And Yet Another BBT Review

[styxfanNH]

http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/rev ... igBang.htm

Styx - Big Bang Theory
UM Music
www.styxworld.com

by Jeb Wright

Rating: A-

I am the Walrus | I Can See for Miles | Can't Find My Way Home | It Don't Make Sense | I Don't Need No Doctor | One Way Out | A Salty Dog | Summer in the City | Manic Depression | Talkin' About the Good Times | Locomotive Breath | Find the Cost of Freedom | Wishing Well | Blue Collar Man @ 2120

Styx jumps on the remake bandwagon paying tribute to the artists that got them hooked on music in the first place. With such a diverse background existing between band members, Big Bang Theory promised to be an interesting collection from first conception. Covers include blues legends, 60's pop stars, psychedelic rockers, folk harmonies and, of course, the Beatles. The magic formula for Big Bang Theory is that Styx was not content to stick exactly to the original song formulas, at the same time, they were not daft enough to attempt to re-make them into sounding like Styx songs. Instead, they found the songs essence and blended their emotional response with it. The other wonderful thing about the band doing this type of album at this stage in their career is that we don't have to have DeYoung's favorites included. I can't imagine having to listen to Styx versions of "Hello Dolly" or "I Will Always Love You."

As our feature for May, we will rate each song on the release.
Click on the links for "Can't Find My Way Home," "I am the Walrus" and "I Don't Need No Doctor" to listen to the tunes now.


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Track 1:
I am the Walrus
Rating: A

L. Gowen sings the hell out of this song. This is a great song to remake because it is one of those songs that you just can't image any band, let alone Styx, remaking. They do an awesome job. Hear it for yourself.
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Track 2:
I Can See for Miles
Rating: B

The Who are one of the greatest bands of all time and this is one of the songs that helped make them a household name. This song is probably the one song on the album the band plays pretty much 100% to the original, although they add stronger vocal harmonies.

Track 3:
Can't Find My Way Home
Rating: B+

Tommy Shaw delivers a powerful vocal on this classic remake of British Supergroup Blind Faith. The band does not stretch out too far from the original in the verse but the solo sections show the players adding some Styx spice into the mix!
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Track 4:
It Don't Make Sense (You Can't Make Peace)
Rating: C

James JY Young promised Butch Dixon, son of blues legend Willie Dixon, that one day Styx would remake a song by his father. This is an interesting track to choose considering that Dixon's songs were basically responsible for bands like Led Zeppelin's entire early catalog! Instead of choosing an easy song, Young chose a lesser known track that holds a vocal theme we should all be listening to today. As cool as all that is, this is not the strongest track on the disc and has the lowest rating. Sadly, Butch also went to join his father at the great gig in the sky before this release.

Track 5:
I Don't Need No Doctor
Rating: B+

Lawrence Gowan continues to impress. In fact, there is no way Styx could have survived without him in the group. Gowan adds that much to the music and attitude of the group. This track totally rocks and totally has new life breathed into it. The guitar solo kicks ass and the band grooves from start to finish. Classic Rock Revisited is proud to allow you to hear this song below.
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Track 6:
One Way Out
Rating A

When I saw this song on the track list I thought, "No way. They should have left this alone." Within two measures, however, I changed my view. This is a tight band. Shaw is not known for a bluesy voice but he delivers in a big way. The tradeoff guitar licks are as addictive as the Allman's version!

Track 7:
A Salty Dog
Rating: A+

Procol Harum has been left behind by rock historians. Other than "Whiter Shade of Pale" no one even knows they exist. Hats off to Styx, and Gowan in particular, for remembering this gem. This song is very much in the classic Styx vein of the 70's. In fact, I predict most people will believe this is an original tune thrown in the mix. Awesome. Simply awesome.

Track 8:
Summer in the City
Rating: A

I thought this would be a joke but it rocks. It even has a killer guitar solo. Styx took a pop song, gave it some big cahoonas and make it even better than the original. They mix the classic feel of the sound with a more modern bridge. The result is a very fun and addictive song.

Track 9:
Manic Depression
Rating: B

JY makes this Hendrix meets "Miss America. His trademark vocals are very evident and will bring a smile to your face. There is no one on the face of the planet that is going to top Jimi and Styx know that. So, they don't try. The song is only four minutes long and does not have any of the Hendrix weirdness, instead they rock it up and have fun with it.

Track 10:
Talkin' About the Good Times
Rating: B-

Someone in the band is a true rock nerd to even know this rare song by the infamous Pretty Things. The band play good on it and it sounds good but it is just not the best song in the world.

Track 11:
Locomotive Breath
Rating: A+

Oh yeah! JY gets it totally right with this one! Who would have ever thought that Styx would ever remake a Jethro Tull song? I wonder if we could talk Ian Anderson into returning the favor. I would like to hear him take on "Grand Illusion" or "Renegade." The flute is not missed at all as Young and Shaw beat the hell out of their guitars and rock this muther up big time!

Track 12:
Find the Cost of Freedom
Rating: A

Clocking in at just over one minute this song is just as haunting as the CSN original. It is also the perfect place for the band to show off their harmonies and the perfect intro to the next song.

Track 13:
Wishing Well
Rating: A

Tommy Shaw delivers another awesome vocal performance as he takes on Paul Rodgers old band Free. This is a song that seems to have found itself on a lot of bands albums over the years. There is one reason for it: It rocks hard. Styx dresses the song up a bit with vocal harmonies, an acoustic passage in the middle of the song and then JY brings it home with a melodic guitar solo. This one is a winner.

Track 14:
Blue Collar Man @ 2120
Rating: B

Styx went to Chicago to visit the building that once housed Chess records and is the current home of Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation. They were joined by the legendary Koko Taylor on vocals and Johnnie Johnson on keyboards. Johnson died shortly after this recording was made. The band remade their own classic "Blue Collar Man" and is donating all the royalties from this song to the Dixon Foundation. The song is slowed down and made very bluesy. The musical performance is awesome but it will take getting used to. It is not as good as the original but that said, it is a cool song and a neat way to raise some money for a good cause.

[ChicagoSTYX]

In fact, there is no way Styx could have survived without him in the group. Gowan adds that much to the music and attitude of the group.

Wow! What a statement. Let the flood gates open.....

[bugsymalone]

Wow! What a statement. Let the flood gates open.....

Nahhh. Not even going to go there. I know what water this reviewer has been drinking.

And he is certainly entitled to his opinion.

Bugsy

[sadie65]

Not touching it other than to say Jeb Wright has always been a supporter of the band. Glad he found it enjoyable, as I'm sure fans will as well.

[Ash]

In fact, there is no way Styx could have survived without him in the group. Gowan adds that much to the music and attitude of the group.

Wow! What a statement. Let the flood gates open.....

Ya know... that sounds like a slam of Tommy Shaw and James Young if you ask me.... "no way Styx could have survived?" Hell even I seriously doubt that.

[swwskj]

Oddly enough, as much of a supporter of Dennis as I am, the songs that I find myself listening to the most are: More Love for the Money, A Criminal Mind and I Am the Walrus.

As long as I consider Styx 6.0 just another band, leaving the semantics of 'what's in a name' out of it-I guess I like Gowans material best.

Just don't cover Dennis' stuff-Yikes! Like nails on a chalkboard.

Scott

[classicstyxfan]

Ditto what Scott said........Walrus really grew on me, just leave the Dennis songs out of the set.


PS......I wonder what they WOULD do with Hello Dolly ????

[Ash]

First of all, I think it's fair to say they'd likely have done "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis.

For you guys who can't get off the "Dennis on Broadway" kick, remember that Dennis grew up with Zeppelin, The Beatles, Chuck Berry and loads of other classic rock acts. To say he'd only do Broadway is a bit of an unnecessary dig. I have a copy of him singing "Whole Lotta Love" somewhere around here and he tears it up.

In that same set - they also did "I can See For Miles" with JY doing lead vocals....

[sadie65]

First of all, I think it's fair to say they'd likely have done "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis.

For you guys who can't get off the "Dennis on Broadway" kick, remember that Dennis grew up with Zeppelin, The Beatles, Chuck Berry and loads of other classic rock acts. To say he'd only do Broadway is a bit of an unnecessary dig. I have a copy of him singing "Whole Lotta Love" somewhere around here and he tears it up.

In that same set - they also did "I can See For Miles" with JY doing lead vocals....

Indeed Dennis does rip it up. I have that and it was great to hear him take on that song. And yes, JY did do I Can See For Miles.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Oh, I have Dennis singing "Whole Lotta Love" somewhere. I LOVE that version, I thought it was completely AWESOME!! I'm not a huge Led Zeppelin fan, I like some of the songs, but I really enjoyed Dennis' version.

Dennis was awesome too at the HOB concert when he sang Jerry Lee Lewis, just awesome.

Thanks for posting the review styxfanNH. I enjoy everyone's opinions on cd's

Ya know, I'm still hooked on the song "Can't Find My Way Home", I still like Tommy's voice.

[jthansen1]

souds like a good album, before a concert i went to this year over the pa system they played some songs styx were covering, and one of them was shine by collective soul. too bad they never recorded that because that kicked butt

[swwskj]

BBT may crack the billboard top 100 after all. I got my sunday paper and was checking out the Best Buy circular (a popular electronics store around here) and saw that BBT was in the new release tuesday section. It was actually SECOND in the list, with a pic of the cover to boot. Best of all it was only $9.99. I may rethink the purchase of this release after all.

Happy Mother's Day all,

Scott

[jthansen1]

my guess is, it will debute around 65-75, second week in the 90's, then fall off the top 100

[styxfanNH]

souds like a good album, before a concert i went to this year over the pa system they played some songs styx were covering, and one of them was shine by collective soul. too bad they never recorded that because that kicked butt

In the music that is playing before the guys hit the stage, they include several of the songs from Cyclorama that aren't part of the show. Gives the unknowing peeps exposure to the music without them knowing it. IT's like having a subliminal message in a movie...

[ChicagoSTYX]

Big Bang Theory is also in the Target Sunday add for $7.98. I'll be hitting Target on Tuesday. This CD is getting way more exposure then Cyclorama ever did.

[ChicagoSTYX]

I feel that to be fair I should post a so so review of the CD. I found this one on the Coconuts website:

Like 2004's less than stellar Cyclorama, those looking for this to be the big Styx record that will catapult them back into the mainstream will be sorely disappointed in the contents of this record. It's not a CD of new material, rather, it's a 14-song collection of covers from some of the band's influences and all-time rock favorites. Starting with a live recording of the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus," the band works its way through the great rock & roll songbook with safe, relative ease. Also included are the Who's "I Can See for Miles,"the Lovin' Spoonful's "Summer in the City," Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home," Jimi Hendrix's "Manic Depression," Jethro Tull's "Locomotive Breath," and Free's "Wishing Well." All fine choices, and in combination with Styx's usual clean production and relaxed atmosphere around the usually serious album format makes Big Bang Theory a record that die-hard fans will enjoy and casual fans might regard as a passing novelty stopgap in between records.~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide

[ChicagoSTYX]

Reviewer: Diamond Dave

Just saw STYX in concert at the Rosemont Theatre, (just outside of Chicago, IL) last night.
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They featured a hand full of songs from this new CD. The release features covers of classic rock songs. Like many of you, I had gotten off the STYX wagon 20 years ago today. On this night STYX first brought the house down with their rendition of "I AM THE WALRUS", coo-coo-ca-cho. TOMMY SHAW followed up next by leading an acoustic guitar driven medley of CSN's "FIND THE COST OF FREEDOM" / "CAN'T FIND MY WAY HOME" (Blind Faith), which garnered a second standing ovation from the pro-Chicago home crowd. Less successful was "SUMMER IN THE CITY", which did not quite transcend on stage, for me at least. For the encore, which led off with blues legend Koko Taylor, the band paid homage to their Chi-Town roots. Once Koko bid good night to Sweet Home Chicago, the band railed full force into Humble Pie's "I DON"T NEED NO DOCTOR", as if they were Rockin' the Fillmore. Keyboardist / vocalist LAWRENCE GOWEN, who supplanted Dennis DeYoung in the late '90s, handled Steve Marriott vocal chores effortlessly and bounced about the stage with much vim and vigor.
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The BIG BANG THEORY compact disc has gone Top 50 -something that hasn't happened to STYX in two decades- and covers such as "I AM THE WALRUS" have gotten air play on some 200 rock stations across the country.
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The show surprised me, I was expecting Spinal Tap, and I got a new STYX. Yeah, it is always hard to see a band past their glory days, and with new members unknown to us, but this reincarnation of STYX seemed sparked with fresh energy and ideas by the current players. TODD SUCHERMAN ripped the drums up all night long with boundless energy. Former Babies and Bad English (John Waite) bassist RICKY PHILLIPS was steady and fit in with the band, as the newest member. The Canadian GOWEN was very theatrical and his showmanship helped ease the absence of Dennis. GOWEN spun his keyboard on a revolving pedestal, he pranced around the stage with the confidence that his voice projected. All of the parts added to the whole and it worked. They rocked harder and left the syrup in the cupboard as we feasted on uptempo favorites and left tired ballads like "Babe" in the rear view mirror. We went out and ordered this CD immediately today. Change is good and the band seemed more vital and vitalized than I'd ever remembered them before. TOMMY, J.Y. & GOWEN shared vocal chores and instrumental solos and most everything worked. Recovering STYX co-founder and bandmate CHUCK PANOZZO joined the band on stage for the end of the regular set and part of the encore and was welcomed on stage by the raucous crowd. I thought STYX were for kids, but as a 45 years old, I found this show and new album a fun record to want to own. Sure we are Chicago and we root, root, root for the home team.
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This was not an oldies act sailing away into rock and roll Babylon. It looked more like a revitalized band that appeared ready to take on the world stage again.