THE GRAND ILLUSION

Ask most proggers what they think of Styx and you know what to expect. Certainly the eye roll, possibly the big laugh, perhaps some angry ranting about how bands like this killed the prog rock movement. But don't let them fool you. Many of them, when alone in their car or house, will not change the channel should "Babe" or "Come Sail Away" come on the radio. This was their peak period and these were well crafted pop-rock songs that I know many a fervent progger secretly likes. The Grand Illusion is a very good album. Side one was especially successful. While always best as the group unit, Styx's success was mostly due to the exuberance and talent of Dennis Deyoung. His great voice and exceptional keyboards are what made the Styx sound what it was, which makes it all the more silly that they continued without him. A Styx without Deyoung is about as impotent as a Floyd without Waters.

As I said, side 1 is as great a side of rock as Styx would accomplish with four monster tracks that work perfectly together, feature exceptional playing and singing, and offer the listener pure musical escapism with heartfelt lyrical messages. These songs speak to an alienated youth or at least I felt so at the time. Grand Illusion told us not to buy into the bullshit of the culture, a point that could not be more valuable to today's youth as well swimming through some of the garbage out there. Fooling Yourself (perhaps Shaw's finest song bar none) and Superstars seemed to offer a hopeful upbeat appraisal and a slight nudge to "go for it" regardless of how silly your dream may seem. Come Sail Away is pure escapism to me and simply brings me instantly to my childhood, making me feel nostalgia for it, and making me unashamed of the security, naivety and bliss that moment held. Whatever the song was really about was beside the point. More than any other flashback song, CSA puts me flat on my back in the grass, in the summer, staring at the blue sky, laughing with two friends in particular who shaped my youth in very important ways. Here I go with more personal stuff which is not what you want to read. My point is mainly that this collection of songs works as something more than pure radio candy. There is an authenticity here that is understood by many and I think that's why Grand Illusion is cited by some here as Styx finest hour.

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