Former Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung has released 26 East: Volume 1,his seventh studio album and his first album of new material in over a decade. The title comes from the real-life address (in Roseland on the southside of Chicago) that DeYoung grew up in. The three trains featured on 26 East's cover art represent the three musicians who founded Styx -- DeYoung, along with brothers Chuck and John Panozzo.
According to Dennis DeYoung- "This was supposed to be my final album but there were so many songs written that Serafino Perugino, CEO of Frontiers, suggested dividing it into two albums rather than one," "This is Volume 1, which sounds pretentious to me, but the marketing folks wanted you to know there are going to be two of them, so hey kids, there are two of them; this is Volume 1."
To be honest I was hoping that there would be more of a progressive rock return on the record ,but 26 East still has a lot to offer- crisp and clear production values, impeccable musicianship, and a phenomenal vocal delivery from DeYoung.
If I had to rank this album I would say that it doesn't match the creative heights of Styx's latest record The Mission, but it might just be the best solo album produced by any member or indeed former from the Styx camp.
So, if the second part of his swansong release is half as good as this one, then DeYoung can go out with his head held high.
