Customer Reviews

Arch Allies: Live at Riverport

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

ARCH ALLIES: LIVE AT RIVERPORT is the first release from STYX featuring their new line up with Glen Burtnik (returning after almost a decade) and Lawerence Gowan. STYX has never sounded better. James (JY) Young and Tommy Shaw are both in fine form on the CD and drummer Todd Sucherman drives the songs along like a like a frickin' freight train. Gowan's take on the STYX classics LADY and GRAND ILLUSION are a cool change of pace while still living up to their original incarnations and Glen gets a turn with his EDGE OF THE CENTURY. JY co-produced this new STYX disc (along with long-time STYX vet Gary Loizzo) and his influence is felt in the band's revived harder edge. The intro to HEAVY WATER will prove to be a very cool suprise for die hard Stygians. I'm looking forward to hearing Burtnik, Shaw, JY, Todd, and Gowan collaberate on material for a new studio STYX album. STYX RULES! The only thing I didn't dig about the CD is the mulitple appearences of a few songs. BLUE COLLAR MAN is on the CDs 3 times. Once performed by STYX and twice by STYX & REO. I would have been happy with just the STYX/REO version, seeing how BLUE COLLAR MAN has already appeared on two previous live STYX albums (CAUGHT IN THE ACT - 1984 & RETURN TO PARADISE - 1997). STYX & REO also perform together on the SPEEDWAGON rocker ROLL WITH THE CHANGES which also makes 3 appearences (2 of the joint version and 1 with REO alone). It would have been cooler for us hard core fans if STYX had skipped the repeats and gave us the JY led LORELEI or new offerings like EVERYTHING IS COOL, I WILL BE YOUR WITNESS, or NUMBER ONE. But, whatever, that is picking gnat s--- out of pepper. This is a great record that will please any STYX fan.

As a big Styx fan, I bought this cd to get a live performance from the new lineup. The REO cd was going to be "throw away" filler. Was I ever wrong! First, this lineup of Styx just can't deliver on the older material. Get Caught In The Act or Return To Paradise for better performances of those songs. Second, REO Speedwagon really rocks! It's non-stop energy from the first song on. Yes, Kevin's voice has lost a little, but once you get past that, you have an exceptional performance. They sound tighter than ever. I wish I would have waited for REO's Live/Plus cd to get the full show from this night.

Most of these reviews have been less about the album and more about how Dennis De Young is out of the band. Well, I can honestly say the Styx CD is the lesser of the two, but NOT for that reason. It's just that the choice of Styx material for the album is a bit sub-par. The only ones that stick out to me as excellent are Gowan's version of Lady (really!), Edge of the Century, Heavy Water, and Fooling Yourself. The real gem of this collection is REO Speedwagon's disc. Gary may be gone, and Kevin may be losing his voice; however, you can feel the energy of the concert through this. Music Man is the only song that falls short. Too bad they couldn't have had a live version of Golden Country or Son of a Poor Man. Hitt is good, and I'd give this album 5 stars, but, as Kevin put it best "Nobody plays the guitar the way Gary does."

Ok, after giving this CD a listen I have decided that the LAST thing Styx needs is a live CD. Even IF Dennis DeYoung was on this it would be garbage. Come on guys, we have "Return To Paradise"! 3 new songs is not worth the price of double CD! Even the track listing is wrong from Amazon's list. Everything Is Cool is not on the disc, nor is Lorelei. Yet Roll With The Changes and Blue Collar Man are on the disc 2 and 3 times (respectively). Save your money Styx fans and find the "Perspectives" bootleg. It is a much better live show and worth the money after hearing this. They even cut out "Roboto" from "Edge Of The Century". Lame release!

The REO disc is a little better, it is about time this line-up (currently touring for 10 years) released a live disc. Kevin's voice isn't what it used to be, but again, if they dropped the lame "jam" versions we could've gotten "Golden Country" or another gem from REO. If you want "new" Styx, stick with "BNW". If you want live Styx, stick with "Perspectives" or "RTP". Now if you want REO, give the live disc a try. not as good as the live disc from 78, but worth a listen.

This double CD devotes 1 disc to each band. Recorded live during the summer 2000 tour, it contains all of the essential tracks from each band. On the Styx CD, we find such classics as "Too Much Time on my Hands" and "Renegade", while REO chimes in with "Roll With the Changes" and "Don't Let Him Go". I grew up with these groups while I was in high school, and it's nice to have a CD with both of them on it. I still think Dennis DeYoung is better than Lawrence Gowan, and the Styx disc was basically all Tommy Shaw's songs. There are a couple songs from their "Brave New World" CD which are very good, however. JY's "Heavy Water" is particularly good. Also included are a coupe of songs, "Roll With the Changes" and "Blue Collar Man", performed buy both groups together. Overall, this CD is good because it contains the good old-fashioned rock and roll sound that made both of these groups famous. There is also a VHS tape of this concert which I would recommend as well.

This does not cut it. Would you replace Mick Jagger, or Robert Plant? You cannot take the golden voice from this band and fake your way through it. Gowan sounds okay for his own music as no one can match the vocals of Dennis. Criminal Mind is the on;ly song that makes the grade. As for the rest of the band they sound okay but you can tell their is a magical part missing. An oaky cover band.. Save your money and buy Return to Paradise and listen to Dennis give an outstanding lesson on how to sound better as you get older.

On the VH1 Behind the Music special, JY of Styx said they will let Styx founder and leader Dennis DeYoung back in the band "when they're playing hockey on the river Styx" in Hades. Well, if this CD represents what Styx sounds like without DeYoung, then for Styx' sake somebody better start playing hockey on the river Styx very soon! This new Styx with only 2 remaining members of the classic lineup sounds terrible! It should be a crime to even call this band Styx. DeYoung's replacement Lawrence Gowan butchers "Lady" and "The Grand Illusion". I was literally cringing during these songs. As for the other songs, Tommy Shaw's voice sounds O.K., but not up to par. Overall the band just doesn't sound good. My advice to Styx fans looking for a live CD, stick with "Return to Paradise", the 1996 release from the "real" Styx's reunion tour.

Regarding the REO side of this CD. It shows the decline of a once great band. Kevin Cronin needs to take some time off and rest his voice. All these years of constant touring apparently have worn it out.

Overall this release is simply sad.

Being an REO fan, and an even bigger STYX fan I must asy I was pleased with REO's performance, and disapointed with STYX". Not having hears from REO in several years, it was good to listen to them again, and they can still rock. All tracks are good, band is still tight, and Kevin's voice is still in great shape, plus keyboard player Neal, has never sounded better.
STYX on the other hand, do we really need another live cd, and so soon. I know you want to show off your new keyboard player, what's his name, but now? He only plays on two songs The Grand Illusion, which he does fine, and Lady, which is ok. Glen rocks on Edge of the Century, and the new material from Brave New World sounds good. But these few songs don't deserve to be throw in with your overdone live classic songs. Give us more of what we have not heard. And do we need to hear Blue Collar Man, and Roll With the Changes, three times on this two disk set? Give me my money's worth, and I'm along time STYX fan. A HUGE LET DOWN on the STYX end.
STYX 2 stars, REO 4 stars.

Oh my, this is AWFUL. The REO part is ok - most of the songsare recognizable, but I think that the 2nd decade of rock n roll livecuts sound much better. The STYX part is downright awful. First, Ionly recognized about half the songs. A lot of hit songs aremissing. Where is Come Sail Away, Best of Times, Babe, Show Me theWay, Mr. Roboto, Don't Let It End? Not there! Instead you have somerecognizable Tommy Shaw songs, Lady (sung by new lead singer LawrenceGowan - awful!) and some other non descript B sides. The harmonies aretotally off, the production quality is lousy, and all in all just adismal effort. ... If you want to hear STYX live with the realline-up (with lead singer Dennis DeYoung), then buy Return to Paradiseor Caught in the Act. Don't waste your coin on this!

As a general rule, I personally, don't like live recordings. There are a few that have made their way into my collection, and there they shall remain. This one, however, is one I did not care for at all. Too many songs are repeated, both Styx and REO. While both bands are fabulous, I don't want or need to hear Blue Collar Man done more than once.