CLASSICS, VOL 15

Styx has always been a borderline case of progressive music for me. That is, if you are talking about the real deal in progressiveness (Genesis, Yes, etc.). If you compare the band to those 70's giants then you can make the statement. But other than that I believe Styx has enough progressive elements in its music to be on this website.

Going back to the seventies you could say I was already slightly in love with Pieces of Eight, an album that is their magnum opus to me, and with the hitsingle Fooling Yourself. On the other hand the rest what I heard by them through the years was far less so I don't think you can call me a fan. I do like their commercial ballad Babe and also Miss America but I think that will have to be it. I saw them live in the Netherlands a few years ago on a festival and heard it was for the first time ever (or for the first time in 25 years or so) they were here and that made it something special. It was a pretty impressive show by the way so I have every respect for the band.

And fortunately on this (sort of) best of compilation most of my favourite tracks are there so that's probably the reason I bought it one day. Those tracks are the already mentioned ones plus Blue Collar Man and Renegade from their great album. The only one I'm really missing is the title track of the magnum opus and maybe also Sing for the Day a little bit but that one is a little cheesy of course (and also quite a bit too commercial).

So all in all a pretty good compilation I could recommend to anyone who (like me) just wants something by Styx without buying many of their albums. I think this one will do nicely then. 3 stars (3,3).