This Day in Music History: Styx/Cyclorama (02/18)

Styx released their 14th album Cyclorama on this date back in 2003. It was the first first album since they replaced Dennis DeYoung with Lawrence Gowan. It's been basically Tommy Shaw's band ever since and that might be a good thing. The band just seems to have more fun without DDY. Wonder why...

Side One

Music Monday: Styx/Cyclorama (Side Two)

The first side of this album can be found here.

As a quick review, the band had spent three years on the road and released a couple of live albums, but this was their first studio album with new keyboardist Lawrence Gowan.

Music Monday: Styx Live Albums (2000-2002)

After Brave New World, the band was ready to move forward touring, but Dennis DeYoung wasn't. They went on without him and replaced him with Canadian Lawrence Gowan. Also, with Chuck Panozzo focusing on his health concerns, Glen Burtnik returned to Styx (yay!), this time as bass player though, with Chuck participating on a part-time basis, sitting in as his health permitted. Styx's new lineup released several live albums and toured extensively during this period.

Styx World: Live 2001

Music Monday: Styx/Brave New World (Side Two)

Brave New World peaked at #175 on the Billboard 200 and notably reached the top 10 on the Top Internet Albums chart (yay?). However, its position on the Billboard charts was the lowest from a Styx album of all new material since 1973's The Serpent Is Rising. Ouch, just ouch.

That being said, there is still a lot of good music on this album, especially side two. Side one wasn't bad either...