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Showing posts with the label The Grand Illusion

Styx - The Grand Illusion

I couldn't help myself, this was three bucks, and looked to be in decent shape. Nothing a little bath wouldn't clean up. A few weeks ago I had a hankering for Crystal Ball and it was on repeat in the truck for several days. This was around the time I'd spent a few days spinning Equinox the last album to feature the original line-up. Crystal Ball was one hell of a transition album as it was the one to introduce Tommy Shaw into the mix. His impact was huge and immediate, it still sounded like Styx but more better. A year later Styx returned with The Grand Illusion and the band was a cohesive unit where everything was fitted together. The album opens with the title track and this just felt different. Dennis and Tommy were both front and centre with "JY" offering up the blistering riff monster that anchored "Miss America" to start side two. This was the start of the big run for the band, and while there are some killers on Pieces of Eight , and the band...