RETURN TO PARADISE (DVD)

Wow...Styx...what a guilty pleasure. I know I shouldn't like them.....grade A cheese and, during the late 70's a complete sell-out. Nevertheless....they have a lot of songs I like. So I bought the DVD and have to admit it's pretty good. Pretty predictable list of hits songs but a few surprises. A very competent performance, with all players contributing. The audience just eats it up and that seems to inspire the band even more.

The one funny thing is watching front-man Dennis De Young. You can see in his performance all the tension and anxiety that existed / exists in the band. He' no rock-n-roller....and looks like he'd be much more comfortable in a Broadway play (where he has spend a lot of his post-Styx career). You can just see the other guys kinda laughing at his feminine stage presence and overall goofiness. But it is also his exceptional voice, bombastic arrangements and over-the-top musical approach that made Styx whatever they are (without him we'd have never noticed Styx).

An honest performance, great songs, enthusiastic audience, solid video production and great sound.....all in all a 4-star DVD.