{"product_id":"199957336550","title":"Styx - Paradise Theatre - Import Aqua Vinyl LP Recurd","description":"\u003cp\u003eCredits:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStyx\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDescription:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAftersuccessfullyestablishingthemselvesasoneofAmerica'sbestcommercialprogressiverockbandsofthelate'70swithalbumslikeTheGrandIllusionandPiecesofEight,Chicago'sStyxhadtakenadubioussteptowardspopoverkillwithsingerDennisDeYoung'sballad\"Babe.\"Thecenterpieceof1979'sunevenCornerstonealbum,thenumberonesinglesowedtheseedsofdisasterforthegroupbypitchingDeYoung'sincreasinglymainstreamambitionsagainstthegroup'smoreconservativesongwriters,TommyShawandJames\"JY\"Young.Hence,whathadoncebeenahealthycompetitivespiritwithinthebandquicklydeterioratedintobitterco-existenceduringthesessionsfor1980'sParadiseTheater--andall-outwarfarebythetimeof1983'sinfamousKilroyWasHere.Forthetimebeing,however,ParadiseTheaterseemedtorepresentthebestofbothworlds,sinceitslooseconceptabouttheroaring'20sheydayandeventualdeclineofanimaginarytheater(usedasametaphorfortheAmericanexperienceingeneral,etc.,etc.)seemedtosatisfybothoftheband'scampswithitsreturntocomplexhardrock(puristsShawandJY)whilesparingnoamountofpompandgrandeur(DeYoung).Thestageissetbythefirsttrack,\"A.D.1928,\"whichfeaturesalonelyDeYoungonpianoandvocalsintroducingthealbum'srecurringmusicalthemebeforelaunchinginto\"Rockin'theParadise\"--atotalteameffortofwonderfullystrippeddownhardrock.Fromthispointforward,DeYoung'scompositions(\"NothingEverGoesasPlanned,\"\"TheBestofTimes\")continuetostickclosetotheoverallstoryline,whileShaw's(\"TooMuchTimeonMyHands,\"\"SheCares\")trytoresistthematicrestrictionsasbesttheycan.Amongthese,\"TheBestofTimes\"--withitsdeliberate,marchingrhythm--remainsoneofthemoreimprobableTopTenhitsofthedecade(somehowitjustworks),while\"TooMuchTimeonMyHands\"figuresamongShaw'sfinestsinglesever.AsforJY,theband'sthirdsongwriter(andresidentpeacekeeper)isonlyslightlymorecooperativewiththeParadiseTheaterconcept.Hisedgiercompositionsincludethedesolatetaleofdrugaddiction,\"Snowblind,\"andtherollickingopus\"Half-Penny,Two-Penny,\"whichinfusesagraphicdepictionofinnercitydecadencewithafinal,smallglimmerofhopeandredemption.Thesongalsoleadsstraightintothealbum'sbeautifulsaxophone-ledepilogue,\"A.D.1958,\"whichonceagainrevealsMCDeYoungaloneathispiano.Aresoundingsuccess,ParadiseTheaterwouldbecomeStyx'sgreatestcommercialtriumph;andinretrospect,itremainsoneofthebestexamplesoftheconvergencebetweenprogressiverockandAORwhichtypifiedthesoundoftheera'stopgroups(Journey,Kansas,etc.).ForStyx,itssuccesswouldspellboththeirtemporarysavinggraceandultimatedoom,asthecreativeforceswhichhadalreadybeentearingattheband'scorefinallyreachedunbearablelevelsthreeyearslater.Itisnowonderthatwhenthebandreunitedafteroveradecadeofbadblood,allthemusicreleasedpost-1980wasleftonthecuttingroomfloor--furtherproofthatParadiseTheaterwastrulythebestoftimes.~EduardoRivadavia\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Capitol\/EMI","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52697086984481,"sku":"199957336550","price":5391.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0568\/8482\/2076\/files\/199957336550.jpg?v=1778893369","url":"https:\/\/cdsvinyljapan.com\/products\/199957336550","provider":"CDs Vinyl Japan Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}