CIRCLING FROM ABOVE

A lot of people consider Styx to be a "Kansas at home" kind of band. And honestly?yeah they kinda are. Ironic since they came out first before Kansas' self-titled debut, but these bands always have been neck and neck with each other in the whole classic American prog ethos. Obviously I am more of a Kansas fan, but I do enjoy some Styx from time to time. And honestly, I sometimes forget they're still going, especially when I heard they made a new studio album this year. They're such an old band, and they're still going strong. You gotta admit they have determination.

And what surprises me a lot is that this is probably their best record since 1978's Pieces of Eight.

Circling from Above takes all the right notes of Crash of the Crown, and refines its qualities to make something much more charming. It has a good mix of flavorful progressive rock moments that feel right at home in their 70s catalog, whilst also showing a clear love for more of their mainstream elements, with a bit more of a pop edge to the entire thing. I honestly think it's a great direction the band is going, and it makes for some really fun music, such as with the almost power pop It's Clear, or the Queen-like Everybody Raise A Glass. A good mix of prog and pop.

I also like how they managed to make the songs definitely progressive rock, whilst keeping them relatively short. Obviously this can be a bit of a double edged sword in my opinion, as I generally prefer the more longer Styx pieces like Movement for the Common Man, or Come Sail Away. You can only do so much when your longest track is three minutes and fifty four seconds.

But I do admire them for making these little bite sized pieces of progressive rock goodness. Admittedly sometimes not even I, someone who consumes prog rock as if it was water, feel like listening to like eight minutes of a very niche genre. Sometimes you just gotta have that 3 minute track that is jam packed with carefully constructed scores.

Honestly I think this record's biggest charm for me is that it just?doesn't feel old. Like Styx is an old band, but where some long lasting legacy prog rock groups like Yes or Premiata Forneria Marconi clearly show their age, I think Styx, at least with this effort, doesn't really share that sentiment. Yeah it sounds like dad rock, but it doesn't really feel like it. Guess to sound fresh, you gotta just sound your best.

While not perfect, I think Circling From Above is a really great effort from this long lasting band. Would I say any of the songs hold a candle to some of their older bangers like The Serpent Is Rising, Blue Collar Man (Long Nights), or Suite Madame Blue? No. But I think this assortment of songs are still charming in their own right. Perhaps in the 21st century, Styx has lost their "Kansas at home" status. Now that status goes to Toto.

Best tracks: Michigan, Everyone Raise a Glass, She Knows, The Things That You Said

Worst track: Ease Your Mind

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