What people search:
 | Title : Cyclorama
Author : Styx
Release Date : 20030218
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $18.98
Amazon.com Price : $13.49
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Editorial Reviews :
Cyclorama is an unexpectedly appealing comeback. Sure, there’s still no shortage of excessively filigreed keyboard and guitar passages, anthemic choruses that make Queen sound laid back, and at least one song (the nearly seven-minute 'These Are the Times') that threatens to summon the spirit of Stonehenge-era Spinal Tap. Yet, somehow, all that is forgiven once Styx sneaks up on you with the killer hooks of the Tenacious D-assisted 'Kiss Your Ass Goodbye,' a power-pop gem with the verve of classic Cheap Trick. It’s these and other small pleasures--Brian Wilson’s sumptuous vocal arrangement on a reprise of 'Fooling Yourself (Palm of Your Hands),' Billy Bob Thornton’s guttural yowling on 'Bourgeois Pig,' and of course an appearance by John Waite (without whom no classic-rock party is complete)--that weaken your resistance to even the maudlin sentiments of 'Yes I Can' (which, sorry to say, has nothing to do with the Sammy Davis Jr. autobiography whose title it shares). Will Cyclorama inspire a revisionist respect for the band at its commercial peak? Probably not. But it does prove that Styx have more than enough musical vitality to transcend their peers on the casino and county fair circuit. --Bill Forman
Buyer Reviews :
This was a much better effort then the horrid 'Brave New World' album. I would still say this album has little to resemble classic Styx. Numerous guests can be heard on the album...something that is typical of a Tommy Shaw solo effort, but not Styx.
Musically, quite a bit more creative then anything Styx has written in the last 20 years (but that isn't saying much). Three songs stand out on this album with JY's epic 'These are the Times' leaping to the top. I consider it the best song JY has ever done. The other two songs that stand out, but not as far, are Glen's 'Kiss Your A** Goodbye' and Tommy's 'Together'.
Newest member, Lawrence Gowan, (replacing ejected founder Dennis DeYoung) has very little vocal impact on the album, in my opinion, but his keyboards and piano add tremendously to the album. It is obvious the band does indeed have new life since the ousting of DeYoung whose recent showtunish and love ballad style (not to mention the Kilroy stuff) really alienated many of the harder rock fans the band had.
Again, I feel drummer Todd Sucherman is under used on the album, as he was on Brave New World. He is a tremendous talent who first blew Styx fans away with his studio performance on the song 'Little Susie' from the GHII album. Seeing this guy drum live is quite a treat.
I have felt that one thing that has held the current lineup back was the fact they had now released a new studio album since their formation 4 years ago. It is now here, and while it lacks in some areas it is a good effort that indeed legitimizes this group as being Styx. Hardcore fans of the current lineup will obviously think this is the best Styx album ever, fans of Dennis will obviously hate it or consider this not a real Styx album.
Now I think I'll sit back and listen to 'These are the Times' again...just a wonderful song; one of Styx's finest.
(by doc_blume)
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