r/ClassicRock • u/MielMielleux • Aug 05 '25
70s Styx discography review by the Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004).
Styx might be the worst band ever according to Rolling Stone, especially before 1978.
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u/powdered_dognut Aug 05 '25
Rolling Stone is wrong a lot too.
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u/ReactiveCypress Aug 05 '25
Yeah it makes sense they didn't like Styx. Rolling Stone back then definitely preferred more "traditional" rock bands, so anything prog or too "out there" got trashed by them. Led Zeppelin famously was never well received by Rolling Stone in the 70s. Of course the funny thing now is that a lot of those bands that Rolling Stone either ignored or trashed are now praised by them.
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u/Syrinx_Hobbit Aug 05 '25
If you were even remotely sort of progressive, good luck. RS hated that stuff. No worries though, I've never looked to Rolling Stone to be the arbiter of musical taste.
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u/edgiepower Aug 05 '25
Rolling Stone hated Bon era AC/DC too and that's about the opposite of progressive
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u/OccamsYoyo Aug 06 '25
It was an elitist POS magazine. The only reason it’s more accepting of the likes of Zep today is because their teenage fans grew up and started writing for RS.
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u/specificmutant Aug 05 '25
Yeah. Rolling Stone, the rock music magazine that hated rock music. But they lost their mind on garbage like the Ramones and rap.
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u/Defiant_West6287 Aug 05 '25
Ramones are one of the greatest bands in history. Dismissing rap entirely is moronic.
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u/zeruch Aug 06 '25
I suspects he's probably a classic rock or prog rock dude, who only enjoys "obvious technique" and pretentions of grandeur.
I was never a big Ramones fan (always preferred post-punk to punk) but I understand their position in the music cosmos. Hip hop has produced over half a century, some spectacular material, and musicians/producers. Even if you don't like it (I do) you have to kind of acknowledge it for the same reasons.
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u/White_Buffalos Aug 06 '25
Rap is dead. Has been for about 20 years. It peaked in the 1990s after a great build-up starting in the 1970s.
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u/haclyonera Aug 05 '25
They sure did, trash magazine. If they hated it, me and my friends liked it; and vice versa.
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u/Longjumping_West_907 Aug 05 '25
RS did a scathing, negative review of 451 Ocean Boulevard by Clapton when it was released. They also included Neil Young in a list of great guitar players.
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u/Harbison63 Aug 05 '25
I was never a huge Styx fan, but I would think The Grand Illusion, Pieces of Eight and Paradise Theatre would have rated at least the same as Kilroy Was here. I despise Mr. Roboto. I put it up there with drivel such as Hey Mickey.
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u/haclyonera Aug 05 '25
Kilroy killed the band, that's for sure .
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u/kirkt Aug 05 '25
Overnight, it was no longer cool to like Styx. They were my favorite band until one day thy weren't.
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u/Livid_Parfait6507 Aug 05 '25
My thoughts exactly. Kilroy Was Here sucks. Paradise Theatre was the last Styx album I bought. Kilroy also got old Dennis shit canned.
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u/dirbofficial Aug 05 '25
I’m not even a big Styx fan, but saying that Kilroy Was Here is their best studio album is just insanity, it was famously so bad that it tanked the band for years.
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u/ZooterOne Aug 05 '25
I like Kilroy Was Here. I think most Styx fans do. It's odd, but it's never dull, and Tommy's ballads "Haven't We Been Here Before" and "If I Just Get Through This Night" are excellent.
But it seems wild to rate it higher than Paradise Theatre and Grand Illusion, two albums that are pretty much regarded as rock classics.
Critics never liked them - their blend of corporate rock, prog, obnoxious vocal triads, and Broadway pomp seems designed to piss off the rock press. But that's what set them apart. Without the musical theater-art stylings of Dennis DeYoung, they're just…Night Ranger.
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u/Nightgasm Aug 05 '25
Fans loved the album. What tanked the band was that Tommy Shaw hated it and the growing rift between he and DeYoung over the direction of the band ultimately led to them breaking up. By the time the band semi got back together without DeYoung their time had passed and they are just a legacy touring act now.
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u/GrumpyCatStevens Aug 05 '25
IIRC, the initial Styx reunion included DeYoung but not Shaw - who was still in Damn Yankees at the time.
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u/HaiKarate Aug 05 '25
It was still a platinum-selling album.
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u/dirbofficial Aug 05 '25
I’m not sure your point here? This list is critical reviews, which have nothing to do with commercial performance. Also, most career destroying albums do have high sales numbers, it’s the one after that really shows the damage done.
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u/HaiKarate Aug 05 '25
The reason Styx fell apart is that Dennis DeYoung was wanting to incorporate more theater in their albums and concerts, and the other members just wanted to play rock music.
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u/Les_Turbangs Aug 05 '25
Rock critics tend to dismiss popular bands as there’s nothing to be gained by praising them. You don’t make a name for yourself as a critic by defending such acts. Rather, you grow your legend by planting your flag on lesser known acts before they become popular.
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u/hovershark Aug 05 '25
RS gave bad reviews to the first two Zeppelin albums. To this day, reviews are more about the reviewer playing to a certain audience than anything objective.
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u/DetectiveBlackCat Aug 05 '25
"Dennis De Young never met a high note he didn't strangle to death with his bare hands" - this is a 5 star review!
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u/NeverForNoReason Aug 05 '25
Grand Illusion is pretty close to perfect for me.
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u/RobsSister Aug 05 '25
I can’t count the number of hours I spent laying on the floor by my turntable, listening to Grand Illusion and staring at the album cover - the artwork was so awesome.
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u/Guypussy Aug 05 '25
“Music Time” is their best song?! WTF?!
If you’ve never heard it find the video on YT right now. I promise it’ll make you think even less of Styx.
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u/SumthingBrewing Aug 05 '25
This right here absolutely destroys any shred of credibility this writer might have. Insane!
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u/stevesommerfield Aug 05 '25
I stopped taking Rolling Stone seriously once I saw that Jann Wenner was more interested in putting his celebrity pals on the cover than in music journalism.
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u/nevertellya Aug 05 '25
Right its like taking the RRHOF seriously. Watered down with so many mediocre bands while some greats are kept out (Tull, Zevon, ELP, Nilsson)
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u/stevesommerfield Aug 05 '25
RRHOF inductions are not rewards for excellence, but rather "bouquets" the music industry bestows on those it wishes to exalt.
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u/RussellAlden Aug 05 '25
Cornerstone has a soft spot in my heart.
Rolling Stone hasn’t been relevant since 1972 so whatever.
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u/HugeRaspberry Aug 05 '25
Having been around and actually purchased volume 1 of the Rolling Stone Record Guide (1979) and the New Rolling Stone Record Guide in 1983 - The 2004 book that you are quoting from was revised and re-reviewed and MANY classic rock acts were completely omitted from the 2004 book - Deep Purple, Three Dog Night, Doobie Brothers, and ELP are some that are not even in the 2004 guide.
I can honestly say a few things -
The ratings are purely subjective by the person doing the review. If Dave Marsh reviewed the artist / albums in volume 1 then likely someone else did in volume 2 - and the ratings were probably different.
They honestly don't reflect the importance or significance of the album(s) when they were released. Instead they are a "moment in time" reflection on the album. An album that was significant in 1976 - like The Grand Illusion - would not have the same depth or meaning to a reviewer listening to it for the first time in 2003 - 4 without having been alive and cognizant in 1976.
When the 2nd edition came out they called out specific bands / records that they had either bumped up - Jethro Tull in the original was given 0-1-2 stars - due to "Ian Anderson's domination and lack of song writing talent" but in the 2nd volume they went up to 3 to 5 stars - for "Ian Anderson being a dominate force and driver of their creativity." or down - much of the 70's singer song writer genre got slammed, as did disco.
Bottom line - ignore the critics - treat it as complete or semi complete discography for bands you like - at best if you see something given a 5 star review and you have never listened to it - Give it a shot.
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u/Samwhys_gamgee Aug 05 '25
Styx wasn’t exactly Mozart, but it’s enjoyable music.
Of all types of critics I’m pretty sure rock critics are the most insufferable. And of all the platforms for rock criticism Rolling Stone is the haughtiest and most obnoxious. So you looking at pretty much the perfect Storm of asshole criticism.
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u/URPissingMeOff Aug 06 '25
Rock critics are the shitty, no-talent, self-important douchbags from high school who got their heads flushed down the toilets every day.
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u/jimtandem Aug 05 '25
As a Rush fan I’ve been down this road before.
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u/dachx4 Aug 05 '25
Yeah, they compared Geddy's voice as a cross between Robert Plant and Donald Duck. What assholes.
A few of those older Styx albums are really masterpieces in my book but I can't hate on other opinions because some of the more "theatrical" singing can take a stern constitution to overlook.
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u/JoeCorsonStageDeli Aug 05 '25
Rush, Journey, Styx.........probably not gonna find a lot of over the top positive reviews of these bands from critics if I recall correctly.
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u/RangerGirl11 Aug 05 '25
1 star for Crystal Ball? Idiots! Not a bad song on that album. Pieces of Eight is a rock classic. Rolling Stone was stupid!
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u/Hartvigson Aug 05 '25
I own Pieces of eight on vinyl but haven't played it since the 80's, I do remember it as a good album though. I think I might own Kilroy also but hated it.
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u/Sweetbeans2001 Aug 05 '25
I was a big Styx fan and Paradise Theater was the first concert I ever attended. When Kilroy was released, it broke me. I couldn’t believe this was the direction that Dennis DeYoung wanted to go. I stopped paying attention to any of their new stuff after that. For Rolling Stone to say this was their best album is absurd.
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u/slop1010101 Aug 05 '25
I love Styx, and I know exactly how cheesy they are, which is what makes them so fun. Super catchy too! And their new albums ain't half bad!
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u/mbd34 Aug 05 '25
I'm not even a fan, but Kilroy getting the three instead of earlier albums is surprising.
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u/RobsSister Aug 05 '25
I agree. Three stars for that turd, but only 2 1/2 stars for Pieces of Eight and the Grand Illusion and only ONE star for Equinox?
Insanity!
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u/mbd34 Aug 05 '25
I wonder what the reasoning is. Kilroy seems to embody precisely what critics hate about the band.
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u/RobsSister Aug 05 '25
My brother was a true rock “purist.” After graduating college in the Midwest (where we grew up), he sold all his belongings and headed for L.A. to find a job in the tv industry (which he did, and ultimately had an incredible career).
Anyway, he always loved teasing me about my Midwestern sensibilities, including my love of Journey, Styx and Foreigner (thanks to “Real Rock Radio; K-SHE 95”). So when he bought an answering machine for his (first) apartment in L. A., he targeted me with his greeting message: “Hi, this is Rob. Leave a message… unless you like Styx, Journey or Foreigner.” Omg. I laughed so hard the first time I heard it (and we continued to laugh about it for the rest of his life).
Later in his life, he started listening to, and appreciating the bands he routinely teased me for liking, because they reminded him of home and our teen years.
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u/Aeon1508 Aug 05 '25
Styx is a poor man's Yes but I think certainly better than averaging a 1.5 or whatever this is
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u/Jimbohamilton Deep Cut Daddy Aug 05 '25
All 6 A&M albums that came before KWH were exponentially better. This list is shit.
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u/A_Life_Well_Steved Aug 05 '25
WTH does Rolling Stone know?? They rated Kilroy Was Here 3 ⭐️ One of the worst albums ever! Stupid Dennis DeYoung’s concept album! 🤮
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u/jeon2595 Aug 05 '25
Music critics are the worst and Rolling Stones critics are the worst of the worst. They wrote shit reviews of about every band I liked growing up, bands that all became quite successful.
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u/Realistic-Aspect-991 Aug 05 '25
Crystal Ball through Kilroy Was Here, for me. I really enjoyed each album.
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u/Classic_Accident_547 Aug 05 '25
total bullshit - their run from around 76 to 81 is legendary - they were the biggest band in the world at that time (look it up non-believers). Those are great albums!
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u/TheConsutant Aug 05 '25
Wow the grand illusion only two and a half stars. I love this album.Thought it was great still do.
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u/zenwalrus Aug 05 '25
Fuck this guy has a hardon for Styx.
I still love the albums. Cyclorama is very listenable.
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u/Brundleflyftw Aug 05 '25
Miss America, Light Up, Blue Collar Man, Suite Madam Blue, Fooling Yourself, Lorelei and Mademoiselle. They had quite a number of hits not counting the chart toppers named in the article. Foreigner, REO Speedwagon and Kansas may have had better lead singers, but Styx is a better overall band imho.
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u/Edman70 Aug 05 '25
I'm no Styx fan, but I am a music fan, and no music fan ever looks to Rolling Stone for information about music.
They're the New Yorker of music - pretentious, self-important, entirely out of touch, and completely immune to any awareness of same.
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u/blueboy714 Aug 05 '25
Equinox to Pieces Of Eight are outstanding. I can leave the rest of them alone
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u/BrewboyEd Aug 05 '25
Come on, the album Pieces of Eight with Blue Collar Man, Queen of Spades, and Renegade are some classic kick ass late 70s rock tunes that I remember cranking when I was just a young 'un...at least a 4 star album in my opinion and they're not even a favorite band of mine at all or one I've ever gone out of my way to listen to.
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u/mayhem6 Aug 05 '25
I’m not a huge Styx fan but I know some of their stuff. I can’t believe they rated Kilroy Was Here higher than The Grand Illusion or Pieces of Eight. I was a kid and they were at the top of their game in those years it seems. If I recall correctly they were on the radio all the time back then. It died down quite a bit when hair metal came into prominence but also may have coincided with Dennis DeYoung leaving the band as well. I guess it’s like everything else with Rolling Stone; they don’t seem to like rock music much, they panned Zeppelin all the time too originally.
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u/RampDog1 Aug 05 '25
They rated Kilroy Was Here higher than, Pieces Of Eight, Crystal Ball, The Grand Illumination and several others? I think NOT
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u/TrowerOfPower72 Aug 05 '25
Kilroy gets 3 stars and The Grand Illusion, Pieces Of Right, Cornerstone, & Paradise Theatre get less? Come on! Those comments and grades look like something the Village Id!*t, I mean Village Voice “critic” Robert Christgau would offer. He definitely had no business being a critic with his pretentious drivel and obvious prejudices.
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u/Far-Ad-8833 Aug 06 '25
Some of Styx best albums were the four in a row that went double platinum. They were one of the first progressive rock bands, before Journey, Foreigner and Boston but still yet to get into the one prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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u/PraxisLD Aug 06 '25
This is why you never trust Rolling Stone for anything even vaguely related to music…
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u/NotOK1955 Aug 06 '25
Laughing my ass off and rolling on the floor from this verbal vomit by poser-critics who never could tell a guitar from a dildo.
Not saying that Styx is the apex of rock, but I AM saying that I’ve been a long-time reader of RS to know that their critics are like the wind and will change direction when it suits them (or, the opinions of their readers).
I’m in possession of several, relatively good Dave Marsh “The Rolling Stone Record Guide” books, revised over the years, that changes the review on artists.
That said, it’s what YOU like, that matters.
And yes, I own most of Styx’s LP’s (“Equinox” being, IMHO, their pinnacle). Maybe I’ve got too much time on my hands and have latent teen frustration (at my old age, no less!) but the writing on the review is comical at best atrocious at worst.
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u/Piccolo890 Aug 05 '25
You have to be Dylan, Dave Matthews, Bruce Springsteen (he could release an album of all farts and get 5 stars from RS) or Mumford and Sons to get praise from Rolling Stone.
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u/CTLFCFan Aug 05 '25
You should see the garbage they wrote about Genesis and Phil Collins.
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u/VirgoJack Aug 05 '25
The shit canning of Genesis and Phil was well deserved. Bullshit pop music played ad nauseum on the radio in the 80s.
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u/hiro111 Aug 05 '25 edited Aug 05 '25
Styx isn't a great band but they were a ton of fun in an excessive late 70s / early 80s way. Everyone's older brother had a couple of Styx LPs when I was growing up. I will largely defend Equinox through Paradise Theater. I'll take both Supertramp and BOC over them all day, though.
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u/Additional_Course965 Aug 05 '25
I mean, even queen got horrible ratings early on. People don’t really know what’s good.
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u/DoctorWinchester87 Aug 05 '25
As a pretty casual Styx fan, I would agree with a number of these, especially the first slew of albums in the pre-Tommy Shaw era. In their early years, they were trying too hard to be an art rock band and had no real sense of direction or a defined sound of their own.
By the time Tommy Shaw came into the group, they started to find their groove and defined their sound pretty well as a cross between midwest guitar rock and art rock with some Broadway-esque qualities from Dennis DeYoung. They kind of had the same problem as Queen where they didn't want to narrow themselves to one specific genre or style. They jumped all over the place and it helped that they had three pretty strong songwriters.
I would definitely give Paradise Theater a solid 3 1/2 stars, though. I think it's their most complete and grounded album with a great production value. Grand Illusion has some great moments but can't quite support its own weight overall. Same for Pieces of Eight; the best stuff from both albums would have made a much better singular album.
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u/RandyRhoadsLives Aug 05 '25
Of course RS liked Kilroy was Here, the most. Jann Wenner and his crew of pretentious asshats never had their finger on ANYTHING relevant. A bunch of corporate shills disguised as counter culture.
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u/tpars Aug 05 '25
Gimme an effin break. Kilroy is highest ranked record!!!???? Well it is Rolling Stone after all. IMHO, Grand Illusion was an excellent record and among thier best. While a bit less commercial, I like Equinox a whole lot too. But music can be pretty subjective.
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u/ThorkelOfNamdalen Aug 05 '25
Crazy that they had a Best of Styx in 1977. But hey, I listened to it over and over back in the day.
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u/Big_leaf_lover Aug 05 '25
Equinox and crystal ball are both very good albums. Definitely not 1 star
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u/Adventurous_Weird_70 Aug 06 '25
ANYONE that thinks Music Time is Styx's Best Song needs to have their Head Examined, by a Musicologist! SMDH
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u/Fletchx Aug 06 '25
Rolling Stone was rarely worth reading. Pretentious and boring for the most part. They occasionally have fantastic photos though.
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u/OccamsYoyo Aug 06 '25
Rolling Stone and particularly that album guide are toilet paper as far as I’m concerned. Styx is far from my favourite band but they deserved better than that.
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u/cockblockedbydestiny Aug 05 '25
I used to have the Rolling Stone Album Guide and my god they're harsh on everyone. Not just Styx.
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u/Savings_Ask2261 Aug 05 '25
Clearly Jann Wenner is not a fan. They have a great catalog with solid albums from ‘75 to ‘83 with a lot of great songs from that period. They should be in the RRHOF. But here we are. That’s why RS and the RRHOF have zero credibility..
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u/Fluid_Campaign_3688 Aug 05 '25
These ratings are just about right except for Kilroy, that should be one star
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u/ChromeDestiny Aug 05 '25
I'm not a big Styx fan but I don't totally hate them either. I have the A&M Classics best of I got for pocket change and The Serpent is Rising.
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u/VaWeedFarmer Aug 05 '25
At what point did they become bubble gum? Grand Illusion?
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u/dachx4 Aug 05 '25
Cornerstone was that fine line that separated the old river Styx and the new land of bad music.
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u/Fantastic_Fox4948 Aug 05 '25
So the ‘Stone is not impressed by the Styx.
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u/URPissingMeOff Aug 06 '25
The opinions of Drooling Stone reviewers are worth about as much as those of the guys who pump the sewage out of porta-potties at rock concerts
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u/jsp06415 Aug 05 '25
The review in the original record guide (1977 or 78) began, “(a)bandon hope, ye who enter here.” I use that to this day, and I’ve agreed since 1978, when I was 14.
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u/LupinBandit Aug 05 '25
Equinox and Crystal Ball we're at least 1.5 and probably 2 star albums. Grand Illusion, Pieces of Eight, and Paradise Theater were their high points. Cornerstone was okay. Kilroy was good, in spite of my hatred for it. Had all of them on LP or cassette back then.
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u/Adventurous_Weird_70 Aug 05 '25
THIS is the Reason STYX aren't in the RRHOF! Putting KWH higher than TGI, PT, PO8 is LUDICROUS! He never even rated TM, COC, CFA! This Guy Is a JOKE! Good thing I DON'T read Rolling Stone!
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u/sausageslinger11 Aug 06 '25
Kilroy was Here was the album they ranked the highest. That album was ass.
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u/sheila9165milo Aug 06 '25
Dennis de Young was just an Andrew Llod Weber I'm disguise. He's what ruined Styx from being a great band.
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u/Relayer8782 Aug 06 '25
I have a copy of this book’s edition from ‘82 or ‘83, I enjoy looking up how dismissive they were about bands that are now iconic.
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u/08_West Aug 06 '25
I was really into them in 5th and 6th grade. By 7th grade, not so much. That says a lot.
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u/Ok_Might6447 Aug 05 '25
the nickleback of the 70s/80s..........dreadful..
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u/majorflojo Aug 05 '25
People hate Nickelback because despite their cheesiness they got laid.
They hate Styx because despite their cheesiness they're extremely talented and sold out arenas in a time of lots of competition with Queen Billy squier etc
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u/Master_Hospital_8631 Aug 05 '25
Styx has never done anything for me. Similar to The Eagles. Just background music.
I know a lot of their songs but have never felt compelled to buy any of their albums or play their songs on the jukebox. They were just kind of...there.
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u/Crazy_Response_9009 Aug 05 '25
I once met someone whose favorite band was Styx. I thought it was weird. To me they are a 150% a B level band, and B level bands aren't ever anyone's favorite.
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u/wolf_van_track Aug 05 '25
Styx was my favorite band at one point.
Of course I was like 12 and hadn't heard many albums yet. The more I heard other albums, the further down my favorites list they fell (until falling off that list completely).
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u/Crazy_Response_9009 Aug 05 '25
I think they are a good band for younger people. Their music is very broad and works better for folks who are maybe newer fans to rock.
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u/wirecan Aug 05 '25
I once worked (at a record store, in fact) with a woman whose favorite singer was Dennis DeYoung and favorite band was Air Supply. This was around 1993, which makes it even more unhinged.
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u/Fuhrious520 Aug 05 '25
This article is gonna get a shit tonne of hate but they're absolutely correct
Yes KWH was their best album
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u/Dramatic-Finance-487 Aug 05 '25
They weren't elite at any of the things that they did, e.g. prog, pop, hard rock. For fans, lighter, softer, fused versions of those genres were enough, especially the catchy song aspect or the ballads, few critics are going to give them credit for that, especially RS - Hard rock, metal and pop, particularly. I think 70s prog bands like King Crimson, Yes and ELP, and Zappa and Floyd (if you want to pigeonhole them) had better reviews, or at least taken more seriously.
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u/Defiant_West6287 Aug 05 '25
When I was 13 I liked Pieces of Eight. Then I grew up and started listening to actual good rock music.
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u/Most-Olive-9946 Aug 05 '25
To be fair, Stynx doesn't have a discography that transcend the music industry entirely nor broke any new grounds in rock & roll.
When all bands like them only do what they did best: Being popular (sales, charts, tickets & fandom), then they haven't done anything to set themselves apart from everyone else.
It takes more than to have your supporters that brought your records & tickets to earn a place in music history.
Make a difference by being an inspiration to those who are destined to be artists themselves or reinvented yourself from time to time etc.
That's what those historians, experts & industry professionals are looking for. Stynx didn't do anything of that thus is why they aren't received well by Rolling Stone magazine.
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u/marktruslow Aug 05 '25
It’s bands like this that made me embrace the Sex Pistols.
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u/URPissingMeOff Aug 06 '25
The sex pistols were a fake band created by a record producer. They were the Monkees of punk.
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u/bene_gesserit_mitch Aug 05 '25
I would never rate Kilroy above Grand Illusion or Paradise Theatre. This writer hates Styx from the jump.