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STYX

Prog Related • United States


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Styx picture
Styx biography
Founded in Chicago, USA in 1972 - Hiatus between 1985-1989 and 1992-1994 - Still active as of 2017

STYX is one of those bands that are always mentioned with some fear and shame by the Progressive Rock fan, because they always played in the border that divides Prog from plain POP, I believe the best way to describe them is as Prog Related (understanding this description as the simplest and more commercial form of Progressive Rock) blended with AOR, somehow in the same vein as JOURNEY or BOSTON but much more complex.

Officially born in 1972 from the ashes of "The TRADEWINS" and "TW4" was formed by the Panozzo twins (Chuck on bass and John on drums), Dennis de Young (vocals and keyboards), James Young (guitar, vocals) and John Curulewski (guitar, vocals).

In the first years they were closer to progressive rock than ever, from 1972 to 1974 the band released four albums, "Styx", "Styx II", "The Serpent is Rising" and "Man of Miracles", even though they were popular in Chicago, still the band couldn't reach commercial success. As a curiosity, in their first album they recorded "Movement for a Common Man" based in Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, almost five years before ELP. In 1975 they release their more commercially consistent album (at that point of course) "Equinox" which blended Rock & Roll, Pop and Progressive Rock in an efficient way, "Light Up", "Lorelei" and "Suite Madam Blue" are the first songs in which the band achieve some financial success and show the sound they pretended to create.

1976 was a crucial year for "STYX", John Curulewski leaves the band and is replaced by Tommy Shaw who became the front man with his California boy image (Even when he was born in Montgomery Alabama) and melodic but elaborate style, the band finally had the face capable of reaching the female public and massive acceptance, but writing some of the best STYX themes. "Crystal Ball" was released in the same year with a moderate success, "Crystal Ball", "Mademoiselle" and "Put me On" became favorites in their massive concerts, the band was reaching their commercial peak but started to abandon prog rock and turning into an ARENA band.

At this point the story is well known, "The Grand Illusion" became a platinum album with major hits like "Fooling Yourself" and of course "Come Sail Away", also their three next albums "Pieces of Eight", "Cornerstone" and "Paradise Theater" reached commercial success with tracks that go from ...
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STYX discography


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STYX top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.81 | 149 ratings
Styx
1972
3.20 | 153 ratings
Styx II
1973
3.01 | 150 ratings
The Serpent Is Rising
1973
2.77 | 144 ratings
Man Of Miracles
1974
3.51 | 248 ratings
Equinox
1975
3.26 | 225 ratings
Crystal Ball
1976
3.76 | 355 ratings
The Grand Illusion
1977
3.65 | 298 ratings
Pieces Of Eight
1978
2.75 | 223 ratings
Cornerstone
1979
3.08 | 240 ratings
Paradise Theatre
1981
2.26 | 193 ratings
Kilroy Was Here
1983
2.68 | 95 ratings
Edge Of The Century
1990
2.80 | 86 ratings
Brave New World
1999
3.22 | 84 ratings
Cyclorama
2003
3.24 | 77 ratings
Big Bang Theory
2005
4.00 | 92 ratings
The Mission
2017
4.05 | 78 ratings
Crash of the Crown
2021

STYX Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.68 | 49 ratings
Caught In The Act Live
1984
3.83 | 32 ratings
Return to Paradise
1997
2.26 | 8 ratings
Arch Allies - Live At Riverport
2000
3.88 | 13 ratings
Styxworld Live 2001
2001
3.29 | 7 ratings
At The River's Edge - Live In St. Louis
2002
3.00 | 6 ratings
21st Century Live
2003

STYX Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

4.09 | 23 ratings
Return To Paradise (DVD)
1999
3.72 | 17 ratings
Styx and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra Of Cleveland: One With Everything
2006
2.65 | 17 ratings
Caught In The Act: Live 1984
2007
3.84 | 20 ratings
The Grand Illusion / Pieces of Eight Live
2012

STYX Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.64 | 12 ratings
Best of Styx
1977
3.22 | 8 ratings
Classics, Vol 15
1987
2.85 | 32 ratings
Greatest Hits
1995
3.27 | 7 ratings
Greatest Hits Part 2
1996
4.20 | 5 ratings
The Best of Times: The Best of Styx
1997
4.08 | 4 ratings
The Singles Colllection
2000
4.00 | 2 ratings
Lady: The Encore Collection
2000
2.25 | 4 ratings
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Styx
2002
2.38 | 4 ratings
Rockers
2003
3.60 | 11 ratings
Come Sail Away: The Styx Anthology
2004
3.39 | 27 ratings
The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings
2005

STYX Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

4.00 | 3 ratings
Lady
1973
3.50 | 4 ratings
Light Up
1975
3.67 | 3 ratings
Best Thing
1975
3.67 | 3 ratings
Lorelei
1975
4.40 | 5 ratings
Come Sail Away
1977
3.20 | 6 ratings
Sing for the Day
1978
3.75 | 4 ratings
Blue Collar Man
1978
2.00 | 1 ratings
Enganandote (El Joven Enojado)
1978
2.14 | 3 ratings
Boat On The River
1979
3.00 | 2 ratings
Lights
1979
3.33 | 3 ratings
Renegado (Renegade)
1979
3.33 | 3 ratings
The Best Of Times
1980
1.33 | 5 ratings
Too Much Time on My Hands
1981
3.33 | 3 ratings
Rockin' The Paradise
1981
3.29 | 7 ratings
Regeneration
2011
3.00 | 2 ratings
The Same Stardust
2021

STYX Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Crash of the Crown by STYX album cover Studio Album, 2021
4.05 | 78 ratings

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Crash of the Crown
Styx Prog Related

Review by Sidscrat

4 stars Having been a fan of the band since their beginnings, their first album I felt was weak. That album and the next 3 were the proggiest of their catalog. The prog was mixed in with the hard rockers that JY would put out there along with songs that would constitute hit singles so Styx was never known as a prog band.

So when the album The Mission came out before this one I was not all that impressed with it. It was to me an attempt to see it they could still put out something. When this album reared its head I expected the same???. Instead, Oh Em Gee! What on earth am I listening to? I scanned through it the first time and didn't really notice anything that stuck out for me much. But after sitting down and sticking on a pair of headphones I am hearing a Styx that never existed before. Styx was never this prog through an entire album but this is a constant and consistent piece of work.

It is unusual that the tracks are all shorter without any that stick out as extended pieces which adds to the unusuality of it all. The instrumentation is done well and musically they are tight. Neither JY or Tommy seem to be able to hit those super fast solos from days of old that I can hear of really but the musicianship is very good. I can even hear some Dennis DeYoung sounding vocals.

It would be interesting to note what DeYoung's contributions to this thematic idea would have been; hopefully not with more ridiculous love ballads to his wife. We get it Dennis, you dig your wife but Lady was more than enough! It was a shame that his control freak nature essentially destroyed what had been so well put together as he was very talented and his prog entries into the band's early days were great.

In all, this is the most prog album this band has ever released and it is worthy of that title. i would rate this album easily in their top 5.

 Crystal Ball by STYX album cover Studio Album, 1976
3.26 | 225 ratings

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Crystal Ball
Styx Prog Related

Review by Idaho

4 stars A big step up from Styx's previous album, "Crystal Ball" introduces us to singer and guitarist Tommy Shaw, who has an obvious impact on the band, both with his voice and with his songwriting.

"Mademoiselle" and the title track are the most recognizable songs here, both having been featured on various greatest hits compilations, and they're both good songs. "Jennifer" is a sketchy jailbait song which hasn't aged well. Everything else here as good. "This Old Man" is a gem I hadn't heard before, and "Clair De Lune/Ballerina" is fantastic-- at over seven minutes, one of their best songs.

This is an essential album for Styx fans, and for those who aren't Styx fans this album might change your mind. 4 stars.

 Equinox by STYX album cover Studio Album, 1975
3.51 | 248 ratings

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Equinox
Styx Prog Related

Review by Idaho

2 stars I wanted to like Equinox. I really did. I like Styx--three decades ago they were my initial gateway into progressive rock. But Equinox just isn't very good.

Now there is a good song on this album. Or rather, two good songs: the short "Prelude 12," leading directly to "Suite Madame Blue." Almost eight minutes of great music. And "Prelude 12," essentially a prelude to "Suite Madame Blue," isn't on my Styx Greatest Hits album, so it's nice to have it here.

The rest of the album? Skippable. "Light Up" and "Lorelei" were songs I'd heard before, and they're not particularly awful songs, but I can't say I actually enjoy them. The other tracks here aren't any better. Hard pop, and that's not a compliment. So I'll listen to "Prelude 12" and "Suite Madame Blue" and I'll ignore the rest. Not one of Styx's better albums. 2.5 stars.

 Equinox by STYX album cover Studio Album, 1975
3.51 | 248 ratings

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Equinox
Styx Prog Related

Review by Sidscrat

4 stars Bingo! "Equinox" was the equinox in many ways for this band. It signaled 2 major changes: 1) The first album under A&M after they smartly ditched Wooden Nickel. 2) The last album with John Curulewiski.

With 4 albums behind them they seemed to have locked into a rhythm that would define them for the next few albums. In many ways it was no different than what they put out before but it was better organized and track sequences were better arranged. Production is more solid and coherent; the sound was much better. DeYoung does most of the singing on this album oddly enough and John C only has one vocal contribution but it is harmonized with DeYoung. JY has only 1 writing credit and a partial credit.

Dennis was always the control freak in the band which ultimately led to his eventual firing. He was a good leader but overstepped his authority by steering the band into ballad and theatrical land. But at this point things were going fairly well. With the move to A&M they made a move up from the Nickel days. John C's contributions to the band were in my opinion not that significant but he did contribute some. With the completion of this album and the tour going on, DeYoung threw him out of the band after a bad show and a deteriorating relationship. The excuse given was he wanted to be with family more but the band had struggled with him a long time. He was always the one who would choose the opposite of what everyone else wanted and was a very negative person. On the road the crew & band would dread being the one to bunk with him. He was kind of dissed about the fact that his contributions were not greater and he felt A&M were still not doing all they could to promote Styx.

All that aside, this recording was prime for opening the door to their breakthrough into success. The strong tracks on this album for me are "Mother Dear", "Midnight Ride" and "Born For Adventure." I like the entire album but these are my picks. "Midnight Ride" is in my opinion the best JY rocker he ever wrote. The other 2 tracks are more progish and I like the harmony between John C and Dennis on "Mother Dear". "Sweet Madam Blue" a DeYoung composition has some good features.

This album was a great launch into what would become Crystal Ball with the addition of Tommy Shaw. That would bring on its own challenges. But for now things were definitely looking up for Chicago kids.

 Man Of Miracles by STYX album cover Studio Album, 1974
2.77 | 144 ratings

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Man Of Miracles
Styx Prog Related

Review by Sidscrat

2 stars My review of this album would be similar to the one for their previous album "Serpent Is Rising." The difference is that this album has more straight up rock tracks. The title track and "Song For Suzanne" DeYoung's second song about his wife (Other one was "Lady") are the most prog on the record. I do like the first few tracks by JY "Rock & Roll Feeling" and "Having A Ball". He has a talent in writing and singing these straight shooters. I may be about the only person who prefers "serpent" over this album. I think after the lack of positive reception of "Serpent" the band pulled back and played it safer but I think it was too safe.

I was surprised that many of their shorter rock songs were not more popular on the radio. Wooden Nickel records did not do Styx any favors as they did a lousy job of marketing the band or helping in support of them. John C would later leave the band for various reasons (for family was the weakest reason) and one was the fact that he felt A&M records who did "Equinox" (after this album) was no more supportive than Nickel.

I give it 2 stars max.

 The Serpent Is Rising by STYX album cover Studio Album, 1973
3.01 | 150 ratings

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The Serpent Is Rising
Styx Prog Related

Review by Sidscrat

3 stars I was a big fan of this band for rock in general and never much thought of them as very prog until later on as I thought about it. The first album I heard was Styx II in 1977 after John C departed and grew fond of Father OSA which was a simpler prog song. I got curious and bought their catalog (Styx 1-Equinox) and it became apparent they were trying to fit themselves into multiple holes. I personally like the blend and I know many don't and have commented here about the confusing pattern of songs.

Styx 1 was about my least favorite and of course Equinox was the staple of John's era of the band. This album and Man of Miracles were stuffed in between and as "SouthSideoftheSky" noted, they could have easily taken the best songs of both albums and made a single great one. This album came out a matter of months after Styx II. The band were in that 'finding out who we are' stage. JY was always the straight forward rocker and DeYoung was the theatrical prog head but John C also contributed in that area.

The album is not as bad as DeYoung has stated. He said it was "one of the worst recorded and produced in the history of music." I can think of hundreds of albums that would fit there before this would. I like "Grove of Eglante" & "Jonas Psalter" and other strong tracks are the title track, "Witch Wolf" and "Winnwer Take All.' I agree that the so called "hidden track" (or shall we say hideous track?) "Plexiglass Toilet" was extremely out of place and it was said it ws a favorite of Weird All Yankovich which should tell anyone it has no place on an album with a band like this. It is more suited for Cheech and Chong or Al himself. I do have to admit John C's voice and the words are a crack up.

This album definitely is as people have said all over the place between differing writing styles and 3 songwriters in the group but for the most part Styx always had 3 writers. I cannot give this album a high rating but I sure won't give it a low one. It is what it is and it is part of their growth as a band.

 Equinox by STYX album cover Studio Album, 1975
3.51 | 248 ratings

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Equinox
Styx Prog Related

Review by ElChanclas

4 stars Equinox is the 5th studio album by American classic rock, progressive rock, hard rock band Styx, and the last to feature John Curulewski on guitars and vocals.

A New Year's Day álbum to light up the new born 1975, a total celebration indeed! Dennis DeYoung says is the first well mixed and produced Styx album, and I have to agree with that, all the instruments are perfectly balanced and the vocal trio sounds better than ever. A really solid record top to bottom with some higher highlights than others but always peaking, no offense but at some point it even sounds kind of British, specially in songs like Mother Dear? exquisite stuff! The Panozzo Bros are a rhythmic force tight as a blood bond could be, DeYoung has gone even more Prog like than on the previous Man of Miracles but this time with the correct melodic input in every perfect spot throughout the whole album. To my ears, the very first excellent album by these group of great musicians. Midnight Ride and Born for Adventure are the two rockers of the album and you can tell James Young has the credit to most of that heavy sound of side B, with the JC's beautiful instrumental Prelude 12" being the exception to that! Then comes the closer mini epic song Suite Madame Blue?exceptional keyboards, heavy riffing, Dennis's vocals are smooth, elegant and flawless, everything works perfectly here. For those who don't know this record, I highly recommend it!

 The Grand Illusion by STYX album cover Studio Album, 1977
3.76 | 355 ratings

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The Grand Illusion
Styx Prog Related

Review by BrufordFreak
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars The album that made Styx one of THE hot tickets for stadium rock concerts in the years following 1977, it was definitely the highpoint of both their creativity and popularity. Still retaining some respect and for their classical and almost-progressive penchant for experimental blends, the form of their most well known (and, surprisingly, radio- popular) "epic"--the six-and-a-half-minute "Come Sail Away"--as well as anthemic hits in the title song and "Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man)", the KANSAS-like infusions of classical riffs and themes remain a strong and alluring element throughout this album--which is why prog rockers like me remained somewhat interested and allegiant. But, this was, unfortunately, the end. The 80s ushered in a kind of music that kind of pushed the "classic rock" and classical music-trained bands into the background--almost relegating them to "dinosaur" status despite the rise of Metal hair bands.

When listening to the Styx discography in order, I can't help but feel that the songs on this album pale in comparison to some of their previous songs, but as a whole album there is a kind of homogeneity here that works, that keeps the listener interested. I wonder how the band sounded repeating and/or reworking their 1970s productivity during the Naughties and Teens.

The first of my favorite Styx albums that I just can't force myself to give four stars to; I think that overall this is, like Supertramps' Breakfast in America and Pink Floyd's The Wall, an album of extreme popularity due to the crest of their wave of world-wide familiarity, not necessarily due to their best display of compositional creativity.

 Crystal Ball by STYX album cover Studio Album, 1976
3.26 | 225 ratings

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Crystal Ball
Styx Prog Related

Review by BrufordFreak
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars Again an album by a band that helped me enter and fall into love with the "prog" side of music, but which I had skipped due to its band members' choice to steer away from the experimental, album-oriented musical explorations. The radio successes of "Lady" and "Light Up" and "Lorelei" had, I think, lured them into the game of seeking "hits" and power-packed four- and five-minute songs over the suites and epics that had previously tempted them. Plus, I think Tommy Shaw was the recruit that kind of sealed the commitment to "rock" over "experimental" music. (Don't get me wrong: Mr. Shaw's talents are nothing to laugh at: he is quite talented as both guitarist, singer, and songwriter; he just had a more natural predilection toward rock than prog.) With Crystal Ball the band were able to crank out three more earworm anthems of radio- and crowd-friendly songs in "Jennifer" "Mademoiselle" and the title song. Even the opener, "Put Me On" couldn't help but display the band's previous and continued fixation and curiosity with classical music forms and structures, but then they develop into hard rockin' Blue Öyster Cult-like aggression. Overall, Tommy's influence hadn't really taken over, he was still a guest/sideman, so the Panozzo/DeYoung/Young/Curulewski Catholic school collaborative spirit still reigned supreme--and Tommy fit in at first (listen to that searing guitar throughout Jennifer!). His stage presence (and long-haired angelic looks) gave the band a new dimension in concert (one that led to the attendance of swooning teenage girls--an element that was often absent at the concerts of the true hardcore progressive rock bands). "Shooz" and "This Old Man" (Tommy's impressive debut as a lead vocalist) showed the band's interest in exploring the type of jam music coming from the Southern Rock scene. "Clair de lune/Ballerina", like the title suggests, shows the band once again taking a well-known piece of pop classical music, and forcing it into a rock form and sound palette, and, unfortunately, once again not really succeeding (as Renaissance or ELP would). Again, this is not really a prog rock lover's dream album, but it is yet another step forward in the development and maturation of one of America's great stadium rock bands. Another album that is too good to relegate to the three star bin.
 Equinox by STYX album cover Studio Album, 1975
3.51 | 248 ratings

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Equinox
Styx Prog Related

Review by BrufordFreak
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars I was a late-comer to this album, mostly due to the fact that I had fallen into the miasma of true progressive rock and left the proto-, pseudo-, fringe-, and "-related" prog pretenders behind in favor of the likes of the real deal (Yes, Genesis, Nektar, Focus, Supertramp, Jean-Luc Ponty, Return to Forever, etc.) But then when Grand Illusion hit the scene, I had to look back. When I did deign to revisit the Styx albums that had appeared between Styx II and Grand Illusion, two albums, in particular, stuck out--primarily due the fact that both presented to the world each with two undeniably "classic" prog-rocky songs: from Equinox, "Lorelei" and "Light Up" and then "jennifer" and the title song from Crystal Ball (and, probably, "Mademoiselle"). Plus, both contained another one of the band's trademark pseudo- prog "epics": here "Prelude 12" and "Suite Madame Blue." Again, not truly prog, they are definitely on the fringes, with many of the trademark sounds and flourishes that make for some of the best progressive rock music--including great arrangements, great instrumental playing, great vocal harmonies, and great production. They just had too many melodic hooks (which made their stuff radio- and teenie-friendly) and compact, concise recordings (though some of their five-minute songs sure packed a ton of tension and dynamics into them!) And, again, I can't really claim this 3.5 star album to be "an excellent acquisition for all prog music lovers" but it is, to me, a sign of a band at the peak of its strengths--of which Styx had many (which might be why so many of us use them as a comparative reference when trying to assess, define, and describe modern bands). The bottom line is that this is a very solid album that has all of its songs deserving of attention and criticism.
Thanks to Iván_Melgar_M for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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