Styx
The Grand Illusion


5.0
classic

Review

by Sowing STAFF
June 7th, 2020 | 50 replies


Release Date: 1977 | Tracklist

Review Summary: A magnum opus from the best classic rock band you forgot about.

Styx seem to have gotten lost in time. During their 70s-80s heyday, they were never as technically inclined as Kansas. They never wrote a single as huge as the ones that Journey churned out on the regular. Their trio of vocalists, no matter how individually talented, couldn’t combined imbue as much passion and energy as Queen’s Freddie Mercury. Nevertheless, Styx were kings of the chorus, and their hybrid brand of progressive arena rock dominated the mid-to-late 70s for good reason. Not only is it some of the catchiest music you will hear in your entire life, but it’s also fundamentally sound and experimental rock music. At the pinnacle of their career stands The Grand Illusion – by all means a magnum opus – and likely one of the few albums (if not the only) that most people will name-check when you mention Styx.

If you’ve listened to the band’s entire discography, you’ll notice that by the mid-80s, their extravagance and affinity for grandiose concepts eventually became their undoing. The Grand Illusion is widely considered Styx’s best record because it is the optimal point of intersection between their grandiosity and artistic integrity – it came out after their meandering progressive roots, yet before they imploded into disjointed, theatrical pop. What we end up with is something that sounds magnificent and retains Styx’s trademark flair-for-the-dramatic, but is also capable of detouring into mysterious and unpredictable territories.

The Grand Illusion is not so much a “concept album” as it is one that possesses a central motif. Themes of eschewing material wealth and coming to peace with who you are permeate the record: paired with the similarly themed follow-up Pieces of Eight, 1977-1978 marked Styx’s existential crisis period. The band was at peak popularity, and they questioned everything from their fame (“we made the grade and still we wonder who the hell we are”) to their place in the world (“I spend my life and sell my soul on the road, and I'm still in the dark”). It makes for an uplifting experience as Styx condemn affluence and celebrity status in favor of trying to relate to their listeners on a human level. It’s as Dennis DeYoung sings on the stately, eponymous opener, “deep inside we’re all the same.”

There are few songs worth singling out on The Grand Illusion because the entire album is a highlight reel. Of its eight tracks, four appear on Styx’s Greatest Hits compilation and most of the remainder is still fairly well-known. The songs here worth highlighting are the ones that haven’t earned much share of the spotlight – such as the eerie, foggy, ‘Castle Walls’ – a song that thrives on an ominous beat before delving into a three minute synth solo/breakdown. It’s especially memorable because it begins like a typical Styx track might (verse, verse, chorus), but then proves to be the antithesis of standardization by falling off a cliff into mesmerizing instrumental prog, which dominates the remainder of the song until the final refrain circles back at the end. ‘Superstars’ is another oft-overlooked moment, a synth bound pop-rock tune that is best characterized by Dennis DeYoung’s spoken verses condemning “the fast life” and feelings of immortality that are common among high-profile rock bands: “I've seen them climb and I've seen them fall / I've seen them come and I've seen them go / And through it all there's only one thing that matters, love / And that's simply you and I…for we are superstars.”

Elsewhere, it’s a star-studded event: ‘The Grand Illusion’ with its celebratory drums and earworm chorus, ‘Fooling Yourself’ with its lush acoustics/pianos and the best vocal performance of Tommy Shaw’s career, ‘Come Sail Away’ with its splendid progression and radio-staple chorus, ‘Miss America’ serving as the token James Young track (every Styx album has at least one – he’s the most grating of the vocalists but also the band’s most important member due to his guitar and songwriting skills), and ‘Man in the Wilderness’ offering an introspective glance into the emotional/mental health struggles that accompany fame and fortune. The Grand Illusion is a veritable who’s who of highly successful Styx songs, which makes it an excellent introductory album for anyone interested in diving into the band’s intimidatingly long discography.

Styx somewhat unfairly garners a reputation as a cheesy glam-rock band. There is certainly some truth to it as they espouse some of these traits, but their music was always built upon a foundation of progressive-leaning rock with interesting guitar solos, varied song structures, and mysterious atmospheres. These styles are easier to differentiate from the pomp and frills on earlier works, but The Grand Illusion is by far the best combination of styles – resulting in a breakthrough that would lead to Styx’s golden era (1977’s The Grand Illusion, 1978’s Pieces of Eight, 1979’s Cornerstone, and 1981’s Paradise Theater). In that sense, this record might be viewed as not only the group’s masterwork, but also the catalyst that led to one of the most fruitful five year periods in the history of rock 'n' roll. The Grand Illusion is an important album – so if you haven't already, go listen to it.



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Comments:Add a Comment 
Sowing
Moderator
June 7th 2020


44653 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Oh yes, it's a Styx review...

nilsson
June 7th 2020


114 Comments


Thus begins the critical rehabilitation of Styx. Come Sail Away BOPS.

Titan
June 7th 2020


25315 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Awesome album, nice write up Sowing. I remember hearing this as far back as I can remember as my father was a big Styx fan.



Not sure which is better though, this or Paradise Theater.

Sowing
Moderator
June 7th 2020


44653 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Thanks. I rarely talk about the band here so it'd be easy to miss the fact that I'm a huge Styx fan. They were the first band I ever got into on my own and their anthology double CD collection was the first album I ever bought with my own money. I grew up on classic rock so the progression from bands like Kansas, Queen, Boston, etc. to these guys came very naturally. I've heard and own every single one of their albums (even the terrible ones), and pretty much know everything from Man of Miracles to Kilroy Was Here by heart. They're easily in my top 10 favorite bands and are one of the most influential on my taste. It's from Styx that I got my appreciation for artists that flaunt over-the-top dramatics/concepts. To this day I can't resist an epic album full of grandiose choruses and excessive displays. I can trace it all back to these guys.



Oh and Pieces of Eight is my favorite album that they've ever done.

parksungjoon
June 7th 2020


47231 Comments


this is madness

i thought staff and contribs were contractually obligated to only review new music

MercySeat
June 7th 2020


421 Comments


I'd love to see more staff reviews of older stuff on this site. Always struggled to get into these guys, even though they had a cool musical setup.

bigguytoo9
June 7th 2020


1443 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I never forgot about these guys one bit, got to see them summer 2019 and it was fantastic. Gowan is a perfect replacement for DeYoung.

nilsson
June 7th 2020


114 Comments


Professional reviews of old/classic albums are always fun to see. The Sunday Review is my favorite thing on Pitchfork.

Titan
June 7th 2020


25315 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Pieces of Eight is very good too, especially the title track.

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
June 7th 2020


6229 Comments


Album rules, need to give it another spin soon

Gyromania
June 7th 2020


37605 Comments


Oh shit! Awesome review. I love Styx - this is my second favourite behind crystal ball

Slex
June 7th 2020


17342 Comments


Nice, also have quite a soft spot for these guys, one of the few classic rock acts I still genuinely enjoy

neekafat
Staff Reviewer
June 7th 2020


26766 Comments


god i love this band I really should check their discog

Source
June 7th 2020


19917 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

dont do it

Sowing
Moderator
June 7th 2020


44653 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Do it [2]

If you're worried about losing interest don't start at their inception. They went through a few albums of uninteresting prog before they really got their feet underneath them. Equinox is the best starting point, Man of Miracles if you're feeling brave.

Of course, if you only want their very best, then just listen to Crystal Ball, this, Pieces of Eight, Cornerstone, and Paradise Theater and then call it a day :-)

wildinferno2010
June 7th 2020


1931 Comments


I tried listening to Styx once but I couldn't handle the singing. I'll keep them in mind next time I'm at a used record store tho

Gyromania
June 7th 2020


37605 Comments


Their Greatest Hits comp is a 5

Sowing
Moderator
June 7th 2020


44653 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Come Sail Away - The Styx Anthology is preferable to their actual greatest hits if anyone decides to go that route. A much better representation of their career and you get several gems that are missing from the standard greatest hits compilation. That double album compilation was the first music I ever purchased nearly 16 years ago and I still get plenty of use out of it to this day.

Gyromania
June 7th 2020


37605 Comments


Actually haven't checked out that comp, I do love every track on the Greatest Hits though

Sowing
Moderator
June 7th 2020


44653 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Yeah nothing wrong with The Greatest Hits and you can't go wrong there obviously, but it's missing awesome songs like Mademoiselle, Man In The Wilderness, and Sing For The Day. Plus a lot more.



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