Cornerstone

Styx

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: October 1979
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B000002GBU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,277 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If Styx didn't do enough to endear itself to a generation of prom-goers with its 1975 slow-dance classic "Lady," they closed the deal a few years later with Cornerstone's premiere hit, "Babe." Perhaps the prototypical I-love-you-but-I-just-gotta-go power ballad, the song was Styx's first No. 1 hit, and it propelled the album to platinum-plus status. Led by that track as well as "Why Me," another Top 40 hit, Cornerstone is Styx at their most accessible and melodic. The album experiments with some new sounds as well, with horns added to the mix on Dennis DeYoung's "Borrowed Time" and "Why Me" and mandolin on Tommy Shaw's "Boat on the River." If their album sales didn't offer the final word on the band's popularity at the close of the '70s, a 1979 Gallup poll did the trick: The group was named America's most popular rock band. It's you babe, indeed. --Daniel Durchholz

Product Description

Japanese-only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) paper sleeve pressing of this album. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You won't believe it's the same CD! Universal. 2009. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4 3/4 stars--still great music, October 14, 2001

By	Brad (CT) - See all my reviews

The criticism of this album is well-documented--too many DeYoung ballads, not enough guitar-based rock. While I agree that "The Grand Illusion" and "Pieces Of Eight" are better rock albums, this one stands right up there as a pop/rock masterpiece. "Babe" is of course incredibly overplayed but is still a standout ballad, as is "First Time". Besides these songs, there are no other "sappy ballads" here. 2 out of 9 tracks as ballads is not a bad ratio. "Boat On The River" is mellow but a uniquely enjoyable Tommy Shaw tune--and NOT a ballad. "Lights", "Why Me" (the follow-up single to "Babe") and "Never Say Never" are good mid-tempo rockers. "Eddie" flat out rocks, as does "Borrowed Time". The chorus of "Love In The Midnight" is an example of the best of Tommy and Dennis when they collaborate together. In a nutshell, this album stands up musically to other Styx efforts while not quite as rocking as its predecessors.

As a side note, I totally disagree with those who say that Styx was a talentless band. Each member was musically talented in their own right, and the sum of those parts always made for an interesting and constantly changing sound. Those who call this band "the worst of corporate rock" simply don't like this type of music and should just stick to reviewing their annoying "political" and "alternative" bands or whatever crap they as well as the supposed "music critics" like. After all, you won't find me reviewing something like a Sonic Youth album any time soon.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Give me lights!, January 9, 2005

By	Tnahpellee "Brendan" (Australia) - See all my reviews

I love this album. Do you know why I love this album? Because it's just really feel-good pop. I think formulaic pop music is only something bad when it's performed flatly. But then the most outlandish uncomercial rock sounds bad if flatly performed, well I suppose it would. But Styx perform with such passion and charisma that the music on this album seems like a once in a life time thing. Take the song 'First Time', it's just a pop song but Dennis absolutely lives every minute of that song. But I have a couple of quibbles. One, why was 'why me?' the second single if you have a masterpiece like 'Lights', which would have soared to the top of the charts, at your disposal? I think Lights has way more pop appeal than Why Me. Lights is pure pop with a strong hint of prog, actually. The intro is similar to the courtly beginning of 'The Grand Illusion', and the song is arguably one of the best Styx songs. Lights, Babe with it's haunting synthesiser riffs and the infectious prog-rock track Never say never, which features some of Tommy Shaw's best vocals, are the highs, in my opinion. Borrowed time has a prog-like synthesiser opening to what becomes a fun rock n roll track that features some good chord changes and some excellent riffs. I love the opening bit to 'Eddie' "I woke up today..." and it has great solo but the rest of the song doesn't tickle my fancy. It has a stunning fade-out though. I think the song 'Love in the midnight' is depressing and would fit much better on 'Piece of eight'. I don't like the song but it is a fan favourite.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid STYX that shows some very bright stars, June 14, 2000

By A Customer

The strength of Cornerstone is clearly the ballads. I can't hear "Babe" or "First Time" without envisioning a beautiful young memory in a tight sweater at a school dance. Even without the ballads, several things stand out about this album. First, "Borrowed Time" and "Why Me" demonstrate that STYX is still in touch with its roots. Second, "Lights" and "Never say Never" show a new and interesting feel to the group's style. Third, "Eddie" is a fabulous tail-twister for Senator Kennedy. Most of all, Tommy Shaw really showed why STYX brought him in with his unique and wonderful "Boat on the River". Overall, this is a very good album.