Customer Reviews

Desert Moon

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was a huge Styx fan, and when they went their separate ways in 1984, I snapped up this album figuring it would just be a quick fix to tide me over until the boys worked out their differences.

I couldn't have been more wrong. This is a fantastic album on its own, showing off Dennis DeYoung's extraordinary musical range. Dennis DeYoung's rich vocals and keyboards were often the best things about some of Styx's songs, and this album takes the best of those and puts them on display. There's not a bad track on the disk, and my only complaint is that there are too few of them! "Desert Moon" is a beautiful and moody song that invokes great visuals through its lyrics ("The waiter poured our memories into tiny cups..."); "Don't Wait For Heroes" is inspirational and fun; "Fire" is a bluesy remake of the Jimi Hendrix original (and yes, it does indeed hold its own); "Dear Darling (I'll Be There)" closes the album with a typical (and typically brilliant) DeYoung rich ballad.

If you liked Styx and this album isn't yet part of your collection, what are you waiting for? Get it now!

This Debut Solo Album/ CD by the founding member of Styx is truly a classic to behold. I was beginning my freshman year of college when the radio premiered this album. I was immediately drawn to the Title song. One thing that I didn't know was that one song was a remake of a Jimi Hendricks song that I like.

I am a Styx fan before I am a Dennis DeYoung fan, but I to this day love Dennis' voice. I especially enjoy this first solo album of his as a fantastic slice of pop/rock. After having it on cassette for years, I was very pleased to see it finally available on CD.

Now obviously, I love the top 10 hit title track. For sure, that beautiful song showcases Dennis' emotional, melodic, soulful vocals at their best. However, I also love the catchy opener "Don't Wait For Heros", one of only a handful of rocking DDY solo songs. "Fire" is a bluesy delight, while "Gravity" is a mystical slice of pop. Even the ridiculously goofy "Boys Will Be Boys", which is kind of a rocker of sorts, is a lot of fun to listen to. The closing track "Dear Darling" is a very sweet ballad to close the album.

Don't expect a hard rock album with this effort, because it's not that at all. What you have here is a melodic pop/rock delight that is already well outside of the Styx realm. While later DDY solo efforts probably mellow out too much overall, this one still has some kick in places. Call my overall grade 4 1/2 stars, as it falls a bit short of most of the best Styx efforts. Still well worth a listen for fans of that golden voice.

I have always enjoyed this particular album. In fact, I think I wore out the LP, so when the CD became available, I jumped at the chance to get it. I would highly reccommend this to anyone who is a Styx fan. This shows that Dennis is very talented, and I can see, in certain songs, that he is very theatrical minded. "Boys Will Be Boys" is proof of his theatric talent.

The voice, keyboardist, arranger, producer and heart and soul of Styx has produced an outstanding solo effort with Desert Moon. The title track is an almost perfect song. Beautiful, haunting and sung to perfection. "Gravity" is a lively, funny, inspired ode to inaction. He is in fine voice throughout and his keyboard work is, as always, masterful. If you liked the work Dennis DeYoung did with Styx, then this CD is a MUST purchase.

After seeing Dennis DeYoung this summer (June 2011) it was a reminder of what an incredible singer he was and still is. When Dennis sang Desert Moon during his concert, it took me back in time to years living in LA during the 80's and when I first heard this song on the radio. Desert Moon is clearly the stand out song on this album, however the tracks that have been noted by other reviewers are also strong and there really isn't anything more that I can add to those reviews. A must have for any Styx fan - and as Dennis said at the concert - Desert Moon should have been a Styx single.

This is DJ over producing as he began to do in Styx! And now, he has no one to answer to but himself! I liked "Desert Moon", the single when it first came out. As a huge Styx fan bought this album on its release with high hopes! However, those high hopes sent me plummetting to the earth, landing in the desert without a camel, food or water! I must say that whenever someone tells me about the worst song they have ever heard, I hear them out and put them to the challenge. I bet them that I can give them one that is even worst then theirs! I play them DJ's version of "FIRE" and they go running to the hospital with their ears bleeding from the pain of having to listen to such a great song distroyed. The performance throughout this album is pure & simple - TRASH!!! DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!

Desert Moon is one of those albums that proves an artist true skill. Not one song dissapoints exept Boys will be Boys, as bad as that song is, it doesn't ruin the album over all, not one bit,for the rest of the songs are truly spectacular and are classics in every way. God bless you Dennis.

If you like the STYX then you will like DeYoung's solo album. This album has a good mix of slower love songs and faster upbeat ones.

You'll buy this for the title track, but soon after you start listening to it Dennis' voice will draw you in deeper and deeper until you realize how great the whole album is.