Styx – The Grand Illusion [Japan Mini LP SHM-CD] (2016), MP3+FLAC
Many of you asked for the Japanese cardboard sleeve (mini LP) reissue series of STYX on SHM-CD and how is it the audio quality. In one word; outstanding. All were released a few years ago on mini LP replica, a Limited Edition already turned out of print.
These really worth a to have – the only LP replica ever released – as all are essential STYX albums – Let’s go with “The Grand Illusion“.
“The Grand Illusion” launched the band to stardom, spawning the hit singles “Come Sail Away” and “Fooling Yourself”, and selling over three million copies in the US.
Typically, the music on “The Grand Illusion” is fantastic. It’s ambitious, emotive, pretty bombastic and polished. Everything from ripping guitar solos, to fever dream keyboards, to fantastic synthesized soundscapes make up the crux of The Grand Illusion’s sound.
The terrific first side contains all the radio and chart hits, with a much elaborated second side including songs like “Miss America”, “Man in the Wilderness” and “Castle Walls”, all very well-written and explorative.
The album showed the great potential of Styx as a sort of ‘prog lite’ outfit with much more rock&pop / melodic rock crossover appeal than their earlier work.
This would be a template set for many acts, who followed suit in subsequent years and through the ’80s.
Thematically, the concept of “The Grand Illusion” examines the futility of solely aspiring to fame. According to DeYoung, it is about the struggle to overcome self-deluding superficiality in order to affirm one’s genuine value, as heard on the title track.
“The Grand Illusion” made Styx big and popular showing their skills for crafting simple, catchy melodic rock hooks out of their bombastic lite prog sound.
These Japanese cardboard sleeve (mini LP) reissues of STYX on SHM-CD sound awesome.
A Must Have
01 The Grand Illusion
02 Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
03 Superstars
04 Come Sail Away
05 Miss America
06 Man In The Wilderness
07 Castle Walls
08 The Grand Finale
Styx – The Grand Illusion [Japan Mini LP SHM-CD] (2016), MP3+FLAC
 |