Search - Dennis De Young :: One Hundred Years From Now (Dig)

FABULOUS!

D. Eden | Crofton, MD USA | 09/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I guess that I do not understand the strong sentiment that seems to cloud people's judgment regarding Styx and their current estrangement from each other. The reviewer who gave this CD only 1 star seemed to focus on his taking sides with Tommy Shaw and James Young. So does this mean that Dennis should go hide under a rock and never show his face again? Even if Dennis is guilty as charged for breaking-up Styx, how does one disregard this CD?



My view is that there was probably significant fault on both sides. But where does that leave us? It leaves me, at least, with Dennis DeYoung. I simply believe that he is the soul of Styx, with his song-writing ability, his incredible musical talent, and the way in which he reflects the essence of Styx. If you did not know that Styx had broken-up, you would think that this CD was recorded by the original group. The only thing missing is the changing-up of the vocals, where Tommy or James would do the lead on a few songs.



I have nothing against the other members of the group who have continued on under the name Styx. But they lost their founding member and lead-singer -- the one who was responsible for nearly all of their hits. By definition, they needed a replacement. Even if the replacement is a solid performer, he is not the original.



I am a life-long Styx fan, having followed them since the 1970's. This new CD by Dennis DeYoung is a must-have for anyone who relished and savored the Styx sound up until Brave New World. In this CD, DeYoung brings a wall of sound that has strong shades of Pieces of Eight and Paradise Theatre. Each song is extremely strong -- 11 solid tracks -- that left me amazed, feeling as if Dennis has picked-up where the old Styx left off. This is the old Styx!



Dennis has produced a couple of solo albums prior to One Hundred Years From Now. They were good, but not great. This one is great! He seems to have changed direction, going back to his roots, when Styx was faithful to itself (yes, that means prior to Mr. Roboto!). You will find the slower ballads on this CD, as well as harder-edged songs.



Regardless of where you stand regarding the Styx breakup controversy, I highly recommend that you get this CD, if you at all loved the Old Styx. Dennis has continued the legacy and it is rock solid. I wish all of the band members well, but Dennis IS Styx. And he proves it here, beyond any doubt, in my humble opinion."

Dennis DeYoung At His Best

KMM | Texas | 08/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is not a weak song on this very fine CD from Dennis DeYoung. Best of all is the amazing, powerful voice of DeYoung. He has not lost a single step from the earliest of his recordings when he was the voice of Styx. If anything, his voice is stronger and more nuanced. He throws in amazing falsettos and hits notes younger people could never even attempt.



His musicians and singers on the CD are a wonderful compliment to this voice. In addition, we get the always superior keyboarding skills of DeYoung on all tracks -- synth, piano, even the accordion. And it also must be added that he produced the entire CD.



Track by track:



One Hundred Years from Now - The title track was originally performed as a duet, but done solo here. Powerful, with a mix of sounds, old and new. The guitar solo is as good as anything you will hear on any rock album.



This Time Next Year - Powerhouse rock with a driving back beat. DeYoung lets loose on this one. My only quarrel with it would be the weak-sounding backing vocals that detract from the forceful nature of this song.



Rain - Wow. That is about all I can say. This one insistently gets in your head, much like the rain in the lyrics. Another rocker with great throwback synthesizer work by DeYoung.



Crossing the Rubicon - The original title song, this is a true masterwork in the tradition of his best writing both for Styx and in his solo years. Quite powerful as a self-examination. Lots of symbolism in the lyrics and the whole thing has a sort of Grand Illusion era feel to it. Another standout on a CD full of standouts.



Save Me - My personal favorite. Just a great, great song. Has an old feel to it and yet feels very current as well. A GREAT chorus sung so beautifully in harmony.



I Don't Believe in Anything - Oh wow! This is so different in style from anything he has ever written. The words are in your face and unapologetic. And the Dobro work is top notch. Just a great, great song.



Pvt. Jones - Another one that gets into your head and won't let go. A strong, driving rock song with a fantastic, melodic chorus that carries it throughout.



I Believe in You - Just gorgeous classic Dennis DeYoung power ballad. He is the master of such songs. Again, fabulous harmonies and a catchy rolling beat to it. Awesome Bruce Hornsby style piano riff by Dennis at the end of this one, too.



There Was A Time - This one, another ballad, sounds much more like the music he recorded on his solo works in the 80's. Nice harmonies, once again.



Breathe Again - Is an exquisite song devoted to his wife Suzanne. The harmonies are nothing short of spectacular. Quite a beautiful number and one of his very best of the songs he has written for her. Nice acoustic guitar intro plus an old school synth solo to just add to the pleasant mix on this.



Forgiveness - Haunting song. The lyrics are very, very powerful. As with much of his music, there are many layers and many meanings to the words he writes.



Turn Off CNN - Another rocker and this one is classic DeYoung commentary on our times. He lets the listener know to Turn off CNN. Turn it OFF!















"

DeYoung's most Styx-like solo work to date

Sterling C. Whitaker | Nashville, TN | 08/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had eagerly anticipated the release of Dennis DeYoung's '100 Years From Now' for quite some time, as I had heard through the grapevine that it was somewhat of a return to the sound that DeYoung was so instrumental in creating with his former band, Styx. I really enjoyed the Canadian-only release of this album in 2007, but DeYoung has actually put in additional work for this stateside release that has enhanced the overall collection. Several tracks feature new performances or mixes, and there are two new songs as well.



Fans of classic Styx albums like 'Equinox', 'Crystal Ball', 'The Grand Illusion' and 'Paradise Theatre' will find plenty to like about these tracks, which blend the best of DeYoung's solo work with some very Styx-like instrumental and vocal arrangements.



The title song '100 Years From Now' finds DeYoung re-visiting one of his favorite lyrical themes. Much of his best work with Styx was observational about the state of humankind, and what needed to be done to avoid the same pitfalls in the future that we had fallen into in the past. DeYoung re-slants that theme in "100 Years From Now" to great effect, saying "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth/Who among us will speak the truth/So our children's children can live in peace somehow/One hundred years from now". The new version for this US release features DeYoung singing all the parts in new vocal performances, which is vastly superior to the English/French duet version from the Canadian release.



"This Time Next Year" is an up-tempo pop/rock song that is vaguely reminiscent of "Mademoiselle" from 'Crystal Ball', with call-and-response backing vocals that sound remarkably like Styx. "Rain" is another track in the vein of classic Styx, like the[....] son of "Lorelei" from 'Equinox', a frantic rocker with excellent keyboard work and vocal harmonies.



"Crossing The Rubicon" is one of the strongest songs of DeYoung's solo career, a nod to DeYoung's early progressive rock influences like Yes and ELP. "I Don't Believe in Anything" features a bluesy verse married to a modern rock chorus, propelled by an electronica/hip hop beat (yes, you read that right). The lyric is a classic DeYoung rant against the shallowness of popular culture.



"Turn Off CNN" is an up-tempo three-chord rocker with a lyric about the overwhelming information available too readily in the modern cable TV age.



There are a few weaker tracks - "Save Me", "Breathe Again" - but even these are highlighted by crisp production, strong instrumental performances, and the unmistakable vocal identity that made Dennis DeYoung one of the most recognizable rock vocalists of his generation. For the US release DeYoung has chosen to omit "Respect Me", which was the weakest track, and has added two new tracks, "Private Jones" and "There Was A Time". Both the subtractions and the additions make the overall work even stronger.



All in all, '100 Years From Now' is an album that will please fans of Dennis DeYoung and classic Styx.





Sterling Whitaker

Author, The Grand Delusion: The Unauthorized True Story of Styx"