Disco de Styx: “21st Century Live”

The entire CD is on STYXworld and Arch Allies and half of the DVD is on Arch Allies. The other 5 songs that have never been released on DVD before are worth the purchase. The live video for "Everything Is Cool" recorded in St. Louis but left off the Arch Allies video is great and so is the video for "Criminal Mind". The other three unreleased videos are pretty good but not as good as the previous two. A must for huge fans.

This really is a good album. I know that Dennis DeYoung isn't on hear and that really bums me out but I do believe that Lawrence Gowan does a good job considering the shoes he has to fill in. I really appreciated Styx doing Tommy Shaw's Damn Yankees colaberation "High Enough" I thought that that was really cool. It has a lot of their hits on it. Unlike a lot of their other live albums. I mean this is the greatest band of all-time only band in the histiry of the world to have Top Ten's in 4 different decades. So if you want to hear what styx is like with Lawrence Gowan on the mic well get this cd. It is actually is surprisingly good.

Some people are fans of the "classic" Styx of the 70's. I became a Styx fan, though I'm in my 50's, just recently. I find that I am more a fan of the newest incarnation of the group; so, on the suggestion of many reviews, I was drawn to this CD.

The pluses for this album is many. First, the fact that you get video as well as audio. Next, the music has a more upbeat feeling, compared to, say, the "Grand Illusion" CD which I also own. I agree with the fans who appreciate Dennis DeYoung's contributions to the band, but thought he was dragging them toward "show tunes," rather than the rock sounds they were famous for in the early days.

I love melodic music, but I also like the edgier feel this album has. The addition of Greg Burtnick to the mix definitely ups this edginess. I believe this was also the first (or second) year that Lawrence Gowan was in the mix as keyboardist. I like Larry's spirit and humor, as well as his excellent workmanship.

This is a great addition to your Styx collection!

Because die-hards are really the only ones who would understand this CD/DVD it really is rather good. I mean Styx will never be the same without Dennis DeYoung. But if you listen to this CD you realize that they can still rock. Unlike Foreigner. I've seen these guys live and they are still great. Whoever says they stink doesn't know what they're talking about. This is a great CD/DVD to have if your a huge Styx fan. So if you're a Styx fan that knows every song buy this today.

This CD/DVD combination shows the current line-up of Styx at the height of their powers, rocking out to filled venues, playing to near perfection, rolling out one hit after another. But that's where the fun stops. This material is a basic rehash of songs/performances/video that is already available elsewhere. I suppose there is some value to having it collected in one convenient package, but long time fans with a wide collection of their albums won't find much value in that.

While it is fun to see the band performing and to hear great new renditions of the classics we all know and love, I think the video misses what the fans want when they buy a "live" album or video. A "live" CD or DVD should capture the show and give the viewer the opportunity to see what they missed. This edited down version doesn't do that. It gives you 'songs', but it doesn't capture the performance.

If you want a single CD/DVD that shows that the current version of Styx is doing when they are out on tour, get this and you probably won't be disappointed. If you're a long time fan and collect up the various pieces and parts of the Styx catalog when they are released, chances are good that you probably have the bulk of this already and will find this mildly disappointing. But in a good way.