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I purchased this record expecting very little. Lately, the dinosaurs have been really disappointing me. Toto’s last effort seemed lifeless and Boston’s Corporate America had its moments but didn’t super impress, so I figured Styx was headed in the same direction. On albums by these bands -- who were once giant, bright constellations and now have morphed into much more modest bodies -- I look for a record that has some familiar feel or sound, but explores new territory or establishes older formulas with a new twist. I have to say that this record had me rocking a bit, laughing a bit and singing along. The disc features contributions vocally by all members of the band except Sucherman, and Tommy Shaw sings co-lead or lead on half the tracks, which is a good thing because I have always felt he was the band’s best vocalist and writer. I know Dennis DeYoung wrote a good chunk of the hits, but Shaw and Young get Styx rocking. Besides, if you want the DeYoung pieces, Gowan provides two DeYoung-like vocal performances on “Fields of the Brave” and “More Love for the Money.” If you want to pick up a record by an old familiar artist but were afraid it wouldn’t live up to the name the band had established, I would advise you get this one. It has enough of that big, almost-over-produced sound with some new spins. Glen Burtnik’s “Killing the Thing That You Love” is a perfect example of a Styx sound molded into a new shape. Besides, I love the giant floating carrot -- that’s worth points by itself. ~R. David Smola pretendcritic@aol.com
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