Review
Releasing newly recorded versions of their classic hits, Styx 2.0 has brought us more of a novelty item than an actual album set with Regeneration Volume 1 & 2. Disc one, Regeneration 1, did so well at the band’s merch table on tour that they decided to officially release it to the public and throw in an added disc.
Anyone familiar with Styx will notice right away that not all their classic songs are “regenerated” on these discs. The well-known Dennis DeYoung ballad hits such as “Lady” and Babe” have been kicked to the curb (along with Dennis himself), and even though it spares many a listener the schmaltz, it does register the “regeneration” incomplete. Those two songs simply can’t be forgotten as a part of Styx’s longstanding success.
Grant it, the new lineup sounds terrific. Lawrence Gowan’s vocals and keyboards are powerful and spot on. Guitarists Tommy Shaw and James are amazingly energetic (as always). The rhythm section of Todd Sucherman, Ricky Phillips and co-founder Chuck Panozzo drives with perfection. Together they redo five-star songs like “Come Sail Away,” “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man),” “Too Much Time On My Hands,” “Renegade,” “Blue Collar Man” with much class. However, most fans will favor the originals.
And the only new composition on Regeneration 1 & 2 is the soft rocker “Difference in the World” and it’s, unfortunately, a true filler.
Then the two-disc set ends on a weird note. The inclusion of two re-baked Damn Yankees songs (“Coming of Age” and “High Enough”) is a real head scratcher. Who cares if this was the band that Tommy Shaw once shared with a temporarily castrated Ted Nugent? The truth is, Damn Yankees were horrible enough in 1990 (with “High Enough,” imagine if Celine Dion made an attempt at hard rock). Do we really need Styx doing covers of Damn Yankees songs?
Which leads us to the larger question: do we need Styx doing covers of their DeYoung era classics? Well, it makes sense to sell something like this at a concert with Styx’s latest grouping. Fans get to see the new lineup perform and later wonder what studio versions of the classics would sound like with Styx 2.0. But to present it to the public, out of context like this, is really unnecessary.
Review by classic rock magazine
Rating: D
Many rock fans do not realize that many of their favorite bands do not own the rights to their own material. With classic rock tunes being favorites of advertisers, and advertisers willingness to pay big bucks to use these tunes in commercials, many bands redo their own songs in order to have something that they own to sell for these commercials. They also are handy to force the hardcore fan base completists to shell out a few more bucks for new product – err, sorta new product – to add to their collection.
Whether this was the reason Styx released a two-disc set of their own tunes or not, only the band and their management knows.
It’s a shame this type of thing has to go on, as it really makes bands like Styx look as if they are out of original ideas. The fact that this ‘Styx’ album also contains two Damn Yankees songs on it only adds to the confusion.
The only interesting things about this album are the songs that Lawrence Gowan sings. Gowan replaced Dennis DeYoung and hearing his take on classics Styx tunes, including “The Grand Illusion” and “Come Sail Away,” is something different. However, he can be heard singing these songs on any of the live CDs or DVDs that have been released since he has been in the band.
This is a throwaway album that really is not that impressive. There is a new song titled “Difference in the World” but, at the end of the day, it does more to make one wonder if the band really is out of good ideas, as it is a forgettable song.
Perhaps the time has come for Styx to take a few years off the road and recharge their batteries. Can anyone say, “Damn Yankees reunion?”
By Jeb Wright
I love Styx from start to 1999, but this version of the band now is garage band quality. Save your money on this one. You should be able to find a download online or listen to it on youtube for free.