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By 1975, Styx had persevered long enough, and had enough success via their sleeper hit "Lady," to graduate to a major label. Superstardom was still a couple of years off, but they were clearly on their way, having consolidated their sound effectively. EQUINOX was the last Styx album to feature original guitarist John Curulewski, one of the more progressive forces in the band. In a way, the album represents the last stand of prog-rock as a major element of the band's sound (though traces of it would crop up over the next few albums).
Curulewski's "Mother Dear," though an obscurity, is a highlight here, with its sophisticated, introspective lyricism and complex, synthesizer-laden arrangement. Dennis DeYoung picks up on that ambitious thread with "Suite Madam Blue," an epic-length tune that moves through several moods and is sort of an elegy for America. On the poppier side, there's the celebratory "Light Up," and the infectious, synth-dotted "Lorelei."
Photographer: Chris Micoine.
Personnel: John Curulewski (vocals, guitar, synthesizer); James Young (vocals, guitar); Dennis DeYoung (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer); Chuck Panozzo (vocals, bass guitar); John Panozzo (vocals, drums, percussion).
Maybe The Best Styx Album When Styx was still concidered a Hard Rock band,before Tommy Shaw brought comercialism to the band,this is Equinox.I consider it there best album(even though they put 3 more good albums out after this one),with rockers like Midnight Ride & Born For Adventure, this album will have you playing air guitar. Now if A&M would do it justice and remastered it,it would be even better. Submitted by chrispackers (Texas,USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
ROCK & ROLLLL Need I say more..... Submitted by brub3086 (Laughlin, Nv., USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Pinnacle and pivot point Styx can be summarized in phases. True prog rock (71-76), arena/radio friendly prog (76-77), arena rock (78-80), pop (81-83 then up to Cyclorama). This is where the first two phases met.
Equinox is among the best Styx records because it keeps the musicianship and vibe of the Wooden Nickel albums but adds big hooks and choruses and somewhat shorter song lengths. Curulewski has no discernible "personality" here (as Shaw would starting the next year) but the guy can play guitar.
Fans of classic Kansas (and anything else similar) should run to hear this. Styx fans from Grand Illusion on might find this a little less than thrilling.
For me it is one of the Styx albums I play all the time (also true of Pieces of Eight and Cyclorama, all of which I think are actually better than Grand Illusion, Paradise though I like the whole catalog, including Cornerstone and Kilroy). Submitted by Andrew (Cos Cob, CT) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Equinox is FANTASTIC !!!! One of the best L.P. of that year!and one of the best bands of all time!!!. Submitted by a reviewer (Vineland, N.J. U.S.A.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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