What do you get if you cross the EAGLES with THIN LIZZY? Something that sounds pretty interesting, right? Then throw in some CLIFF RICHARD, add a little ELTON JOHN and just a dash of REO SPEEDWAGON, and all of a sudden the end result becomes a lot less palatable. Welcome to "Dennis DeYoung... and the Music of Styx Live in Los Angeles". DENNIS DEYOUNG started his career as the singer for the American rock / prog rock (and I use both of these terms in the loosest possible context) band STYX in 1961.

STYX had almost a 40 year run which ended in 1999. There were a number of reunions throughout the 2000's, with DENNIS DEYOUNG focusing on a pretty successful solo career since the initial STYX demise in 2000. "Grand Illusion", a theatrical rock spectacular, opens "Dennis DeYoung ... and the music of Styx live in Los Angeles"; it shows a glimmer of hope for what could lay ahead on the double live album.  As with most songs on this album, "Grand Illusion" weaves through a barrage of synthesizers and grandeur until the guitars really step in to lead the way.  The one thing this album does do well is the guitar / Hammond organ arrangement on many of the songs, a duo that really made 70's rock sound solid. "Blue Collar man" is a great example of this, the Hammond organ really sets the scene, and when the crunchy guitar riff does kick in, it becomes very reminiscent of Thin Lizzy. There are some slick guitars and some really bluesy jams on "... and the music of Styx live in Los Angeles" and "Suite Madame Blue" demonstrates the best of these. But, unfortunately these moments of goodness are very few and far between.  At points "... and the music of Styx live in Los Angeles" should carry a health warning.  Caution - Certain songs on this album may cause Nausea. "Show me the way" originally released by Styx in 1990 instantly takes me back to being a child, listening to the latest weak contender for a Christmas number 1 spot. "Mr Roboto" released in 1983, is a prime examples of how badly music can date. The song was originally used in the rock opera "Kilroy Was Here", in which "DENNIS DEYOUNG" played the lead role as a rock and roll performer who was placed in a futuristic prison for rock and roll misfits. If only some of these song had remained locked up there.  It's not that this is a badly executed album; anyone that has had a 50 year career in the music industry these days is obviously doing something right. The problem with "... and the music of Styx live in Los Angeles" is, although his band can still play, and play extremely well to be fair, unlike DENNIS DEYOUNG, his songs haven't aged well. The world is a very different place now than it was in the mid to late 80's. Like the murky waters of the Prypiat River, something's are best not disturbed, some memories should be left alone. "Dennis DeYoung... and the music of Styx live in Los Angeles" should have remained exactly that. A perfectly good memory for some.
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