Listening Party - Cyclorama

[Toph]

Could Styx/Would Styx attempt to put out an album without Dennis DeYoung? Could they pull it off? What would it sound like? How would it do? With Cyclorama, Styx attempted to answer many of these questions. The first and, to date, only Styx studio album of original music not to feature longtime singer, songwriter, producer, and keyboardist Dennis DeYoung.

A Styx album release wouldn't be without controversy, and this one probably was the most controversial to date. (My note - think about this - every Styx release since 1978's Pieces of Eight had major controversy around it - Babe/soft rock songs, Accused Satanic messages on PT, Kilroy, Edge w Glen Burtnik, Band breakup/disjointed BNW, No Dennis on Cyclo). Not only was DDY not on the album, but many Dennis fans took the album and its entire theme and songs as a big middle finger to Dennis DeYoung. The band claims that this is mere coincidence, but many DDY fans felt otherwise. Fans of the album claim that it has some of the best Styx moments in 20+ Years.

Sales wise, despite some positive critical press, Cyclo didn't make much of a dent. There was one single, "Waiting for our Time" which got some limited airplay on rock stations, stalling at #37 on the Billboard Rock Tracks chart. Other singles, including "Yes I Can" and "These Are the Times" failed to chart. The album stayed on the Billboard 200 for one week, in the bottom half of the chart. However, one song, "One With Everything" evoked a classic Styx progressive sound and often is still played even today in concert.

Cyclorama, like most things Styx these days was a very polarizing album. Some loved it and thought it was comparable to some of the greatest material ever put out by the band while others hated it and felt it was further separated "A Styx cover band" from the sound that they grew up knowing and loving. Where do you fall? Give Cyclorama a listen and let us know.

http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Cyclorama/191576

[brywool]

LOVED this album. Seriously, the best thing I'd heard from Styx since "Paradise Theatre". Just because an album doesn't sell, doesn't mean it's not good. Did "100 Years from Now" sell much? Not in the US. Did "7 Deadly Zens" sell much? Nope. Nor did "Hallucination" which is an album I played the absolute crap out of. And yet, there are so many albums that sell boatloads that absolutely suck.

If you ignore that some of the songs seem to be (ok, are) pointed at Dennis and take it for what it is (just music), it's a GREAT record. If you get wrapped up in "Wow, Tommy, being kind of a jerk here to Dennis with "Do Things My Way" aren't ya?" then you're not going to like it. Personally, I thought that song in particular would've been a great single and just because bands fight doesn't mean I can't like them. McCartney and Lennon fought through music too (listen to Paul's "Ram" album and some of John's "Imagine" album- same deal).

Cyclo, for me, was such a cohesive album. All the tunes fit together so well and there was a real spirit of camaraderie in the production, UNLIKE Brave New World and very much like Grand Illusion (Not the songs, just the spirit of the album). The production is also great on it. It's a great sounding record and there's not a song on it that I don't like.

My one gripe about the album is that Glen (Glenn?) should've been given another track. For a great writer like him to be given the same space as JY seemed a wasted opportunity. Jy's tracks on this album are actually good, but they pale in comparison to Burtnik's. Speaking of Burtnik, I'm also glad that Gowan persuaded Glenn to change the title of "Killing the thing that You Love" from what it was originally. And NO the track's NOT about Mr. DeYoung.

My favorite songs on Cyclo (and this is saying a lot) are Gowan's. "Fields of the Brave" and "More Love for the Money" are brilliant tracks and very much like something Dennis would've written when Dennis was into more political fare (which I loved from him, once he got to "I love you, you love me" he just got a bit dull for me). Gowan's tracks made me realize what I missed about Dennis' tracks for years. The melodies and lyrics in them both were great.

Oh, and "Yes I Can" was also a great choice for a single. Too bad it wasn't promoted. Great tune. The imagery in it is fantastic. Not sure why some here seem to hate it so much.

This album was everything that Brave New World wasn't - HAPPY. It's a great album and I played the crap out of it.
If you haven't bought it, you should.

[FormerDJMike]

Hard to put a handle on this one. It was OK. I didn't like the production, thought it was rather thin. "Do Things My Way" has the vocals a bit buried in the mix to the point where you can't understand what he is singing. And Todd's drums sound thin. I like the sound of his drums on "On This Night" from 7DZ and that is the drum sound I was hoping for. Not that the drumming is bad, just thin. I also liked Gowan's tracks the best. Killing That Thing You Love is another outstanding track. Of course "One With Everything" is the type of classic sound we all love. Great tune. "These Are The Times" I thought was rather weak, just my opinion. Some classic moments there but nothing great. I like Capt. America better (and that song wsa lacking a cool keyboard solo). Fooling Yourself was interesting. When this was released I was working at a Classic Rock station and I played Fooling Yourself/Capt America many times. I also played Waiting For Our Time when it was the single and One With Everything. Kiss Your Ass Goodbye was a decent tune but it was out of place on a Styx album.

I really liked the CD insert, lots of cool Pink Floyd like pictures (and I believe the artist who did it also did several Floyd albums).

If the production were better I would've liked this much more.

It is currently out of print. Not one I listen to much anymore, I need to pull it out and give it a spin. I'd pick it up on vinyl in a heartbeat if it was reissued.

[FormerDJMike]

My favorite songs on Cyclo (and this is saying a lot) are Gowan's. "Fields of the Brave" and "More Love for the Money" are brilliant tracks and very much like something Dennis would've written when Dennis was into more political fare (which I loved from him, once he got to "I love you, you love me" he just got a bit dull for me). Gowan's tracks made me realize what I missed about Dennis' tracks for years. The melodies and lyrics in them both were great.

I completely agree with this. His songs made me miss Dennis because frankly these two songs sounded like Styx songs.

[masque]

LOVED this album. Seriously, the best thing I'd heard from Styx since "Paradise Theatre". Just because an album doesn't sell, doesn't mean it's not good. Did "100 Years from Now" sell much? Not in the US. Did "7 Deadly Zens" sell much? Nope. Nor did "Hallucination" which is an album I played the absolute crap out of. And yet, there are so many albums that sell boatloads that absolutely suck.

If you ignore that some of the songs seem to be (ok, are) pointed at Dennis and take it for what it is (just music), it's a GREAT record. If you get wrapped up in "Wow, Tommy, being kind of a jerk here to Dennis with "Do Things My Way" aren't ya?" then you're not going to like it. Personally, I thought that song in particular would've been a great single and just because bands fight doesn't mean I can't like them. McCartney and Lennon fought through music too (listen to Paul's "Ram" album and some of John's "Imagine" album- same deal).

Cyclo, for me, was such a cohesive album. All the tunes fit together so well and there was a real spirit of camaraderie in the production, UNLIKE Brave New World and very much like Grand Illusion (Not the songs, just the spirit of the album). The production is also great on it. It's a great sounding record and there's not a song on it that I don't like.

My one gripe about the album is that Glen (Glenn?) should've been given another track. For a great writer like him to be given the same space as JY seemed a wasted opportunity. Jy's tracks on this album are actually good, but they pale in comparison to Burtnik's. Speaking of Burtnik, I'm also glad that Gowan persuaded Glenn to change the title of "Killing the thing that You Love" from what it was originally. And NO the track's NOT about Mr. DeYoung.

My favorite songs on Cyclo (and this is saying a lot) are Gowan's. "Fields of the Brave" and "More Love for the Money" are brilliant tracks and very much like something Dennis would've written when Dennis was into more political fare (which I loved from him, once he got to "I love you, you love me" he just got a bit dull for me). Gowan's tracks made me realize what I missed about Dennis' tracks for years. The melodies and lyrics in them both were great.

Oh, and "Yes I Can" was also a great choice for a single. Too bad it wasn't promoted. Great tune. The imagery in it is fantastic. Not sure why some here seem to hate it so much.

This album was everything that Brave New World wasn't - HAPPY. It's a great album and I played the crap out of it.
If you haven't bought it, you should.

brywool you just saved me a bunch of typing......because I agree with nearly every word you posted about this album. LOVED it....overall I give it a 8.7.

[ztyxlynne]

I am with the majority here. I love it too. Kind of what Brave could of been. When it came out I thought it was a big rip on Dennis. The cover could be taken as dangling a carrot in front of him. Do Things My Way sounds like if DDY wanted back he had to do things there way. Bourgeois Pig same there. Styx was always full of metaphors and I think this album has them. The songs, awesome. This album really makes me miss Glenn. I agree he needed more on this. His duet with TS on Yes I Can is great. One With Everything another great track. I really wish Glen would come back to Styx or Dennis. Why he is with a ELO cover band is beyond me. His presents is missed. I remember playing Kiss Your Ass Goodbye people didn't believe it was Styx. Production I agree seemed thin. But I give it solid 7.5. After playing with this it really makes me wish for a new album. But that's another story.

[ztyxlynne]

Two questions. Wasn't Yes I Can originally written for the Damn Yankee's 3 rd album that was never released? And also on the 1st song Don Things My Way, what is said at the very beginning of the song that almost sounds like it is being said backwards??

[yogi]

Very solid album, that the masses missed.

[Toph]

Two questions. Wasn't Yes I Can originally written for the Damn Yankee's 3 rd album that was never released? And also on the 1st song Don Things My Way, what is said at the very beginning of the song that almost sounds like it is being said backwards??

Believe it was some Buddhist/Zen-type chant. Tommy was into the whole Zen thing back then (and maybe still is?)