THE GRAND ILLUSION

This is STYX, the album that endures for them. While being one of the most radio-played of the era, still, a great work of 'Prog'. I'm not the biggest fan of SHAW vocals, there are some moments I have to endure, like the first few minutes of 'Sailing Away' but, I really like DeYOUNG's contribution to STYX. The vocal blend during harmonical moments is signature STYX and may sound very ungrunge to an 80's person, but try to perserve, compare it to QUEEN. De YOUNG and FREDDY MERCURY have (had) a simlar quality that's hard to explain. I could listen to them sing the phone book and still be interested. The concept of the album is really somewhat clique' by now, but yet, we never seem to learn our lesson about stardom in the Western World. So, it still apeals to me. 'Miss America' is a great strong rock song, and the "Man In the Wilderness' sounds like really good KANSAS material. So, if you missed the late 70's GRAND ILLUSION craze.... this is a good album to pick up now.