Styx - Regeneration: Volume I & II

Styx – Regeneration:Volume I & II
2011, Eagle

Like many classic rock bandssubject to the avarice of labels who own the rights to their songs, Styx hasseen a number of re-releases and repackages of their material over the years.  Since 2007 there have been no less than ninegreatest hits/best of packages released in various countries around theworld.  Not too shabby for a band thatapparently can’t even get a grudging nod of respect from the folks at RollingSt…  I mean the Rock and Roll Hall ofFame.   Styx is back with anotherre-package of old hits, but this time it’s a bit more intriguing.  Regeneration:Volume I & II offers 15 new recordings of classic Styx songs, plus onenew track.

Styx released Volume I and VolumeII separately over the past year and a half, with the intent that the albumswould be sold only at shows and on-line through the band’s fan club.  The secondary demand for the discs provedsignificant, however, and Eagle Records has packaged both albums in one set.  You can see our prior review of Regeneration: Volume I here.  Volume II runs in the same vein, with oldStyx favorites getting new life from the current lineup.  Like VolumeI, Volume II has a raw-but-polished quality, similar to a professionallyproduced live album.  Styx strives tocapture the sound you hear in concert today on record rather than re-create theoriginals note-for-note.  The result isan exciting update to material that still seems vibrant even (in some cases)thirty-five years later. 

The band revives such hits as “BlueCollar Man”, “Renegade”, “Miss America”, “Snowblind” and “Too Much Time On MyHands”, with Tommy Shaw and James Young belting out classic vocal lines.  In the process, Styx digs out a wonderful gemin “Queen Of Spades”.  Lawrence Gowandoes a great job with this classic album cut, even if it doesn’t have quitehave the dramatic sense of the original. Styx also gives life to two cuts Tommy Shaw performed with side projectDamn Yankees (Shaw, Jack Blades, Ted Nugent & Michael Cartellone).  “High Enough” and “Coming Of Age” alwayssounded like Styx songs and work very well in the context of the current lineupof the band.

Yes, there was much complainingon-line and in fan enclaves when Styx started releasing the Regeneration projects.  Fans who will never forgive the band for thedeparture of Dennis DeYoung scalded the remaining members for carrying onwithout him, but this is what bands do, like it or not.  Regeneration:Volume I & II isn’t about excising a former band member, it’s aboutputting Styx in a position to make a living off their own work, rather thanhaving all of the licensing opportunities fall into the lap of a dying majorlabel architecture more interested in profiting off its catalogue than actuallybuilding up artists for the future.  Regeneration: Volume I & II givesmore than fair value; classic songs with an updated sound that’s as fresh andvibrant today as ever.

Rating:  4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Styx at www.styxworld.com. 

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Jonathan Tiersten & Ten Tiers - We'll See

Jonathan Tiersten And Ten Tiers - We'll See
2011, Edward Records

Jonathan Tiersten seemed destined for an acting career as a child.  While he studied French Horn and guitar in his teens, Tiersten found his name in lights first in the role of Ricky Thomas in Robert Hilzik's film Sleepaway Camp.  Going on to study at New York City's Circle In The Square Theater, Tiersten went on to appear in the ABC After School Special Seasonal Differences, as well as the NBC soap Another World.  All the while, however, Tiersten was prowling the Greenwich Village music scene, gaining some notoriety as one half of the acoustic duo Magic Box.  In 1991, however, Tiersten left New York City for Colorado.  After a few side steps career-wise, Tiersten re-dedicated himself to music.  By the end of the first decade of the third millennium, Tiersten was busy.  He'd reprised his role as Thomas in Return To Sleepaway Camp, and also appeared in the Indie Flicks Redemption and The Perfect House.  Tiersten continues to make music as well.  His latest effort is a five-track EP entitled We'll See.

Tiersten opens with "In The Air", displaying a big rock sound built on minor key harmonies.  The chorus is fetching and dark, and virally catchy.  Tiersten blends pop and modern rock tendencies to create an off-beat but potentially commercial sound.  Tiersten is very solid vocally, sounding more than a little bit like Lawrence Gowan (Gowan, Styx).  "Vertigo" is a big rock anthem featuring a harmony-filled chorus you won't be able to get out of your head.  The song is about feeling lost and unable to find balance, and the inability to help others when you can't even help yourself.  "Theodore" is a piano-driven ballad about a latch key kid who is waiting for his mom to get home so he can sing to her.  The song is a bit obtuse in meaning and bland in sound, but grows on you with successive listens.  "Black Rain" is a simple folk/rocker with an appealing melody; a solid album track.  Tiersten closes with "Sancta Caecelia", starting with a classical-style guitar intro that morphs into a dark progressive rock number full of intrigue.  Tiersten's dark composition and exploration of spiritual themes is a dynamic juxtaposition, creating and diverting tension in an artistic and musical flurry you have to hear to believe.

So let the renaissance begin.  Jonathan Tiersten And Tiers play like rock n roll bards, uninhibited by a specific style or genre.  They write and play and tell stories that make you think, entertain you, and yes, occasionally leave you wondering what was that all about?  Either way the entertainment factor is high, and Tiersten is a surprising competent writer and vocalist.  We'll See is definitely worth spending some time on.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Jonathan Tiersten and Ten Tiers at www.jonathantiersten.com or www.myspace.com/tentiers.  We'll See is available digitally from Amazon.com or iTunes.