“Cyclorama” is the fourteenth studio album by Styx, released in 2003. This was the first studio album with Lawrence Gowan, following the departure of group co-founder Dennis DeYoung in 1999. It was also the last album to feature Glen Burtnik, and the only album released by the Lawrence Gowan/Tommy Shaw/James Young/Glen Burtnik/Todd Sucherman lineup.
During the '90s, such veteran arena rockers as Journey and Styx mounted comebacks, both of which featured all, or most of, their classic lineups. But in both cases, both reunions were fleeting, and instead of packing it up for good, both acts soldiered on with new frontmen -- in Journey's case, Steve Augeri got the nod to fill Steve Perry's shoes, while Styx replaced Dennis DeYoung with Lawrence Gowan. As most longtime Styx fans know, DeYoung brought balladry and also a flair for the dramatic to the band (Domo Arigato, "Mr. Roboto"?), while guitarist Tommy Shaw wanted the band to be a tried and true rock outfit. Now that Shaw has been appointed captain of the Styx ship, “Cyclorama” is expectedly more straight-ahead rock than anything he band has ever done, especially evident on such cuts as the album opener "Do Things My Way" and the goofy "Bourgeois Pig" (featuring special guest Billy Bob Thornton). But Styx misses the mark badly by trying to update their sound on "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye," which is an obvious attempt at honing in on Sum 41 and blink-182 territory. Additionally, while listening to such ambitious tracks as "These Are the Times," you can't help but think that the material would've been even better if DeYoung were still involved. As evidenced by “Cyclorama”, DeYoung is just too big a missing piece of the Styx puzzle.
The album's first single was "Waiting for Our Time". It failed to chart.
During the '90s, such veteran arena rockers as Journey and Styx mounted comebacks, both of which featured all, or most of, their classic lineups. But in both cases, both reunions were fleeting, and instead of packing it up for good, both acts soldiered on with new frontmen -- in Journey's case, Steve Augeri got the nod to fill Steve Perry's shoes, while Styx replaced Dennis DeYoung with Lawrence Gowan. As most longtime Styx fans know, DeYoung brought balladry and also a flair for the dramatic to the band (Domo Arigato, "Mr. Roboto"?), while guitarist Tommy Shaw wanted the band to be a tried and true rock outfit. Now that Shaw has been appointed captain of the Styx ship, “Cyclorama” is expectedly more straight-ahead rock than anything he band has ever done, especially evident on such cuts as the album opener "Do Things My Way" and the goofy "Bourgeois Pig" (featuring special guest Billy Bob Thornton). But Styx misses the mark badly by trying to update their sound on "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye," which is an obvious attempt at honing in on Sum 41 and blink-182 territory. Additionally, while listening to such ambitious tracks as "These Are the Times," you can't help but think that the material would've been even better if DeYoung were still involved. As evidenced by “Cyclorama”, DeYoung is just too big a missing piece of the Styx puzzle.
The album's first single was "Waiting for Our Time". It failed to chart.
Track listing
01. "Do Things My Way" (G.Burtnik, L.Gowan, J.Young, T.Sucherman, T.Shaw) (Lead vocals: Tommy Shaw) - 4:57
02. "Waiting for Our Time" (G.Burtnik, L.Gowan, J.Young, T.Sucherman, T.Shaw) (Lead vocals: Tommy Shaw) - 4:12
03. "Fields of the Brave" (G.Burtnik, L.Gowan, J.Young, T.Sucherman, T.Shaw) (Lead vocals: Lawrence Gowan) - 3:23
04. "Bourgeois Pig" (G.Burtnik, L.Gowan, J.Young, T.Sucherman, T.Shaw) (Lead vocals: Billy Bob Thornton) - 0:49
05. "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" (G.Burtnik, L.Gowan, J.Young, T.Sucherman, T.Shaw) (Lead vocals: Glen Burtnik) - 3:13
06. "These Are the Times" (G.Burtnik, L.Gowan, J.Young, T.Sucherman, T.Shaw) (Lead vocals: James Young) - 6:45
07. "Yes I Can" (T.Shaw; J.Blades, L.Gowan, G.Burtnik, J.Young, T.Sucherman) (Lead vocals: Tommy & Glen) - 3:50
08. "More Love for the Money" (G.Burtnik, L.Gowan, J.Young, T.Sucherman, T.Shaw) (Lead vocals: Lawrence Gowan) - 3:47
09. "Together" (G.Burtnik, L.Gowan, J.Young, T.Sucherman, T.Shaw) (Lead vocals: Tommy Shaw) - 4:46
10. "Fooling Yourself (Palm of Your Hands)" (Tommy Shaw) (Lead vocals: Tommy Shaw) - 0:39
11. "Captain America" (G.Burtnik, L.Gowan, J.Young, T.Sucherman, T.Shaw) (Lead vocals: James Young) - 3:53
12. "Killing the Thing That You Love" (G.Burtnik, T.Shaw, L.Gowan, J.Young, T.Sucherman, B.Burger) (Glen Burtnik) - 5:36 Lead vocals:
13. "One With Everything" (G.Burtnik, L.Gowan, J.Young, T.Sucherman, T.Shaw) (Lead vocals: Tommy Shaw) - 5:56
14. "Genki Desu Ka" (G.Burtnik, L.Gowan, J.Young, T.Sucherman, T.Shaw) - 6:13
Credits
Glen Burtnik - bass, vocals
Lawrence Gowan - keyboards, vocals
Tommy Shaw - acoustic and electric guitars, vocals
Todd Sucherman - drums, percussion
James Young - guitars, vocals
WithChuck Panozzo - bass on "Bourgeois Pig", backing vocals on "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye"
Additional personnel
Jude Cole
Gary Loizzo of American Breed
Tenacious D (Jack Black and Kyle Gass)
Billy Bob Thornton
John Waite
Brian Wilson
Production
Producers: Tommy Shaw, James Young, Gary Loizzo
Associate producers: Lawrence Gowan, Todd Sucherman, Glen Burtnik
Engineers: Gary Loizzo, Charlie Pakaari, Craig Williams, Mark Linnett, Plinky Giglio, Dave Yackoboskie, Jimmy Hoyson, Jim Mitchell, Bruce Monical
Notes
Genre: Progressive Rock
Length: 57:59
Label: Sanctuary/CMC International
© 2003
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