Ticket 2 Ride

Styx has been around for over 50 years. Hard to believe. I saw them in concert last summer and they put on a pretty good show.

They return with Circling From Above, not exactly a concept album, but it feels like one, and no, it’s not the return of Mr. Roboto.

I have to admit, on first listen, I was ready to pass on this album. Something told me to give it another listen, so I did. Is it a great album? No. I can’t put it near the top of the best Styx albums either, yet it has charm and is well-made. This album doesn’t sound anything like the old Styx. The group’s name is the same, but that’s about it.

Tommy Shaw and James Young remain full time members, Chuck Panozzo is only part time because of serious health issues. Todd Sucherman is the drummer, Lawrence Gowan has been the keyboard player since 1999, his brother Terry Gowan, shares bass with Panozzo. Will Evankovich has produced the past several Styx albums, and this one, while joining the band as a full time musician and songwriter. Evankovich, Lawrence Gowan and Shaw, in various combinations, write all of the songs. As similar as the songs sound, these guys are on the same page musically.

The first three songs fit together nicely and segue into each other. “Circling From Above”, “Build and Destroy” and “Michigan.” I was thinking of Yes’ Fly From Here as I listened. Maybe it was the flying theme or the way the songs blended.

“It’s Clear” Riffy song, melodic, but a little generic, as is “Forgive.”

“Everybody Raise a Glass” is Beatlesque, like it should on Magical Mystery Tour or Queen’s A Day At the Races, especially the vocals.

Shaw turns in a fine acoustic guitar and mandolin performance on “Blue Eyed Raven”, a rollicking, hoedown of a song.

“She Knows” steps back into that Beatle/Queen vibe. Written by Evankovich, it changes musical direction multiple times.

“Ease Your Mind” segues into “The Things That You Said” a very ELO-like song.

“We Lost the Wheel Again” is a distant cousin of The Who’s “Baba O’Riley” in many respects, with a nod to Keith Emerson’s synthesizer sound on “Lucky Man.”

The album closes with “Only You Can Decide” by Shaw. A bit preachy, but musically rewarding.

I mention how many of their new songs remind me of older songs or other bands. That’s not really a good thing for a band with Styx’s success. If I could pinpoint some weaknesses, it would be the lack of a dynamic lead vocalist. Shaw is over 70, and while his voice still has resonance, it was never a classic lead vocalist, although his vocal was a good counterpoint to Dennis DeYoung. Neither Gowan or Evankovich have that classic lead vocal sound their, and all three sound very similar. I will say, their blend of harmonies is quite effective.

Styx doesn’t need to sound like other bands. They emerged from progressive rock to more of an arena rock of the late 1970s and 1980s, but their sound was their own. Since DeYoung’s departure, Styx has sounded less experimental and more generic. Circling From Above is a crisply played and produced album, but unlikely to win new fans or stimulate older fans to buy it. That’s what a lot of legacy bands deal with today as their fans age out.

Styx still has a very loyal following, I’ve seen it myself, yet I’m not sure they buy the recent albums. Wisely, Styx plays mostly the hits, because that’s what fans expect.