Those two, plus it was the first hit from the first episode of Glee.
Agreed. And Lou Gramm has one of the great voices in rock 'n roll.
I like Styx, but I can agree with those who don’t much like the schmaltz. There are two Styx’s, the Dennis De Young side and the Tommy Shaw side. I’ve always favored Tommy’s songs, such as Renegade, Too Much Time On My Hands, and Blue Collar Man. Dennis’ songs are the ones that make people think of high-concept, overproduced theatrical rock. (Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto)
Ironic, for a song about being “born and raised in south Detroit.” You’d think Styx and REO would get the Illinoisans’ home town favorites votes.
Journey, Styx, REO, and Foreigner in that order.
Styx always seemed like it had a split personality - there were the earnest rocker songs, and then there were the cringe-inducing theatrical abortions sponsored and sung by that wanker Dennis DeYoung. Mr. Roboto is an abomination.
All four bands had at least a few great tunes, but because they were all trying to make money in the era of the power ballad, they each had their share of sappy, dated crap.
On preview: what cochrane said.
I picked Journey but I loved Styx just about as much.
Of course if Rush had been an option . . .
I never liked Journey, but to be fair, they are probably the one that stuck with the rock and roll the most. Foreigner and REO both sold out badly, with really lame ballads and Styx never was as clever as they thought they were and they just kind of collapsed under their own pretentiousness around Paradise Theater.
I think the pre-Hi Infidelity REO and Pre-Four foreigner are both reasonably good, but seeing REO live in their home town of Champaign, Illinois gives them the edge to me. They really could rock live, which in a way makes the sell out all the more disappointing.
I think you’re right. That would be the right time-frame. Thanks pulykamell.
Three terrible, terrible bands and one that I couldn’t even name a song by (Styx).
In short, I’d rather gnaw off my own cock.
Now? Or 30 years ago?
Styx taught an entire generation of Americans to say “thank you” in Japanese.
Unfortunately, I had expectations of something as great as 2112 but was sorely let down.
On the other hand, there is the absolute awesomeness that is this and this.
You asking if they were terrible 30 years ago or if I’d like to have preferred to gnaw my cock off 30 years ago?
A bad band is a bad band, whenever. Three of them are utter shite and a fourth is totally off my radar.
And I was seven thirty years ago.
This thread title is parody to me.
False Dilemma, but I’ll choose anyway:
Journey. Every song they did from Captured to Escape was so amazingly feel-good it gave me chills (the good kind) and inflated my sense of self-worth. It’s like when, as a kid, you see Superman or a Chuck Norris movie in a theater, you left thinking you could fly or kung-fu everyone to death. Even today, when I hear Velvet Curtain/Feeling That Way, I believe I can rule the world; and I just might one day, all thanks to Journey.
REO: Only really good song is “Time for Me to Fly,” but I love that one a lot.
Styx: A few really good songs, but mostly mediocre.
Foreigner: Utter crap and historically overrated.
What, nor Rush?
Journey out of the ones listed, although I’d take Kansas over all of them.
Well, that and the intro to “Woman In Black”. Always loved that screaming guitar.
By the way, does anybody else put them in the fairly broad category of ‘lobotomy rock’?
I had to pick REO.
Back when I was a student at Southern Illinois University, REO would perform in the local bars there on a fairly regular basis and I was a huge fan. However, not being yet 21, I couldn’t get in to see them.
I used to get there early, wait behind the bar, and the band would let me sneak in as a Roadie. They were really nice guys and I did this so often that they really did let me help (a bit) with set up.
I was really happy for them when they started to get “big” and perform at larger venues than just local campus bars.
This poll very much needs a “None of the above” option.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I specifically NOT put an “other” option, because it only derails the poll.