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Rating:
In the second half of the '70s, Styx, after a faltering start to their career with consistently unconvincing works, carved out their slice of glory by producing a handful of qualitatively valid albums. This is one of them; and, according to some, it might be the best, if nothing else for the sales figures it achieved.
Let's be clear right away that this is not one of those albums that will make you shout for a miracle: it's not revolutionary, it's not epoch-making, and, most importantly, it's not a masterpiece; it is simply an excellent pomp rock album that follows the path already traced by other bands of that era (Kansas above all). Especially for lovers of the genre, I consider it an album worth spending money on. I'll cut to the chase and avoid bringing up the usual argument of how this was an underrated band and all that: the truth is that in Italy there has never been a real and healthy rock culture; therefore, like others, they are not and will never be appreciated. That's all.
Getting to the point, the work in question is inspired by themes of ambiguity, false myths: illusions, indeed. The opening title track is a rich appetizer for what will be served to us later: majestic with its almost military march, it is the right introduction to review songs that are never boring and predictable, perhaps related by similarity, but never repetitive; calibrated just enough, without frills and unnecessary individualism, they sometimes seem almost tailor-made for two voices, similar in timbre, that always interpret the changing atmospheres at their best (Dennis DeYoung, keyboards and Tommy Shaw, guitars). If the subsequent "Fooling Yourself" and "Superstars" are melodies unraveled over a guitar and keyboard sound carpet where the chorus reaches the right effectiveness in the context, almost evoking the great rock/musical works born in those years, "Come Sail Away" becomes the band's emblematic piece, the battle horse of live shows. After the initial voice and piano phrasing, the speed increases and the rest of the group joins until they reach the right level with the usual chorus that sticks in your mind and, whether you want it or not, you find yourself humming when you least expect it.
The mocking and harsh voice of the other guitarist, James Young, is entrusted with "Miss America", a piece of true hard rock where, once again, guitar and keyboard intertwine, chase but do not hinder each other. It is precisely the arrangements of this album that make the difference and allow for a qualitative leap. "Man in the Wilderness" is a power ballad with a bittersweet taste, pervaded by a melancholic and twilight choral interpretation; just like "Castle Walls", the piece that I consider best, where the instrumental part prevails over the vocal one, which is rightly brief and relegated to the initial and final part of a performance where the rhythm changes, though never overwhelming, add that extra touch, in my opinion, compared to the other tracks. The pace has slowed down. But there's no time for handkerchiefs: the conclusion (The Grand Finale, rightly) is the natural continuation of the initial The Grand Illusion, to end the "story" by bringing us, with bass drum hits, back to where it all began.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 The Grand Illusion (04:37)
Welcome to the Grand illusion
Come on in and see what's happening
Pay the price, get your tickets for the show
The stage is set, the band starts playing
Suddenly your heart is pounding
Wishing secretly you were a star.
But don't be fooled by the radio
The TV or the magazines
They show you photographs of how your life should be
But they're just someone else's fantasy
So if you think your life is complete confusion
Because you never win the game
Just remember that it's a Grand illusion
And deep inside we're all the same.
We're all the same...
So if you think your life is complete confusion
Because your neighbors got it made
Just remember that it's a Grand illusion
And deep inside we're all the same.
We're all the same...
America spells competition, join us in our blind ambition
Get yourself a brand new motor car
Someday soon we'll stop to ponder what on Earth's this spell we're under
We made the grade and still we wonder who the hell we are
02 Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) (05:31)
You see the world through your cynical eyes
You're a troubled young man I can tell
You've got it all in the palm of your hand
But your hand's wet with sweat and your head needs a rest
And you're fooling yourself if you don't believe it
You're kidding yourself if you don't believe it
Why must you be such an angry young man
When your future looks quite bright to me
How can there be such a sinister plan
That could hide such a lamb, such a caring young man
(Chorus)
You're fooling yourself if you don't believe it
You're kidding yourself if you don't believe it
Get up, get back on your feet
You're the one they can't beat and you know it
Come on, let's see what you've got
Just take your best shot and don't blow it
Chorus
03 Superstars (03:55)
You've read about me in the papers
You've seen me on the movie screen
You know everything about me
I'm your late night fantasy
But don't think I can't hear you calling
From the shadow of the 14th row
Cause I've had the same dreams you've had
A few short years ago and that's why I know
You and I
We will climb so high
Superstars
Whoa whoa you and I
And we'll just close our eyes
And we'll become our fantasy
Superstars yes, yes, superstars
Step right this way. Everyone's welcome,
We want your dreams.
The offer's simple, momentary immortality
Cause I've seen them all you know
I've seen them climb and I've seen them fall
I've seen them come and I've seen them go
And through it all there's only one thing that matters
Love - And that's simply
You and I
Yes, You and I
For we are superstars
04 Come Sail Away (06:07)
I'm sailing away, set an open course for the virgin sea
I've got to be free, free to face the life that's ahead of me
On board, I'm the captain, so climb aboard
We'll search for tomorrow on every shore
And I'll try, oh Lord, I'll try
To carry on
I look to the sea, reflections in the waves spark my memory
Some happy, some sad
I think of childhood friends and the dreams we had
We live happily forever, so the story goes
But somehow we missed out on that pot of gold
But we'll try best that we can to carry on
A gathering of angels appeared above my head
They sang to me this song of hope, and this is what they said
They said come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me lads
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
I thought that they were angels, but to my surprise
They climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies
Singing come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me [repeat and fade...]
05 Miss America (05:02)
You were the apple of the public's eye as you cut the ribbon at the local mall
A mirage for both you and us. How can this be real?
We love your body in that photograph, your home state sure must be proud
The queen of the United States, or have you lost your crown
(Chorus)
Well aren't you Miss America
Don't you Miss America
Won't you Miss America
Our love
Well are you really who we think you are
Or does your smile seem to wear you down
Is the girl who you once were screaming to jump out
And the dream that you must live - a disease for which there is no cure
This roller coaster ride you're on won't stop to let you off
Chorus
Miss America, Miss America, Miss America
Miss America, Miss America, Miss America
Chorus
Well it's true just take a look - The cover sometimes makes the book
And the judges, do they ever ask to read between your lines
In your cage at the human zoo, they all stop to look at you
Next year, what will you do when you have been forgotten
Chorus
(repeat to fade)
07 Castle Walls (05:58)
Once in a dream
Far beyond these castle walls
Down by the bay where the
Moonlit water falls
I stood alone while the minstrel sang his song
So afraid I'd lost my soul
There in the fog his song kept calling me
Leading me on with its haunting melody
Deep in my heart a voice kept echoing
I knew I'd soon be wandering
Far beyond these castle walls
Where the distant harbour meets the sky
There the battle raged like hell
And every dove had lost its will to fly
Far beyond these castle walls
Where I thought I heard Tiresias say
Life is never what it seems
And every man must meet his destiny
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