THE GRAND ILLUSION

In addition to being a great rock album that sold over 3 million copies during a time when disco was at the top of its popularity, this album defines Styx as great songwriters, producers and performers. Not many groups can boast such fantastic songwriting, keyboard, guitar and vocal work from so many of their band members on one album. This album has it all and does it without a love ballad such as BABE, THE BEST OF TIMES or DON'T LET IT END that so many have come to characterize the Styx sound. This concept album's lyrics spoke volumes to the young people in the late 70s and early 80s about life and the dangers of society's media hyped world. The Styx signature tune "Come Sail Away" has it all, the classical piano intro with clear lead vocal speaking of "childhood friends and their dreams" which builds into a powerful pre-chorus and then the great hook of "Come Sail Away" featuring great vocal harmony, raging guitars, and Panazzo's tight, but busy drum style. The centerpiece of this song features a time change w/ creative uses of sythesizers, perucssion, bass, and guitars, which fall back into the powerful lead guitar/drum fills before finishing again with a pre-chorus and fading w/ the chorus and lead guitar that make this song a classic rock anthem. The use of three different lead singers, two lead guitarists, all 5 members doign vocals and the "Welcome to the Grand Illusion" opening to the "Grand Finale" ending (which brings together at least three of the songs into one) makes this not only the best Styx album, but one of the best rock albums in history.