Monker wrote:Toph wrote:I think Dennis would have brought some pop sensibilities to the album. Lots of interesting material here, but as Tom Petty says in his song Into the Great Wide Open, "The A&R man says I don't hear a single," I think that is what we have here with The Mission. Interesting album and theme, but lacks the one song that will stand out and be mainstream enough to potentially warrant airplay. Or they might have just decided that there was no way they would get airplay in 2017. However, the radio friendly ballad or pop ditty might have gotten some airplay on Adult Contemporary stations. Journey was able to do that with "After All These Years."
But stay tuned for Toph's unbiased review of The Mission (when I can write it up). Some good, some bad, but I'm taking my personal feelings as to how the band treated Dennis off the table and judging the music only!
Dennis has not had "pop sensibilities" since 1991. None on BNW, none on 100yrs, certainly none on 10 on Broadway or Hunchback.
"I don't hear the hit." such an out of context quote that I'm tired of reading about regarding this release. . This is what the AOR man said to Tom Petty when he turned in "Full Moon Fever". What you don't quote is the next line "the future was wide open." In other words, fuck the AOR man, he doesn't know what he's talking about.
Most of these songs could be singles...I'm sure Styx knows that. However, the top 40 singles chart isn't too accepting to a 70/80's band trying to break into the charts again...and they are not aiming at AC radio.
The only negative thing I can find about this release is that it seems a couple songs too short. I would have liked to hear something like "These Are the Times" on it. But, I would rather be wanting more than thinking the songs on it were lacking. They are not lacking much at all. I wish this had been released after Cyclorama....I think they would have had a lot of airplay. I mean, Walrus had airplay...these songs are better than Walrus.
Dead wrong, monkey boy. Dennis hit the charts in Canada with 100 Years From Now title track. Styx hasn't sniffed the charts since "Paradise" in 1996 and believe that was a DDY song. There were a number of songs that could have charted off 100 Years on AC. I don't hear a single that could crack that chart or the mainstream rock chart or the Hot 100 on this release. This will be like a Rush album. No real airplay on any mainstream stations. They will rely on fans and viralness to get the songs out. Which ultimately means that at a summer Styx show of 3 bands, no one will have heard any songs off this release. Now if they play the 1000 seat solo shows, they may be able to get more of these out live. But this release won't go mainstream. Not in a million years. Not that it is a criticism - its just a fact. They should be making music for themselves and their fans now anyway.
But I do think that for the first week it will land in the top 30 on the Top 200 albums. Although Brusco is an asshole, he's a good marketer and he leveraged all of these preorders and vinyl and package sales to maximize sales in the first week out. So, every pre-order gets counted toward the first week sales. Furthermore, those packages of 89.99 where you get 3 LPs 2 CDs, and a cassette taped in JY's living room (Out on A Day Pass reference for those of you who don't get it) will count as multiple units. I actually think they have an outside chance at landing in the top 10 for their first week chart. Lindsey Buckingham/Christy McVie debuted at #17. And I don't think they had the marketing muscle behind their LP that Styx had. Give Brusco credit, he set them up nicely. Of course he has that second week in which to generate sales. He's used up all his ammunition on the first week. So, you'll see a debut at #12 the first week and keep your fingers crossed it stays on the chart the second week.
