces-of-eight-live-respecting-the-legacy/

http://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2012/01 ... -live.html

http://oregonmusicnews.com/2012/01/31/r ... ight-live/

Just got home late from work to find my copy waiting. I'm off to watch it now.

Be sure to tweet blow by blow while watching it.

LOL, I don't tweet. Probably one of the few who don't. At any rate, I found the DVD to be quite good. I saw the show live twice, and this does a good job of capturing what I saw in Columbus and Toledo. The DVD is very professionally done; it looked and sounded great. As for the band, Tommy sounded amazing, and JY.....well, I have never been a fan of JY's voice, and am even less so now. However integral his voice is to the harmonies, he should not be a lead singer, which is an opinion I've always had. What did impress me was how much Tommy holds the harmonies together. I never heard him as clearly on the records in the mix, and he really stands out now and seems to be the glue that holds them all together while harmonizing. As for Lawrence, as we all know, he will never vocally replace DDY, but he does sound good and he treated the songs with respect. He just has a different style than DDY. I can't fault the harmonizing at all. I haven't had time yet to watch the bonus features, but I did look through the titles and will watch when I have time. The only things that disappoint me are the non-inclusion of the encores they performed (Walrus and Too Much Time), and actual interviews with the band members themselves.

[Baron Von Bielski]

I bought the 3-Disc CD/DVD combo and have yet to watch it, but I have listened to both CD's. The mix isn't all that great and without bashing it too much all I can say is that it's very hard listening to my favorite DDY songs sung by someone else. Oh, and JY needs to quit with his whole scream thing... he can't pull it off anymore.

[gr8dane]

I wonder who does the 10 minute introduction to Grand illusion?
Is it as heartfelt ,passionate and believable as Dennis' rendition,
and is he able to duplicate the voice like he's got a broomstick up
his arse like Dennis or do they use the intro from RTP?

[Baron Von Bielski]

I wonder who does the 10 minute introduction to Grand illusion?
Is it as heartfelt ,passionate and believable as Dennis' rendition,
and is he able to duplicate the voice like he's got a broomstick up
his arse like Dennis or do they use the intro from RTP?

You're a dumbass.

[LtVanish]

They had such a nice video screen behind the band for this tour, I think they could of got some better graphics IMO. I thought other than the into and end the rest was cheesy graphics.

[pinkfloyd1973]

I wonder who does the 10 minute introduction to Grand illusion?
Is it as heartfelt ,passionate and believable as Dennis' rendition,
and is he able to duplicate the voice like he's got a broomstick up
his arse like Dennis or do they use the intro from RTP?

I think Larry does a fine job sounding like himself.......Alvin from the Chipmunks in heat

[Boomchild]

They had such a nice video screen behind the band for this tour, I think they could of got some better graphics IMO. I thought other than the into and end the rest was cheesy graphics.

Well then they should fit right in. Styx has been referred to as "cheesy".

[gr8dane]

I wonder who does the 10 minute introduction to Grand illusion?
Is it as heartfelt ,passionate and believable as Dennis' rendition,
and is he able to duplicate the voice like he's got a broomstick up
his arse like Dennis or do they use the intro from RTP?

I think Larry does a fine job sounding like himself.......Alvin from the Chipmunks in heat

Good ole Pinky.You are repeating yourself.
You already said that earlier in this thread.
Which is why thought I come up with something
special about Dennis.
Anyways,,,some nice reviews of the DVD,so
thanks for those.

[gr8dane]

Got my copies from Japan today. Good video production quality, audio is better mixed than the CYO, but still not great. They still have mixing issues. The CD sounds worse the Blu-Ray (not surprisingly). Will eventually do a formal review.

Not going to comment on much else yet. Not the best music Blu-Ray or DVD I've ever seen, but based on past Styx releases, I'm glad they stepped up the production value and sunk some money in this.

Is there something special about the Japanese version?

[pinkfloyd1973]

I wonder who does the 10 minute introduction to Grand illusion?
Is it as heartfelt ,passionate and believable as Dennis' rendition,
and is he able to duplicate the voice like he's got a broomstick up
his arse like Dennis or do they use the intro from RTP?

I think Larry does a fine job sounding like himself.......Alvin from the Chipmunks in heat

Good ole Pinky.You are repeating yourself.
You already said that earlier in this thread.
Which is why thought I come up with something
special about Dennis.
Anyways,,,some nice reviews of the DVD,so
thanks for those.

Yeah, it's pretty bad when I have to repeat myself

[kansas666]

I own a lot of concert DVDs and I say STYX hit a home run with this release. The music, the talent, the photography, the venue all came together to form a great package,

I first listened to it in HD surround and at times I thought the mix was a little off. The drums were a little low and and the guitars sometimes came in too loud. But I listened to it again in stereo and didn't notice any foibles in the sound.

STYX has hit a few home runs in their career most notably Equinox, The Grand Illusion, Pieces of 8, Return to Paradise and Cyclorama.

They've had a couple of good hits with Crystal Ball and Paradise Theater.

And of course some strike outs like Kilroy and Brave New World.

This live DVD is right up there with the best stuff they have ever done.

Kudos

[Toph]

I own a lot of concert DVDs and I say STYX hit a home run with this release. The music, the talent, the photography, the venue all came together to form a great package,

I first listened to it in HD surround and at times I thought the mix was a little off. The drums were a little low and and the guitars sometimes came in too loud. But I listened to it again in stereo and didn't notice any foibles in the sound.

STYX has hit a few home runs in their career most notably Equinox, The Grand Illusion, Pieces of 8, Return to Paradise and Cyclorama.

They've had a couple of good hits with Crystal Ball and Paradise Theater.

And of course some strike outs like Kilroy and Brave New World.

This live DVD is right up there with the best stuff they have ever done.

Kudos

There is so much wrong with this post it isn't funny. You rank Cyclorama ahead of Paradise Theater? PT was their best album. Period. You put a DVD out with an inferior lineup up there? Man, you are nuts.

[Babyblue]

I wonder who does the 10 minute introduction to Grand illusion?
Is it as heartfelt ,passionate and believable as Dennis' rendition,
and is he able to duplicate the voice like he's got a broomstick up
his arse like Dennis or do they use the intro from RTP?

[gr8whitehope]

Bad review Sterling.

[Rockwriter]

Bad review Sterling.

How so?


Sterling

[Baron Von Bielski]

http://jemzz.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/styx-review-blu-ray-the-grand-illusionpieces-of-eight-live-respecting-the-legacy/

http://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2012/01 ... -live.html

http://oregonmusicnews.com/2012/01/31/r ... ight-live/

Just got home late from work to find my copy waiting. I'm off to watch it now.

Be sure to tweet blow by blow while watching it.

LOL, I don't tweet. Probably one of the few who don't. At any rate, I found the DVD to be quite good. I saw the show live twice, and this does a good job of capturing what I saw in Columbus and Toledo. The DVD is very professionally done; it looked and sounded great. As for the band, Tommy sounded amazing, and JY.....well, I have never been a fan of JY's voice, and am even less so now. However integral his voice is to the harmonies, he should not be a lead singer, which is an opinion I've always had. What did impress me was how much Tommy holds the harmonies together. I never heard him as clearly on the records in the mix, and he really stands out now and seems to be the glue that holds them all together while harmonizing. As for Lawrence, as we all know, he will never vocally replace DDY, but he does sound good and he treated the songs with respect. He just has a different style than DDY. I can't fault the harmonizing at all. I haven't had time yet to watch the bonus features, but I did look through the titles and will watch when I have time. The only things that disappoint me are the non-inclusion of the encores they performed (Walrus and Too Much Time), and actual interviews with the band members themselves.

I agree with a lot of what you have to say here. It doesn't make a whole lotta sense not to include the encores when you've already taped them. I really doubt time constraints was an issue. And I would have much rather had interviews with the band then the behind the scenes crap they included.

[Babyblue]

http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Music-DVD-Review-Styx-The-Grand-Illusion-2781008.php

From the Seattle PI:
"The group rock convincingly, and Lawrence Gowan's voice and keyboards actually do a very good impression of Dennis De Young's."
and....
"I honestly have to give Gowan credit for sounding so much like the man he replaced."




I'm sorry, but sounding like an off-key Alvin and the Chipmunks does not make a good impression of or a soundalike of Dennis DeYoung

These people need hearing tests.

My hearing is just fine Thank you, very much

[kansas666]

Man, you are nuts.

Man are you 12.

[gr8dane]

Man, you are nuts.

Man are you 12.

Mr. Tophistication himself.