Tuesday, November 11, 2008

STYX - The Grand Illusion (1977)



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General Information
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Artist...............: STYX
Album................: The Grand Illusion
Release Date.........: Jul 1977
Genre................: Progressive Rock (Prog Related)
Source...............: CD
Number of Songs......: 08
Duration.............: 00:39:10 min

Audio Format.........: MP3
Bitrate..............: CBR 192 HQ
Channels.............: Joint Stereo / 44,100 hz
Tags.................: ID3 v1.1, ID3 v2.3
Included.............: Covers


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Release Notes
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Track Listing:
01. "The Grand Illusion" - 4:38
02. "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" - 5:31
03. "Superstars" - 4:02
04. "Come Sail Away" - 6:08
05. "Miss America" - 5:04
06. "Man in the Wilderness" - 5:51
07. "Castle Walls" - 5:59 *****
08. "The Grand Finale" - 1:57

Album Review:
Other than being their first platinum-selling album, The Grand Illusion led Styx steadfastly
into the domain of AOR rock. Built on the strengths of "Come Sail Away"'s ballad-to-rock
metamorphosis, which gained them their second Top Ten hit, and on the high harmonies of newcomer
Tommy Shaw throughout "Fooling Yourself," The Grand Illusion introduced Styx to the gates of
commercial stardom. The pulverized growl of "Miss America" reveals the group's guitar-savvy
approach to six-string rock, while De Young pretentiously struts his singing prowess throughout
the title track. Shaw's induction into the band has clearly settled, and his guitar work, along
with James Young's, is full and extremely sharp where it matters most. Even the songwriting is
more effluent than Crystal Ball, which was released one year earlier, shedding their mystical
song motifs for a more audience-pleasing lyric and chord counterpoise. Reaching number six on
the album charts, The Grand Illusion was the first to display the gelled accomplishments of both
Tommy Shaw and Dennis De Young as a tandem.
- Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide

http://rapidshare.com/files/162545081/0621977.rar