CRYSTAL BALL

Crystal ball is their sixth album from 1976 and is a big release in Styx career. Styx always combined in a good manner pomp rock with grand orchestrations and aswell have a good doze of progressive elements, but they were less progressive then their country fellows Kansas for ex. They manage to go shoulder to shoulder in second half of the '70 's with Kansas being the most well known bands in USA in thet times. Already from this album appears a hit Mademoiselle, the band got more and more fans, their combination of art rock with pompous arrangements over some progressive elements get the attention to most of the audience in midd to late '70 's in american scene. The rrangements were very good composed, with realy solid progressive elements like opening track Put Me On, maybe the best piece from here, aswell a new member arrived Tommy Show who brings a fresh air, he did both vocals and guitars in Styx music. This album , is less consistent then Equinox but far better then Man of miracles, the a passages are well constructed, more progressive elements are arranged here, givig overall a good release, maybe for some listners who considered Styx a commercial band with not much to do with prog, this album, the next one and the one before will show a solid song writting for sure with a clear progressive side on almost all pieces. This album desearve 3 stars , at least from my side, not among my fav from them, the two album remeining my fav are the previous one Equinox and next one Grand illusion. Still a fairly good and decent work.