The Film
Despite a singer swap back in 1999, Styx is still rocking out -- and apparently, they are rocking out a lot of the classics. The new Blu-ray release of Styx: The Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight Live features a rare appearance by the band, in which they play two full albums.
Eagle Rock captured the 2010 Memphis concert and cranked out a pretty entertaining release. Because of the length and song selection, however, this one is strictly for the Styx super-fan.
First, you'll need to get past the fact that this is not your '70s or '80s Styx. Besides the age thing, singer Dennis DeYoung has been long gone and replaced by Lawrence Gowan. Gowan just doesn't create the same magic as the former frontman. If you check out DeYoung's website, it seems like he can (and does) still belt out the old tunes. It's too bad these crazy kids can't make up. Now that would be a Blu-ray release.
Next, if all you're interested in is "Come Sail Away" or "Renegade," you're going to be pretty bored. This is a 20-song, two-hour show featuring The Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight in its entirety. There are a lot of tunes on here that the casual Styx listener won't know and won't care about.
That said, the music sounds pretty darn good, and you have to appreciate a band not pushing new crap on its classic rock-loving audience. Although it's not the original lineup, some of these guys still sound great after 35 years. Guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw sounds particularly impressive. Get out your lighter and enjoy.
The Picture
Presented in 1080i, Styx Live looks phenomenal overall. Some of those quick shots of the crowd come off as a little blurred. However, the action on stage is what's most important, and looks pretty incredible. There's a lot of detail in all of those aging faces, which is reflected in the film's many close-ups. However, the most impressive part of this 1.78:1 transfer is the many colors -- and not just in Tommy Shaw's shirt. There are a lot of lighting effects and also a giant screen behind the band showing off some trippy animation and other graphics, which all look wonderful here.
The Sound
Styx Live defaults to LPCM Stereo, with DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks also available. You're going to want to flip over to that DTS-HD MA, though, because it sounds absolutely phenomenal. It's so sharp and focused on the performance, it almost sounds like a record. There is some atmospheric sound from the crowd on occasion, but it's rare. In fact, there are some spots where the band summons the crowd to respond and there's nothing. It's really mic'ed to what's going on with the band -- and since there are six of them, that keeps the surrounds plenty busy.
The Extras
This release has two extras, "Putting on the Show - Part 1" and "Putting on the Show - Part 2." While it may sound kind of skimpy, it's a pretty in-depth peek at what's involved with putting on the live show. Viewers can flip through all of the chapters or view each section as a continuous loop. "Part 1" introduces the duties of the Production Manager, Stage Manager, Front Of House, Lighting Director, and Merchandise. "Part 2" has bits on the Manager, Guitars, Guitars and Basses, Keyboards, Drums and the Bonus Feature "Aku Aku." It's not something you'll revisit, but it's a pretty interesting few minutes. It's also a nice departure from the typical fluff piece.
Final Thoughts
Styx: The Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight Live is all about two classic albums, without any filler. The performance is pretty decent, with great audio and video throughout. Although the extras are slim, they offer a very nice peek at what goes on behind the curtain. Styx fans that can appreciate the post-Dennis DeYoung days will eat up this release up with a spoon.
Product Details
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Movie | |
| Extras |
