Under my assumption, the responses to Styx's material seem to fall into two major categories: (1). Music fans listen to it, and dismiss it as a cheesy, watered-down, pretentious mess. They would want nothing more to do with this. (2). Music fans listen to this, and love the catchy melodies, but will try their hardest to refrain from admitting so, for fear of losing their *hipness* credibility.

But other than everything listed in the above paragraph, the biggest fans of this music are the ones who grew up with it when it was released. The adults around that time knew the negative reputation bands like Styx were receiving, but some youngsters around that time period were more than likely oblivious to the artist-bashing, and nevertheless, enjoyed the music just fine. I consider the latter to be the most blessed, as the saying goes, "what they don't know won't hurt them."

But, all historical insights aside, I've always enjoyed Styx's music, and I was never bothered by the slick productions of their music, or anything else for that matter. I found it to be highly enjoyable, quality music created by talented musicians, and still do.

THE GRAND ILLUSION exhibits accessible hard rock with progressive rock flourishes integrated into the mix to create a highly compelling brand of rock. There seems to be a theme that runs throughout the entire album - a theme that states no matter how successful, or unsuccessful one is, no matter what kind of career one has, no matter what lifestyle one lives, no matter what one does or does not have, it doesn't make you any better, or worse than any other individual. Believing so is simply a "grand illusion."

I've seen and heard for the longest time Styx being knocked as a band trying *too* hard to be like Queen. I honestly never understood that, as Styx never seemed to exhibit enough *Britishness* in their sound to even come close to imitating Queen (even if those supposed accusations were true.) However, small traces of British progressive rock bands (e.g. Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull) do come to mind when I listen to this music. Queen comes to mind as well, but - like the aforementioned Brtish progressive bands - in small traces. On the whole, I find Styx's music to be - more or less - unique.

The bombastic, anthemic, theatrical opening of the title track (which I absolutely love) brings resemblance to Genesis and Jethro Tull, and is possibly the closest thing to resemble *Britishness* on this disc. Meanwhile, the megalomaniacalesque, grand vocals on some of the verses resemble Yes and Queen to an extent. But overall, Styx's music seems so Americanized, it refrains from sounding like a largely derivative thing. Thematically speaking, this track features lead singer Dennis DeYoung stating the negative aspects that come with the package of being a "rock star." The lyrics seem to state that the lifestyle many ordinary blokes dream of living is not all it's cracked up to be. This is exemplified in the aforementioned title track the most. However, fame - the pros and (mostly) cons of it -- plays a big part of the thematic element that runs throughout the disc.

"Angry Young Man" seems like a message to the punks of the day. When reading these lyrics, it's easy to see that Styx were trying to send out a positive, optimistic message. Cynics (especially of this generation) will read these lyrics and scoff until they run out of breath. I'll be the first to admit that they do seem a little dated in their naivete, but the natural creativity, and the sincere, heartfelt optimism is hard not to be moved by, and, let's be honest - it's nice to be able to take a break from cynicism, as it gets old really fast.

"Superstars" is one of my favorite tracks. A mid-tempo rocker with some lovely, touching vocal harmonies which happen to share more in common with R&B/Soul than they do with rock. "Come Sail Away" has aged well to me. The haunting and achingly moving chorus has not left me one bit, and those lyrics I find to be absolutely poetic and beautiful. An all-around beautiful and moving track. Guitarist James Young writes and sings lead vocal for the sneering "Miss America," the edgiest, crunchiest tune on the album. James' snarling vocal burns with a white-hot passion ( and cracks me up hysterically.) A track which may please many cynics. Who would have thought? "Castle Walls" is the most *proggish* on the album - a track which starts off fairly low-key and melodic, before showcasing some lovely vocal harmonies. Then we are treated to a brief instrumental section of over-the-top theatrics which recall the many progressive rock giants of the early and mid-70s.

I love this music, regardless of the negative criticism surrounding it. Just try to enjoy the music for what it is - great music made by talented musicians - and forget about the *hipness* or lack of it. Enjoy.


A new Styx fan is born...better late than never I guess   January 18, 2006
Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

I did not own a single Styx album until recently - which is odd because the group was highly popular during the late 1970s/early 1980s when I was a teen (all 80s teens liked Styx right?). My suspicion is that it may have had something to do with the fact that I was a Yes and Pink Floyd freak at the time and was unyieldingly provincial in my listening habits, although it may have been a subconscious observance of what I refer to as the "Styx stigma". For whatever reason, I am sorry I waited this long because The Grand Illusion (1977) rocks like nobody's business and Styx is a darn good band. As a huge fan of progressive rock (I am still a raving Yes-head), the whole package appeals to me on many levels: soaring three and four part vocal harmonies by excellent high tenors; super Hammond organ work; blazing Rick Wakeman-esque Moog (synth) solos; great synthesizer tones; dynamic acoustic/hard rock contrasts; agile ensemble work (all of the musicians are very good); and to top it all off, wonderful harmonic and melodic development. Mix in the heavily distorted guitar of Led Zeppelin along with the thunderous and tight rhythm section of Deep Purple and the blueprint for The Grand Illusion is pretty much drawn out. Although superficially similar, this album is light-years ahead of previous works such as Equinox (1975) and Crystal Ball (1976). In spite of the fact that those albums are very good (and recommended) they do not exhibit the compositional sophistication of The Grand Illusion. This is wonderful and crisply produced progressive hard rock and certainly provides me with a great deal of enjoyment - after all isn't that what rock is all about? All in all, this is an engaging and superb album, a heck of a lot of fun to listen to, and is highly recommended along with Pieces of Eight (1978). For those new Styx fans (like me) that enjoy this band and want to explore other progressive hard rock bands, the album Point of Know Return (Kansas, 1977) might also prove enjoyable.


One of the WORST classic rock bands ever!   October 31, 2002
13 out of 84 found this review helpful

I hate this album. I was somehow forced to listen to it almost EVERY DAMN DAY in high school. Somebody somewhere would have it on a portable cassette or 8-track in the halls or on the bus or in the quad. This was an album about conformity, not rock n' roll.

Part of the problem is that Styx, obviously by the sound of Tommy Shaw & Dennis DeYoung's voices, really wanted to do opera, but they didn't have the discipline, nor did they have the wit of Queen to make opera rock out.

Styx, like Journey & Loverboy, were one of those safe, squeaky clean prima donna kind of bands that the record companies foisted on the public in the '70's that took the place of real rock that had guts, sincerity, intelligence, passion, groove and/or soul and actually had something to do with yout life besides escapist silly crap about a sailing ship actually being an alien space ship (Come Sail Away is sooo cosmic dude...)
or sophomoric bull of the "enlightenment" of figuring out it's all "A Grand Illusion" (wow, no ...? Welcome to the real world Tommy & Dennis!) and "deep inside we're all the same" which is true, but OUTWARDLY we WEREN'T, especially when THEY were making millions selling this garbage and the rest of us were suffering violations of our civil rights & facing a limited future.

Amazingly Styx & others like them did this con job all before Lou Pearlman came up with the idea of boy bands (same thing, only at least Styx played their own instruments, I'll give them that).

Styx sucks, and I consider all your negative votes an honor.
This band, along with Kansas, Journey, Loverboy, and all other pseudo art rock bands should never have existed.

"Miss America" was their ONLY good song.


Argggh! That voice!   September 29, 1998
7 out of 16 found this review helpful

Once upon a time in the '70s when I was a foolish teenager, I bought this album because it was megapopular at the time. I quickly realized that if I was ever going to like this album, I was going to have to get past Dennis DeYoung's godawful voice. It just grated on my nerves something terrible. Well, I never could get past his voice. "Ieeeeemmm SAyyyleeeng Ay-wayeeeee." Arrgggh!! Anyone for frisbee?


Styx's Best and Most Commercially Successful Album   August 31, 2000
Sam Bethune (Lincoln, Nebraska USA)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful

I categorize Styx albums in two categories: pre Tommy Shaw and Tommy Shaw because Shaw's presence changed the musical direction in which the band was going, mostly for the better.

In the "pre-Shaw" period, "Equinox" is unquestionably the group's best album. In the Tommy Shaw era, "The Grand Illusion" is easily their best work and overall the band's best album ever. Few albums by any band are as completely listenable and entertaining from first track to last. In addition to the the band staples "Fooling Yourself", "Come Sail Away", and "Miss America", come several other tracks worth mentioning, such as "Castle Walls" and my personal favorite, "Man in the Wilderness". If I had to choose the weakest song on "The Grand Illusion", it would be "Superstar", but I even like that song, albeit not quite as much as the rest of the album.

"The Grand Illusion" is in my mind Styx's pinnacle album, as they followed it up with "Pieces of Eight", which was not quite as commercially successful and bordered on being somewhat pretentious (their next three albums, "Cornerstone", "Paradise Theater", and "Kilroy Was Here" would prove to be even more so). "Illusion" captures Styx at its creative and commercial zenith, and aside from their Greatest Hits album and "Equinox" is the only other Styx album a serious fan needs.