Dennis DeYoung best known for his work in the group Styx has a new live album out. Dennis DeYoung wrote and sang many of Styx's biggest hits but he left the band in 1999 for a variety of reasons. Dennis remained active working on solo projects along with touring. Dennis DeYoung And The Music of Styx Live In Los Angeles was recorded at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles on March 18, 2014. The concert is now available in various formats from Frontiers Records.
The DVD of Dennis DeYoung And The Music of Styx Live In Los Angeles captures the magical music along with an amazing stage set of colorful lights, stars and more that was designed by DeYoung's son. Both the CDs and DVDs are packed with polished fan favorites listing "Babe", "Come Sail Away", "Grand Illusion", "Lady" and many more. In the same way that Styx has carried on with a replacement in his place, with his latest line-up Dennis has crafted a unique Styxian experience that competently recreates the sights and sounds of his former band.
Richie Furay's music career started in the 1960's with Buffalo Springfield then Poco. Richie was among the pioneers of country rock building a sound that was prevalent in the 1970's and beyond. Since 1982 Furay has also been the pastor of a conservative Christian church in Colorado. Richie will be kicking off 2015 with Hand in Hand (due out on Valentine's Day) a record that is both reflective and forward-looking as it explores themes of life, love and travel.
The nine-track CD opens with Richie's up-tempo tribute to his days in Poco incorporating their signature sound into the song. Among Furay's fine originals there are a number of covers including a moving "Don't Lose Heart" by Dan Folgelberg. It is followed by the edgy "Don't Tread On Me" a tune that expresses Richie's concern for his country along with his hope.
Although country rock may be prevalent on this record there are plenty of other elements - group chorus, soulful gospel choirs and a snappy drum pattern to punctuate rousing riffs from guest guitarist Keb Mo on "Someday". This positive platter closes with "Still Fine" an old school rocker about lasting love.
Sweet & Lynch is a new super group consisting of namesakes Michael Sweet (guitar/vox), George Lynch (guitar) along with James Lomenzo on bass and drummer Brian Tichy. All four have impressive lists of credentials to craft a hard rock record that sounds so sweet. Their debut album Only To Rise reflects 70's & 80's classic rock influences in a contemporary context. The twelve-track CD due out in January of 2015 runs the gamut from subtle to sizzling with a prime example being "Time Will Tell". Other highlights include "The Wish" and "Like A Dying Rose" compelling anthems with memorable refrains.
While not necessarily new the band often referred to as the best modern day American prog rock group Syzygy has recently released Cosmos & Chaos 20th Anniversary Compendium a celebration of an album that first came out in 1993. In addition to being re-branded into their catalogue proper one of the most important elements of Cosmos & Chaos 20th Anniversary Compendium is the reordering of the songs. The music moves from delicate shorter pieces to dynamic longer tracks. The first four instrumentals are enchanting guitar and piano solos. "Tautology" is the first song with teasing bass lines that add to the brilliant build ups that arrive by Voyager (song 7). The music has now expanded into heavier prog progressions filled with compelling, complex arrangements that flow from track to track peaking with the pairing of the majestic "Mount Ethereal" and "Chaos".
Cosmos & Chaos 20th Anniversary Compendium features four bonus tracks that pay tribute to the band's past and present line-ups. "Opus No. 1 & 5" are prog gems that date back to 1984. "Strange Loop II" and "Mount Ethereal" are live epic performances from 2010. Cosmos & Chaos 20th Anniversary Compendium is an amazing album from a band that continues to receive high marks from fans and press. To discover the spectrum of Syzygy check out Cosmos & Chaos 20th Anniversary Compendium.
Related Links: For more information on the new product releases mentioned here please visit the following links Dennis DeYoung | Richie Furay | Sweet & Lynch | Syzygy.
