Styx – Regeneration (2011)
It is hard for me to believe that Styx has been around for four decades. They have had countless hits over the years, many of which are well represented in their new two CD compilation Regeneration. What makes this new compilation special? This CD was recorded with their current touring lineup, and offers one new song “Difference in the World”, as well as two newly re-recorded Damn Yankees songs “High Enough” and “Coming of Age”.
I am sure it will anger some folks that the songs in the 2 CD set were re-recorded without Dennis DeYoung, but Styx has carried on without him since 1999. Sometimes, you have to let the music do the talking, and the music speaks loud and clear. Tommy Shaw still sounds amazing in 2011, and Lawrence Gowan is excellent as well. I am a little disappointed that “Babe” and “Mr. Roboto” aren’t in this collection, but the new song, “Difference in The World”, as well as the re-recorded Damn Yankees songs make up for the tracks that are missing.
Overall, I think Regeneration is a very good career retrospective, and is one for all current Styx fans to check out.
Regeneration will be available on October 4th. You can pre-order it here.
For more information on Styx, please visit www.styxworld.com.
Rating: Out of 10
Track Listing:
DISC 1
1) The Grand Illusion
2) Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
3) Lorelei
4) Sing For The Day,
5) Crystal Ball
6) Come Sail Away
7) Difference In The World
DISC 2
1) Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
2) Miss America
3) Renegade
4) Queen Of Spades
5) Boat on The River
6) Too Much Time On My Hands
7) Snowblind
8) Coming Of Age
9) High Enough
Styx is:
James “JY” Young – Guitars & Vocals
Tommy Shaw – Guitars, Vocals, Mandolin
Lawrence Gowan – Vocals & Keyboards
Todd Sucherman – Drums & Percussion
Ricky Phillips – Bass Guitar
Chuck Panozzo – Bass Guitar
Todd Sucherman is a better drummer than John Panozzo was late in his career. Listen to earlier Styx records – the wooden nickel albums and A&M albums through Pieces of Eight. Panozzo was one of the better rock drummers around. Chuck, however, was and is a medioce base player. Tommy and JY are stuck in the 70’s guitar players – they never could “shred” the way Neal Schon of Journey, REO’s Gary Richrath did, Rick Emmett of Triumph, etc., etc. John and Dennis were the only musicians in the band worthy of the “prog rock” label.
Styx is hardly a “much better band” without Dennis DeYoung. While he’s far from perfect, he is 1,000 times the singer and songer than his replacement, the slick piano playing lounge lizard Lawrence Gowan. Gowan is a better accoustic piano player – he’s as good as anyone – but he can’t write a decent song to save his life and his vocals are similar to Greg Rollie (pre Steve Perry Journey). DeYoung made Styx and his voice, which is one of the best rock has seen, is the voice of the band.
Styx has become a much better band without Dennis Deyoung.
I have listened to a few of the songs. Gowan is no Dennis DeYoung. It sounds like they electronically tried to make him sound like him, but his voice is not as strong sounding. Perhaps it is my computer system, but Sucherman’s sound is no where close to Panozzo. Shaw sounds just as he did when I saw the “real” Styx 4 times up to Kilroy. Lorelei sounds terrible in my opinion. As for the new song, same old, same old TS type of song.
This review from classic rock mag doesn’t sound like a multiplatnium band neither does the albums. Jy’s vocals are over the place. Lawrence Gowan is NOT no Dennis Deyoung.
This review comes from Classic Rock Magazine
Styx – Regeneration: Volumes I & II
Eagle Records
http://www.eaglerockent.com
http://www.styxworld.com
Rating: D
Many rock fans do not realize that many of their favorite bands do not own the rights to their own material. With classic rock tunes being favorites of advertisers, and advertisers willingness to pay big bucks to use these tunes in commercials, many bands redo their own songs in order to have something that they own to sell for these commercials. They also are handy to force the hardcore fan base completists to shell out a few more bucks for new product – err, sorta new product – to add to their collection.
Whether this was the reason Styx released a two-disc set of their own tunes or not, only the band and their management knows.
It’s a shame this type of thing has to go on, as it really makes bands like Styx look as if they are out of original ideas. The fact that this ‘Styx’ album also contains two Damn Yankees songs on it only adds to the confusion.
The only interesting things about this album are the songs that Lawrence Gowan sings. Gowan replaced Dennis DeYoung and hearing his take on classics Styx tunes, including “The Grand Illusion” and “Come Sail Away,” is something different. However, he can be heard singing these songs on any of the live CDs or DVDs that have been released since he has been in the band.
This is a throwaway album that really is not that impressive. There is a new song titled “Difference in the World” but, at the end of the day, it does more to make one wonder if the band really is out of good ideas, as it is a forgettable song.
Perhaps the time has come for Styx to take a few years off the road and recharge their batteries. Can anyone say, “Damn Yankees reunion?”
By Jeb Wright
Yes, but Tom Sucherman is a better drummer than John Panozzo.
No thanks. Styx without Dennis Deyoung is like, well, Styx without Dennis Deyoung.