Music Review: Styx ~ "Regeneration Volume I & II"

There is a trend happening with 70's and 80's classic rock artists. Bands are re-recording their greatest hits - with the current band line-up - usually to highlight their new lead singer.

Journey has done it, KISS has done it and now Styx are joining the re-recorded fun with the release of "Regeneration Vol. I & II."

This 2 disc set finds Styx revisiting 13 of their all-time classic hits plus 2 cover songs from Tommy Shaw's "Damn Yankees" days and 1 new song entitled "Difference In The World." The press release included with my CD states that this version of the band Styx has been together longer than any other line-up in the band's history. Although that may be true, this version of the band has also only released one album of new material while the other incarnations have released 13 studio albums.

So why do these re-recorded CDs exist? I assume it all comes down to money. Maybe by licensing the new versions for commercials and movies the band no longer has to pay past members a performance fee although that would most certainly not negate song writing credits and residuals.

Okay enough of my soapbox journalism! Is the CD good? Well... it actually is!

Long time members James "JY" Young and Tommy Shaw have surrounded themselves with top notch players including keyboardist Lawrence Gowan who handles all the vocals for ousted original member Dennis DeYoung. The rhythm section of drummer Todd Sucherman and bassist Ricky Phillips just might be better than the original Panozzo brothers. So this band is quite capable of covering their own material but the problem for me is still... "WHY?"

Are these good versions of the songs? Yes. Are they better than the original versions? No!

So why would anyone buy "Regeneration Vol. I & II" when there are countless greatest hits packages with the original band and the original versions to choose from? I have no idea.

What I can tell you is I am a Styx fan and have seen the current line-up perform LIVE countless times and they are excellent. So save your money to see them in concert and skip "Regeneration Vol. I & II."

Drumroll please... 4 out of 10 drumsticks!!!