BRAVE NEW WORLD

If 'Kilroy was here' was a bizarre miss-step for the band, this was triple-suicide. Does every Tommy Shaw song have to mention either 'Manic Depression' or 'Prosac'? And the bad part is it starts out so promisingly. I might give a song-by-song run down for this one

1. "I will be your witness" - This song has so many different elements coming together, maybe boy-band vocals? funky guitar and sweeping strings, but one of my firm favourite Styx songs definitely - 5/5

2. "Brave new world" - Another haunting tracks that mixes a lot of different styles, Tommy uses eerie keyboards and a mandolin - 4/5

3. "While there's still time" - A beautiful and melodic ballad that benefits from solid hooks and some nice arrangements. - 4.5 /5

4. "Number one" - Sounds like something a nu-metal band might do, like Limp Bizkit, though better. This is the first song about manic depression, but for this song it's actually well done - 3/5

5. "Brave new world" - Sounds a bit boy band, but the chorus is SO catchy 2.5/5

6. "'What have they done to you" - Never liked it - 1/5

7. "Fallen Angel" - A bit simplistic and silly lyrics, but catchy chorus almost saves it - 2/5

8."Everything is cool" - Just an ugly song. Styx are always good at meshing up various styles but this one's just sounds horrible with Hard/rock passages leading into neo-punk passages (think Blink-182) and for about 40 seconds it sounds like a disco song. - 1/5

9. "Great Expectations" - Such stupid lyrics. The music is pleasant and easy-listening but nothing inspiring - 1.5/5

10. "Heavy Water" - A hard rocking song, but very heavy hearted, too little too late, really. Notice how Tommy makes a cameo on a JY song, just to mention 'Prosac' - 2.5/5

11. "High Crimes and Misdemeanours" - Actually a nice catchy song, quite funny hip-hop art-rock song - 4/5

12. "Just fell in" - This song tries to lighten the mood near the end, but doesn't do much to do that, it's a bad attempt at 60's pop, - 2/5

13. "Goodbye to Roseland" - Very touching song about Dennis' Father - 4/5

14. "Reprise" - Ugly, what's with that wailing at the end. It starts off well but they don't develop it. Also, eerie that the last words Dennis ever sang with the band are "Will there be a place for me in the brave new world?" Apparently not - 1.5/5

Okay I agree that they were trying to do something different, so they were being more 'artsy' than on the last album, and that was quite daring since they had to win back fans. But honestly, did the whole album have to have such silly lyrics? Still there are catchy moments, and they do branch out at times, into some original territory, so probably 2.5 - 3.0