Popoff who is always Popoff's biggest fan continues to reference the PMRC as if this album was written after Tipper Gore but it was years before. This album was conceived and recorded in 1982. PMRC 1985. Styx as a joke stickered their own album. Sound familiar? Footloose and Dirty Dancing (which has nothing to do with banning music) were after Kilroy. 2112 is mystical and metaphorical with one side all instrumental. Kilroy's villain Righteous represents the dangers of following demagogues who identify the "other" then vilify them in an effort to gain control through fear. In this case it's rock music. His following, at first a cult becomes a political movement. Sound familiar? In the US it does. The problem's plain to see too much technology machines to save our lives machines dehumanize. The world is embarking on that journey as we discuss this album.
I liked it from the get go.Very different album but I love prog so anything different is good with me.Saw them on that tour was like going to a play which I always liked doing.
As a Styx album: It's fine. I generally like many of the songs. "Mr. Roboto" is cheesy fun. "Don't Let It End" is a great rock ballad. There's lots of hooks throughout the album. As long as you don't dig too deep into the album story, it's a decent album. Not everything works, but enough of it is passable Styx. As a concept album: Total garbage. The story idea would have had potential in more clever hands, but everything is executed so clumsily. It's a train wreck of ham-fisted incompetency. The story isn't even about robots. It's about music censorship in an authoritarian dystopian future. The robot prison guards are background characters. The main character dresses up as a roboto to escape the prison where he was being held. It's like doing a rock opera of Star Wars and making a whole song about the stormtroopers that Luke and Han dressed up as to get around in the Death Star. The songs just don't really serve the story very well at all.
Thanks for the comment! Hard to take Kilroy after great albums as Illusion and Eight. You expect something more than "decent" from Styx at this point. I do like Kilroy more now than I did back in the day. (Grant)
I bought this back in the day, it's okay but it's not great musically so maybe in a funny way Styx actually succeeded here. Martin called it robotic, the very theme of the album's concept of a bleak future run by an evil power elite with robot henchmen and the bit of rock'n'roll that is allowed to be played sounds phony and flat almost anti-rock, Styx certainly didn't fail in this regard. It may not be rock'n'roll as it should be played, rather it's shallow music as some futuristic tyranny prefers it; totally fake and empty sounding. Question is, has it 40 years later finally become a reality with assorted nonsense like A.I., auto-tune, compression, etc. 🤖
I loved the 70s catalogue. I smelled a rat back on Cornerstone with 'Babe'. Along came 'Too much time on my hands' and I passed. Then came 'Mr Roboto' and I knew they were a shot duck!
Killroy isn't my least-favorite Styx album (Edge Of The Century), but it's not one I go to often. I dig it out now and then, mainly for nostalgic reasons, but it's tough to grab it off of the shelf when all of their other albums are right there next to it. I don't dislike it on a Martin level, but it's not one I pop in often. I'd go 4/10. Later edit: Rand's "So what?!?" is the best review since Spinal Tap's "Shit sandwich". 🤣
I was 8 in 1983 and one of my sisters bought this album, and both my sisters hated it almost instantly, she had also had paradise theatre on record before that one
Unfortunately, I think you guys are missing quite a bit when discussing this album. Even the way the music is presented on this album was to fit the concept. To give the feel of music being presented in a world full and influenced by technology. They didn't steal the idea from Zappa. If you know the history behind the concept, it was inspired by Styx being accused of putting backwards "satanic" messages on their previous album. The technology part came from DeYoung seeing a program on PBS about robotic factories. The PMRC didn't even exist at this point and time. The rock music landscape was changing at the time and many bands were making changes to adapt to it. That said the project most likely suffered from DeYoung's band mates not being fully convinced on the concept which is reflected in their contributions. The other thing that was lurking in the background was that Shaw was well into his substance abuse issues and really was ready to check out of the band. Prior to the start of this project Shaw was already writing material for his first solo album. If you think this album is clunker, check out Shaw's second solo effort "What If". That makes KWH look like a masterpiece. Styx as a band was never about the cool rock image. That was not who they were. Their image was more about sophistication and adult themes.
Hello Roboto! Thanks for the comments! What do you think of my idea that this would have worked better as Dennis solo project as opposed the Styx product? JY and Tommy appear to be phoning it in at this point...sad. Tommy is a hell a lot better songwriter than he appears on this record. As for "What If" that's a total different conversation..lol (Grant)
Did I like this when I was 12? Yes, absolutely! Did I like it by the time I was, say, 15? Absolutely NOT! haha One of the biggest problems I've always had with this album is the whole narrative/concept thing. Not only is it a played-out idea, but much like Music From The Elder, I don't think a band has enough time to tell a "story" on a single LP. The more successful concept albums (Tommy, The Wall, Lamb Lies Down, etc) are all double albums where the band has more time to flesh out the story. Love it or hate it, "Mr. Roboto" fails as an opener because the lyrics feel like they belong at the mid-point of the story being told, not at the beginning. There's nothing leading up to Kilroy's big "reveal" ... hell, we don't even know who Kilroy even is! I've often wondered what came first ... the idea for the album as a whole, or the song "Mr. Roboto?" The rest of the songs on here (and the rest of the group, for that matter) feel completely disconnected to "Roboto," so it's always seemed to me that Dennis had the idea for that one track (probably in an attempt to stay "modern" or, as Martin alluded to, fit in with new wave) and because it was SO different from Styx's identity, that they decided after the fact to build the concept album around that one track. Otherwise, how else would they have ever presented it as a Styx song? I completely agree that this whole thing should have been done as a DeYoung solo album, so he could get "Mr. Roboto" out of his system and let the band stick do what they did best.
I think this album has some things going for it: 1. It's a new wave album, Im a big New Wave fan so I like anything from the era from a big band, I know this is no Devo or B'52's but is a failed new wave album with big production anyways. 2. I love concept albums even if the concept is stupid, every concept album is kind of stupid anyways, they are not novels you know and I don't speak english so normally I don't pay attention to lyrics, just sound. 3.It might be the last abum where Styx took a big risk so it's always fun seeing a dinosaur band going off the cliff. 4.The robots, the costumes, the cover, the caracters are fun, like a cartoon, you dont think about it like it is "great prog music" with some fancy musicianship, they seem they are having fun. The thing I really don't like about it is that has too many ballads. If you take out a couple of ballads off it is a really cool dumb album.
I found it to be a great new wave album. It still has some prog on it to. There were only 2 ballads on it, "Don't let it end" & "Haven't we been here before". My favorite song on the album "Just get through this night" is a light song, but I wouldn't call it a ballad. It has a mix of prog rock with new wave and I thought fantastic with some of Tommy's best singing and some of the best keyboard work Dennis has done. The album still had some rockers on it, and two of the best songs JY has ever done.
I fully expected Martin to defend this album, as his analysis often is contrary to my own. In this case, though, he explains my views on KWH in perfect detail.
I remember when this one came out well. I enjoyed it then, don't play it a lot now. But this did hit #3 in the USA, went platinum, and the two main singles were big hits whose videos were in heavy rotation on MTV. By any metric, highly successful commercially. Not the best Styx album, but it does have moments and Mr. Roboto is associated with Styx in pop culture to this day. Most bands would love to have such results. But no, not their best.
It's funny because as some people say this wasn't one of Styx better albums, I thought it was better than the previous album "Paradise Theater" which was a #1 record and their most successful tour. The very things people critique about the Kilroy album Paradise Theater was even more guilty of, but I never hear people criticize that album. Styx had their first run with new wave with the single "Too much time on my hands". It was a major hit and helped the album reach #1 and sell out concerts. I've never heard any Styx fans say "I hated this album because they went new wave". The fans seemed to love them trying new wave on this song. The other thing I find amazing is that while the album contained some great songs and some very memorable Styx songs, it also contained 3 of their worst songs. Tommy's "She cares" made "Babe" seem like a hard rock song. LOL. Even more sappy than Babe and the very thing Tommy and the band members and some fans critique about Dennis was even more so on this song. Tommy gets a free ride? And the big difference is this song sucked, which was not the case of the others. I also wasn't a big fan of "Lonely people" or "Nothing ever goes as planned" which were old time Chicago music and clearly a different style than what we previously heard from Styx, and yet no one ever says Paradise Theater was no good because it contained other styles and didn't rock, but they say that about Kilroy. And I loved all of the songs on Kilroy. I don't get some people. This Chicago style of music worked better with the song from Cornerstone "Why me?" was a much better song than those 2 on Paradise Theater.
WOW. Mr. Roboto was #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and apparently #1 in Canada. I don't like it either. As Pete Pardo has posited, it was Styx "trying to do Queen" in 1983 and it doesn't work. I agree. A Night At The Opera is a FAR better album and was 8 YEARS EARLIER, lol. 8 years! Love the thoughts guys!
I love Styx. But, this album sucked in 83 and it still sucks now. Its the point where i jumped off the Styx bandwagon. I loved Equinox, Crystal Ball, grand illusion and pieces of eight. Cornerstone is average
Kilroy is where I jumped off too, but I can handle it better now in my old age. I love Cornerstone...I saw that tour when I was a kid. Tommy Shaw is the man!
This was hokey in '83 and now that dated 80s production has really not aged well on this thing. The stiff electric drums (performed by Mr. Roboto himself?) are God awful and I agree with the assertion that Tommy and J.Y. were phoning it in. They look like prisoners in those outfits. That's not far from the truth contractually. 1/10 from me based on my nostalgic affection for Mr. Roboto. This is a zero for me without "domo arigato Mr. Roboto" playing at the skating rink every week and all my friends skating around like robots to be goofy.
I enjoy every song...but to be fair it was my own I got into first firm this band from My Pop's album collection..Elton John... Steve Miller...riger Miller...Alan Parsons...etc..I grabbed em up and eargobbled em up...and this LP always stayed top tier fun to listen too...and music is supposed to be engaging... subjective? Duh!?!
10 year old me loved this album- I don’t think objectively (and in hindsight) it’s a strong or particularly groundbreaking album. It’s Broadway Pop, and I do think everyone except Dennis is phoning it in as far as enthusiasm goes. It’s not inspired and it’s almost spoon-feedingly heavy handed (as I said, 10 year old me loved it) to the point of squirming, but that was that era for them (Music Time doubled down on it like lighting dynamite). The only salvageable aspect not mentioned is I still think, as much as they loathed each other by then, the harmony vocals on “Haven’t We Been Here Before?” are near flawless and pretty powerful. It’s an album full of hooks, some effective (here we are talking about it) and some too bland. Oh, and if they’d skipped the reprise entirely, I’d give it one full point higher than the 4 I give it.
@@thecontrarians2438 I would, and it did it much better, yes. KWH is tonally a one note attempt at a sequel, so in that aspect, like Operation Mindcrime II. One trick pony and the trick isn’t inspired or necessary.
Dennis DeYoung shaving the 'stache and dying the hair... I am the modern man...what no longer Doug Henning now David Copperfield ( aka Scorpions, Out Uli Jon roth , in Mathias Jabs or Neil Peart's change of appearance).
It should have been a Dennis DeYoung solo project. It clearly was a passion for him that was not shared by the rest of the band, and the majority of the album simply is not enjoyable. "Don't Let It End" is yet another good single, but doesn't do much more than "The Best of Times" did for Paradise Theater. I actually like Tommy on "Just Get Through This Night." But the rest? Far too Theater Kid for my taste - doesn't make it terrible, but doesn't make it for me.
Great show! I haven't really heard much Styx, growing up in 90s Britain I certainly didn't hear anything about them, but I had a quick skip through the record online and from I what I can tell it's a total dud! To me it sounds like bad 80s pop... so I really appreciate the fact that you guys have given this a very honest review. I'm tempted to listen to more of their albums as clearly you like the band and their stuff is highly spoken of. But if this show had been all 'with hindsight', 'taking things into account', 'rose tinted spectacles' about this album, I would have definitely steered clear of Styx! What would be good Styx albums to start off with?
This was the album that I dodnt buy for ages becuase of the bad rep it had as being a crock of horse manure. When I did eventually get it my expectations were validated - even more so when watching the songs form this on the live video - JY's performance is total cringe. I have always thought that Styx watered down their sound after Pieces of 8 - going from a nice fat organic organ to a crappy plastic casio parp ( to my ears - I know theres stull some good stuff on everything up to this one but that was my take back in the day.) And if only they'd released a live album before Cornerstone rather than the lucklustre Caught in the Act after this one. Today I can listen to around a third of it without wanting to hit the skip button, theres some ok solos here and there, though you have to wade through a pile of poo to get to them, and when a Dennis ballad is possibly the best thing on an album you know you're in trouble, although Double Life almost hearkens back to the glory pre Cornerstone days. I think Martin's 0 is what I'd have given it when it first came out but nowadays I'd go more for a 2 possibly 3 if I'm in a good mood.
I have a big soft spot for ‘80s SF and fantasy concept albums (favorite: ELO’s Time); in the early ‘80s Styx was my favorite band; and as a teenager back then, I found the “rock is banned” idea compelling. By all rights, I should like this album - but unfortunately, I think it’s a major dud. 3 out of 10, maybe. A shame.
Depends what time you came in as fan I am 52 Styx we’re not that big in Australia I started listening to Styx in the 2000s so it was just a Styx record in their catalog that I bought in no particular order and had no idea it was unpopular
@@thecontrarians2438 I just checked chart positions I was surprised grand illusion 49 pieces of eight 70 cornerstone 21 paradise 27 Kilroy 45 singles lady 23 fooling yourself 42 Blue collar man 92 Babe 3 best of times 23 to much times on my hands 68 mr roboto 40 so some chat activity but that’s not a lot of album and single sales here and we had less population as well back then Tommy Shaw did a promo tour around 78 he appeared on a national pop show called countdown and sung boat on the river with his acoustic the footage might be on UA-cam
I was a 7 year old kid when this came out back in early ‘83 I just remember thinking Mr. Roboto was weird and the video even more weird. Fast forward to now that I’m 48, I think Mr. Roboto is ok, but the rest of the album stinks. Dumb storyline, character names, inept lyrics, etc. I’m a Styx fan, I’ve seen them in concert in 1999, but I will never like Kilroy.
The album story only makes sense if you watch the extended videos they made for the album, which kind of piece together the narrative. But it's all weirdly pedestrian and corny, even for Dennis DeYoung, who I think did a much better job with Paradise Theater. None of it is helped by JY and Tommy barely putting in an effort. If they had a proper producer, who also worked with quality control for the album, there might have been something salvageable here, maybe with more Queen-style guitar overdubs. I don't have a problem with Broadway showtunes Dennis, because that's how he's always been. I just don't think the quality of the songs is up to par.
All the Styx albums on A&M from 1975-1983 were self-produced. So, you can't blame the producer. Also, to Rand's point, Rush did it first with 2112. Mr. Roboto is about Kilroy dressing up as a robot. He's trying to convince the other robots that he's one of them. Tommy has said that he couldn't think of songs about robots. I only think of Roboto as New Wave. The rest has got a sci-fi bent. I don't like Martin's comment about Styx's playing abilities. Again, to Rand's point, do any Prog concept albums make sense? I actually like Kilroy more than the previous two. Cornerstone is Pop, and Paradise Theater sounds like a Vegas lounge act. Also, the previous two albums have too much piano. On Kilroy, Styx bought back the Oberheim on Kilroy. I do detect some Prog on Kilroy, but filtered through a futuristic prism. I dig the middle section of Roboto
JIF882, thanks for commenting! There was a change in sound on Cornerstone when Rob Kingsland & Gary Loizzo took over the engineering reins from Barry Mraz . Things began sounding sterile...lifeless. Give me Barry Mraz as an engineer any day over Kingsland & Loizzo. I do like Kilroy more now than I did back in the day. I'll have to listen for the Oberheim again. (Grant)
I 100% disagree with this review. As a casual Styx fan prior, this is the album that made me really love the band and go back and by their entire catalog. I hate Broadway music shows, but managed to really enjoy this record. The story I found interesting (maybe not spectacular, but decent) held my interest, but I loved this album mainly on the quality of the songs. "Just get through this night" is one of the best songs Tommy has ever sang. I loved the instrumental music, which I'm sure Dennis largely collaborated on. Tommy himself in 1983 interviews said his voice has never sounded better, and I agree. All of the songs were well written. What isn't always liked is the styles. The harmonies were excellent as always. JY's "Double life" & "Heavy metal poisoning" were among the best songs he's recorded. You mentioned Casio synths. Where? The synth sounds on this record were top of the line, and great patches. Dennis was legendary in the synth world, and inspired me to play synths myself. He used his various Oberheims on this record, as well as the new Roland Jupiter 8. When I hear the synths in "Mr Roboto" & "Just get through this night", I hear what sounds like futuristic music. Yes it's true Styx had partly gone the New Wave format on this record. That probably had some resistance from some people. But it's not the first time they tried that. The previous album's "Too much time on my hands", a single I purchased, was clearly a new wave song. It was a massive hit for the fans, and helped them have a #1 album and made them one of the top touring acts. I never heard anyone complain about this song's New Wave format. Why wouldn't the band try it again? Also, The Cars were an opening band for Styx, and no doubt left an influence on them to go with the trendy New Wave format. I'm actually the keyboardist for a Cars tribute band, but Styx has been my favorite band for 40 years! I largely listen to prog rock (noticed someone's shirt in your video). Some of my other favorite bands are Genesis, Yes, Kansas & ELP. I never understand the hate this album gets with some people. Undeserved. But one thing is clear. There is no album by any band that is universally loved. Music is always a matter of opinion. Some of us can question what passes for music today is barely considered music, but the musicianship on this album is top notch no matter if you liked it or hated it. And the drums you mentioned, John Panozzo did a fine job on this record as he did on all of their records, and great percussion work too. Certainly my favorite drummer the band has had, despite their current drummer maybe having some more advanced chops, I loved John's taste and what he did with the songs.
I love the passion you have for this record! So when did you get turned on to this album? A lot can depend on when someone hears something and how they view things. Either way, we appreciate your comment :-)
@@thecontrarians2438 I was a casual fan of Styx since early 1978 when I got my first boombox AM/FM/cassette player. Songs from the Grand Illusion were played on the radio. I started buying singles from Styx and continued liking them and buying singles the next few albums. On the strength of "Mr Roboto", my Dad came home one day with the Kilroy was here album. He loved the song, but I loved the whole album. This immediately led to me buying other Styx albums and really enjoying them and before long I had the entire catalog. I even loved the early albums like the first album, which was the hardest one to find and took us a few years looking through used records to get a copy of Styx I. I loved Dennis voice and Tommy too, but especially the incredible instrumental music the band did. I enjoyed progressive rock & new wave which was a popular format in the early 80s. The synthesizer work Dennis did on Kilroy was here is greatly under appreciated as he really worked hard on it and came up with some great keyboard work throughout. The album was not a failure at all because it contained one of their bigger radio hits, and still became double platinum which although a slight step down from previous albums, the hit single made up for it in sales. But the negative reception from the band members about the album (especially Tommy & JY) and a few of the fans was discouraging to Dennis to ever do such great synth work again. And by the time they got back together many years later, the music industry and styles in music drastically changed. So to me, it's the last real Styx album and I feel it was one of the better ones. The live show was also amazing and captured on home video. No dull moments. There are many people that would agree with me. But the album has it's share of haters too. There used to be a tribute band that had many UA-cam videos called "What not to do to your Roboto" that made their own movies with the story tied in. " I don't see the videos up now. I enjoyed the story and generally dislike musicals and Broadway style music. This album is not Broadway style music. I think the theme and lyrics annoyed some listeners. I don't listen to lyrics, so they don't bother me. I listen strictly on melody alone. I also felt the single "Mr Roboto" rocked and had some heavy electric guitar and drums in places and is far from light & easy music like some would make it out to be saying "they didn't rock". Plus, if you look at the catalog of songs from Tommy, many of them do not "rock" they way the band members would make you think. Styx was never about hard rocking for most of their catalog, except the songs from JY. He should have been in Metallica or a group like that. I also felt Tommy & JY did some of their best work on the Kilroy album. Puzzled why they would hate the album so much. By the way, my favorite style of music is progressive rock. I play albums from bands like Genesis, Yes, Kansas, ELP, The Moody Blues, etc. Even with the addition of more new wave style, I still felt a connection to prog rock on the Kilroy album. Can't say the same about the next several records Styx did in the 90s and early 2000s.
Growing up in Chicago I can honestly say it sucked then and still sucks now. The true death nail in their career. "A dog's breakfast of horrible music" 😂😂😂 Couldn't have said better Martin. Styx has and had way better albums for damn sure.
Alot of it feels phoned in. Don't Let it End and Mr. Roboto are great - even Haven't We Been Here Before. Trouble is all the rest of the songs (mid temp to rockers) seem trite, have cartoon production / feel like demos and or perfunctory; It just doesn't feel fully formed. I remember feeling really let down when I listened, it could have been epic. Styx usually had MANY album tracks that became favorites; not so with KIlroy Was Here, unfortunately. Paradise Theater worked well, not this one. I love Dennis, but I could understand Tommy's dissatisfaction at that time when Styx hit their nadir with the studio song 'Music Time' on their 1984 live set "Caught In The Act'. Styx's worst song ever.
I always thought the concept/story was really good but not executed as well as it could have... It could have benefited from more input from the other band members. If you think about it, there's no better way to talk about the theme of censorship than to write some heavy rockers that could actually be censored and have those push the story. Not saying they should be vulgar tunes, but the album is generally docile because of DeYoung's writing style and it could have been so much more cohesive if JY and Tommy had done some of the angriest rockers they had ever done on this album. There's attitude lacking. Heavy Metal Poisoning is the only real rocker and it's a tremendous tune. That proves my point, a little. I don't have any aversion towards any of the songs but they do suffer from blandness often. What I've seen from the tour is still entertaining, regardless. I also think it's not the worst album and I'd rather have imperfect Styx than no Styx at all, so I still give this a listen when I'm in the mood for binging their great discography. It can never be a top 10 for me, their first decade was pretty consistent and at least two latter period albums are much better...
I would rank it 6/10, seems too generous for most people, but it's justified by not having aversion towards the songs like I said, and it's viable for repeated listens. Unfortunately for Kilroy most Styx albums are an 8/10, except maybe two others. That includes their latest. The Mission is a solid 9! Hopefully the next album will be just as good.
Very bad. They definitely outlawed guitars in the future because they are virtually nonexistent on this album! The ones that are there are either suffocated in the mix or absolutely lifeless. I think the worst thing about the project is that DeYoung had the others in the band sing a lot of the songs! The least he could have done was to spare them the humiliation! I do think that there are several songs that have real potential. They could be quite good with the classic Styx approach. Elvis DeYoung is indeed "dog's breakfast"!! Couldn't be said any better, Mr. Popoff!
The fact that this album went Platinum is crazy to me because it is awful. Goes to show you that just because an album sells well does not mean it is good.
The biggest problem with this álbum is that, for a supposed "concept álbum", the concept itself is not so much undercooked but completely thrown at random. I mean, sure, there is a base idea there. But just that. Tommy's famous quote about coming up empty with songs about robots pretty much says it all. It's like they gave up halfway and just let Dennis run the show, knowing he'd screw up, thus finding a convenient, but all too willing, escape goat for the eventual backlash. More than that, I can't agree with Martin Popoff on this one, as the cover is horrid and, quite frankly, given the whole context of the time, even mildly Japanophobic, really.
So for the most part, I do think Kilroy is a worthy addition to the Styx catalog. One of my favorite songs is don’t let it end. That’s a nice, typical Styx ballad with Dennis de Young’s great vocal. The one song that I would say is a throwaway on here is High time not really happy with that one. As far as an actual rating, I would maybe give it 2 1/2 stars.
a great album? Come on... The Grand Illusion is a great album. I'm just messing with you. I really think it's great that you dig Kilroy! Thanks for the comment!
@@thecontrarians2438 One out of 10. That's for JY''s comedy singing on Heavy Metal Poisoning. Tommy Shaw's vocals on this drives me insane. He sounds like a wimpy 14 year old. It's Styx's Hot Space. Let's forget it never happened and move on.
I enjoy every song...but to be fair it was my own I got into first firm this band from My Pop's album collection..Elton John... Steve Miller...riger Miller...Alan Parsons...etc..I grabbed em up and eargobbled em up...and this LP always stayed top tier fun to listen too...and music is supposed to be engaging... subjective? Duh!?!
Popoff who is always Popoff's biggest fan continues to reference the PMRC as if this album was written after Tipper Gore but it was years before. This album was conceived and recorded in 1982. PMRC 1985. Styx as a joke stickered their own album. Sound familiar? Footloose and Dirty Dancing (which has nothing to do with banning music) were after Kilroy. 2112 is mystical and metaphorical with one side all instrumental.
Kilroy's villain Righteous represents the dangers of following demagogues who identify the "other" then vilify them in an effort to gain control through fear. In this case it's rock music. His following, at first a cult becomes a political movement. Sound familiar? In the US it does.
The problem's plain to see too much technology machines to save our lives machines dehumanize. The world is embarking on that journey as we discuss this album.
Kilroy when you saw it live had a happy ending. 2112 was not happy, the hero commits suicide.
“Cough syrup vocals “ and “dog’s breakfast “ that’s hysterical!!
Martin needs to not hold back...lol
I liked it from the get go.Very different album but I love prog so anything different is good with me.Saw them on that tour was like going to a play which I always liked doing.
As a Styx album: It's fine. I generally like many of the songs. "Mr. Roboto" is cheesy fun. "Don't Let It End" is a great rock ballad. There's lots of hooks throughout the album. As long as you don't dig too deep into the album story, it's a decent album. Not everything works, but enough of it is passable Styx.
As a concept album: Total garbage. The story idea would have had potential in more clever hands, but everything is executed so clumsily. It's a train wreck of ham-fisted incompetency. The story isn't even about robots. It's about music censorship in an authoritarian dystopian future. The robot prison guards are background characters. The main character dresses up as a roboto to escape the prison where he was being held. It's like doing a rock opera of Star Wars and making a whole song about the stormtroopers that Luke and Han dressed up as to get around in the Death Star. The songs just don't really serve the story very well at all.
Thanks for the comment! Hard to take Kilroy after great albums as Illusion and Eight. You expect something more than "decent" from Styx at this point. I do like Kilroy more now than I did back in the day. (Grant)
Martin I hope you see this.Skyhooks wrote a clever song about computers taking over in 1978 called "Trouble With The Computer"It's Great!
So cool - that would be an amazing theme - songs that predicted the future.
I bought this back in the day, it's okay but it's not great musically so maybe in a funny way Styx actually succeeded here. Martin called it robotic, the very theme of the album's concept of a bleak future run by an evil power elite with robot henchmen and the bit of rock'n'roll that is allowed to be played sounds phony and flat almost anti-rock, Styx certainly didn't fail in this regard. It may not be rock'n'roll as it should be played, rather it's shallow music as some futuristic tyranny prefers it; totally fake and empty sounding. Question is, has it 40 years later finally become a reality with assorted nonsense like A.I., auto-tune, compression, etc. 🤖
Damn Larry...excellent comment! I wish you had been on the show! Thank you
@@thecontrarians2438 Why, thank you! 🙃
I would say that _Kilroy was Here_ is Styx's _Music from the Elder_ , but the later album actually has some pretty good songs.
The Elder and Killroy do have some decent songs, are they all good? Not really
I love The Elder..haha (Grant)
I loved the 70s catalogue. I smelled a rat back on Cornerstone with 'Babe'. Along came 'Too much time on my hands' and I passed. Then came 'Mr Roboto' and I knew they were a shot duck!
Killroy isn't my least-favorite Styx album (Edge Of The Century), but it's not one I go to often. I dig it out now and then, mainly for nostalgic reasons, but it's tough to grab it off of the shelf when all of their other albums are right there next to it. I don't dislike it on a Martin level, but it's not one I pop in often. I'd go 4/10. Later edit: Rand's "So what?!?" is the best review since Spinal Tap's "Shit sandwich". 🤣
There's a few of those cuts okay but it's one I definitely will fast Forward over a few to.
What would you rate Edge out of ten?
@@thecontrarians2438 Edge 5.25
@@truckerkevthepaidtourist alright..
@@thecontrarians2438 but like you said last 2 have been solid
8.25 and 8.5 CoC excellent
Discovered Styx when they released Pieces of Eight and loved their back catalogue. I left them when they released Kilroy. Even now I struggle with it.
I was 8 in 1983 and one of my sisters bought this album, and both my sisters hated it almost instantly, she had also had paradise theatre on record before that one
I'm assuming she liked Paradise Theatre? (Grant)
Unfortunately, I think you guys are missing quite a bit when discussing this album. Even the way the music is presented on this album was to fit the concept. To give the feel of music being presented in a world full and influenced by technology. They didn't steal the idea from Zappa. If you know the history behind the concept, it was inspired by Styx being accused of putting backwards "satanic" messages on their previous album. The technology part came from DeYoung seeing a program on PBS about robotic factories. The PMRC didn't even exist at this point and time. The rock music landscape was changing at the time and many bands were making changes to adapt to it. That said the project most likely suffered from DeYoung's band mates not being fully convinced on the concept which is reflected in their contributions. The other thing that was lurking in the background was that Shaw was well into his substance abuse issues and really was ready to check out of the band. Prior to the start of this project Shaw was already writing material for his first solo album. If you think this album is clunker, check out Shaw's second solo effort "What If". That makes KWH look like a masterpiece. Styx as a band was never about the cool rock image. That was not who they were. Their image was more about sophistication and adult themes.
Hello Roboto! Thanks for the comments! What do you think of my idea that this would have worked better as Dennis solo project as opposed the Styx product? JY and Tommy appear to be phoning it in at this point...sad. Tommy is a hell a lot better songwriter than he appears on this record. As for "What If" that's a total different conversation..lol (Grant)
I was also thinking they ripped off Joe’s Garage’s synopsis. Not a fan of this album. Got into them in ‘78 with Pieces of Eight. 🗿
Pieces of Eight 🗿 = classic (Grant)
Did I like this when I was 12? Yes, absolutely! Did I like it by the time I was, say, 15? Absolutely NOT! haha One of the biggest problems I've always had with this album is the whole narrative/concept thing. Not only is it a played-out idea, but much like Music From The Elder, I don't think a band has enough time to tell a "story" on a single LP. The more successful concept albums (Tommy, The Wall, Lamb Lies Down, etc) are all double albums where the band has more time to flesh out the story. Love it or hate it, "Mr. Roboto" fails as an opener because the lyrics feel like they belong at the mid-point of the story being told, not at the beginning. There's nothing leading up to Kilroy's big "reveal" ... hell, we don't even know who Kilroy even is! I've often wondered what came first ... the idea for the album as a whole, or the song "Mr. Roboto?" The rest of the songs on here (and the rest of the group, for that matter) feel completely disconnected to "Roboto," so it's always seemed to me that Dennis had the idea for that one track (probably in an attempt to stay "modern" or, as Martin alluded to, fit in with new wave) and because it was SO different from Styx's identity, that they decided after the fact to build the concept album around that one track. Otherwise, how else would they have ever presented it as a Styx song? I completely agree that this whole thing should have been done as a DeYoung solo album, so he could get "Mr. Roboto" out of his system and let the band stick do what they did best.
I think this album has some things going for it: 1. It's a new wave album, Im a big New Wave fan so I like anything from the era from a big band, I know this is no Devo or B'52's but is a failed new wave album with big production anyways. 2. I love concept albums even if the concept is stupid, every concept album is kind of stupid anyways, they are not novels you know and I don't speak english so normally I don't pay attention to lyrics, just sound. 3.It might be the last abum where Styx took a big risk so it's always fun seeing a dinosaur band going off the cliff. 4.The robots, the costumes, the cover, the caracters are fun, like a cartoon, you dont think about it like it is "great prog music" with some fancy musicianship, they seem they are having fun. The thing I really don't like about it is that has too many ballads. If you take out a couple of ballads off it is a really cool dumb album.
Hi Alejandro, thanks so much for the comment. So when did you first hear Kilroy and how did you discover it? (Grant)
@@thecontrarians2438 At school, Paradise Theater was a big album so everyone liked Mr. Roboto when it came out
I found it to be a great new wave album. It still has some prog on it to.
There were only 2 ballads on it, "Don't let it end" & "Haven't we been here before". My favorite song on the album "Just get through this night" is a light song, but I wouldn't call it a ballad. It has a mix of prog rock with new wave and I thought fantastic with some of Tommy's best singing and some of the best keyboard work Dennis has done. The album still had some rockers on it, and two of the best songs JY has ever done.
It would be cool if you guys did one of these vids on the anniversary date of the album
I like that idea...hmmmm
They wanted to RAWK OUT.... However, Dennis DIDNOT!!
This is why this was the album that broke the band!
I fully expected Martin to defend this album, as his analysis often is contrary to my own. In this case, though, he explains my views on KWH in perfect detail.
I remember when this one came out well. I enjoyed it then, don't play it a lot now. But this did hit #3 in the USA, went platinum, and the two main singles were big hits whose videos were in heavy rotation on MTV. By any metric, highly successful commercially. Not the best Styx album, but it does have moments and Mr. Roboto is associated with Styx in pop culture to this day. Most bands would love to have such results. But no, not their best.
Totally agree! Thanks for the comment! (Grant)
It's funny because as some people say this wasn't one of Styx better albums, I thought it was better than the previous album "Paradise Theater" which was a #1 record and their most successful tour.
The very things people critique about the Kilroy album Paradise Theater was even more guilty of, but I never hear people criticize that album.
Styx had their first run with new wave with the single "Too much time on my hands". It was a major hit and helped the album reach #1 and sell out concerts. I've never heard any Styx fans say "I hated this album because they went new wave". The fans seemed to love them trying new wave on this song. The other thing I find amazing is that while the album contained some great songs and some very memorable Styx songs, it also contained 3 of their worst songs. Tommy's "She cares" made "Babe" seem like a hard rock song. LOL. Even more sappy than Babe and the very thing Tommy and the band members and some fans critique about Dennis was even more so on this song. Tommy gets a free ride? And the big difference is this song sucked, which was not the case of the others. I also wasn't a big fan of "Lonely people" or "Nothing ever goes as planned" which were old time Chicago music and clearly a different style than what we previously heard from Styx, and yet no one ever says Paradise Theater was no good because it contained other styles and didn't rock, but they say that about Kilroy. And I loved all of the songs on Kilroy. I don't get some people. This Chicago style of music worked better with the song from Cornerstone "Why me?" was a much better song than those 2 on Paradise Theater.
WOW. Mr. Roboto was #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and apparently #1 in Canada. I don't like it either. As Pete Pardo has posited, it was Styx "trying to do Queen" in 1983 and it doesn't work. I agree. A Night At The Opera is a FAR better album and was 8 YEARS EARLIER, lol. 8 years! Love the thoughts guys!
I love Styx. But, this album sucked in 83 and it still sucks now. Its the point where i jumped off the Styx bandwagon. I loved Equinox, Crystal Ball, grand illusion and pieces of eight. Cornerstone is average
Check out the last two if you haven't yet!
Kilroy is where I jumped off too, but I can handle it better now in my old age. I love Cornerstone...I saw that tour when I was a kid. Tommy Shaw is the man!
This was hokey in '83 and now that dated 80s production has really not aged well on this thing. The stiff electric drums (performed by Mr. Roboto himself?) are God awful and I agree with the assertion that Tommy and J.Y. were phoning it in. They look like prisoners in those outfits. That's not far from the truth contractually. 1/10 from me based on my nostalgic affection for Mr. Roboto. This is a zero for me without "domo arigato Mr. Roboto" playing at the skating rink every week and all my friends skating around like robots to be goofy.
1/10...fair enough, but is it the worst Styx album?
I enjoy every song...but to be fair it was my own I got into first firm this band from My Pop's album collection..Elton John... Steve Miller...riger Miller...Alan Parsons...etc..I grabbed em up and eargobbled em up...and this LP always stayed top tier fun to listen too...and music is supposed to be engaging... subjective? Duh!?!
10 year old me loved this album- I don’t think objectively (and in hindsight) it’s a strong or particularly groundbreaking album. It’s Broadway Pop, and I do think everyone except Dennis is phoning it in as far as enthusiasm goes. It’s not inspired and it’s almost spoon-feedingly heavy handed (as I said, 10 year old me loved it) to the point of squirming, but that was that era for them (Music Time doubled down on it like lighting dynamite). The only salvageable aspect not mentioned is I still think, as much as they loathed each other by then, the harmony vocals on “Haven’t We Been Here Before?” are near flawless and pretty powerful.
It’s an album full of hooks, some effective (here we are talking about it) and some too bland.
Oh, and if they’d skipped the reprise entirely, I’d give it one full point higher than the 4 I give it.
Wouldn't you consider Paradise Theatre broadway pop too? Four isn't too good of a rating, but I think it's fair.
@@thecontrarians2438 I would, and it did it much better, yes. KWH is tonally a one note attempt at a sequel, so in that aspect, like Operation Mindcrime II. One trick pony and the trick isn’t inspired or necessary.
@@Paul_Simon Kilroy...you are spot on!
Dennis DeYoung shaving the 'stache and dying the hair... I am the modern man...what no longer Doug Henning now David Copperfield ( aka Scorpions, Out Uli Jon roth , in Mathias Jabs or Neil Peart's change of appearance).
It should have been a Dennis DeYoung solo project. It clearly was a passion for him that was not shared by the rest of the band, and the majority of the album simply is not enjoyable. "Don't Let It End" is yet another good single, but doesn't do much more than "The Best of Times" did for Paradise Theater. I actually like Tommy on "Just Get Through This Night." But the rest? Far too Theater Kid for my taste - doesn't make it terrible, but doesn't make it for me.
Great show! I haven't really heard much Styx, growing up in 90s Britain I certainly didn't hear anything about them, but I had a quick skip through the record online and from I what I can tell it's a total dud! To me it sounds like bad 80s pop...
so I really appreciate the fact that you guys have given this a very honest review. I'm tempted to listen to more of their albums as clearly you like the band and their stuff is highly spoken of. But if this show had been all 'with hindsight', 'taking things into account', 'rose tinted spectacles' about this album, I would have definitely steered clear of Styx!
What would be good Styx albums to start off with?
Hi Nick! Start off with The Grand Illusion then to Pieces of Eight! Those two albums were the peak! (Grant)
@@thecontrarians2438 Many thanks for the reply and recommendation Grant, I'll be sure to check them out and let you know how I get on!
Pop?, many classify it as heavy metal
Way to go Martin ! Great review ! 👍🤘
Martin was on fire...hahah (Grant)
LOL @07:37 "[Tommy Shaw] is looking more like Jesus Christ every year, right?"
He may be full Jesus right now...
@@thecontrarians2438 Tommy's character in Kilroy = Jonathan Chance = JC......
@@neilmiller2779 hahaha...yep
It sounds like they attempted to combine Andrew Lloyd Webber with 1981-83-era Devo and completely failed.
This was the album that I dodnt buy for ages becuase of the bad rep it had as being a crock of horse manure. When I did eventually get it my expectations were validated - even more so when watching the songs form this on the live video - JY's performance is total cringe.
I have always thought that Styx watered down their sound after Pieces of 8 - going from a nice fat organic organ to a crappy plastic casio parp ( to my ears - I know theres stull some good stuff on everything up to this one but that was my take back in the day.) And if only they'd released a live album before Cornerstone rather than the lucklustre Caught in the Act after this one.
Today I can listen to around a third of it without wanting to hit the skip button, theres some ok solos here and there, though you have to wade through a pile of poo to get to them, and when a Dennis ballad is possibly the best thing on an album you know you're in trouble, although Double Life almost hearkens back to the glory pre Cornerstone days.
I think Martin's 0 is what I'd have given it when it first came out but nowadays I'd go more for a 2 possibly 3 if I'm in a good mood.
Like I said when it came out we hated it...now I'd give it a 3. The album does take me back to a simpler time in my life (Grant)
I'm sorry loved this album and still do.
I have a big soft spot for ‘80s SF and fantasy concept albums (favorite: ELO’s Time); in the early ‘80s Styx was my favorite band; and as a teenager back then, I found the “rock is banned” idea compelling. By all rights, I should like this album - but unfortunately, I think it’s a major dud. 3 out of 10, maybe. A shame.
It could have been so much better, but it is what it is..(Grant)
Depends what time you came in as fan I am 52 Styx we’re not that big in Australia I started listening to Styx in the 2000s so it was just a Styx record in their catalog that I bought in no particular order and had no idea it was unpopular
Was Styx even promoted in Australia back in the day? Why didn't Styx take off there? (Grant)
@@thecontrarians2438 I just checked chart positions I was surprised grand illusion 49 pieces of eight 70 cornerstone 21 paradise 27 Kilroy 45 singles lady 23 fooling yourself 42 Blue collar man 92 Babe 3 best of times 23 to much times on my hands 68 mr roboto 40 so some chat activity but that’s not a lot of album and single sales here and we had less population as well back then Tommy Shaw did a promo tour around 78 he appeared on a national pop show called countdown and sung boat on the river with his acoustic the footage might be on UA-cam
I was a 7 year old kid when this came out back in early ‘83 I just remember thinking Mr. Roboto was weird and the video even more weird. Fast forward to now that I’m 48, I think Mr. Roboto is ok, but the rest of the album stinks. Dumb storyline, character names, inept lyrics, etc. I’m a Styx fan, I’ve seen them in concert in 1999, but I will never like Kilroy.
Martin's review is bang on and hilarious. A dog's breakfast of horrible music lol.
Let's say this...he's not much of a fan...lol
Hey, my dogs love, fetching Styx, especially this particular Styx
@@MrMusic193 keeping it real...dang
The album story only makes sense if you watch the extended videos they made for the album, which kind of piece together the narrative. But it's all weirdly pedestrian and corny, even for Dennis DeYoung, who I think did a much better job with Paradise Theater. None of it is helped by JY and Tommy barely putting in an effort. If they had a proper producer, who also worked with quality control for the album, there might have been something salvageable here, maybe with more Queen-style guitar overdubs. I don't have a problem with Broadway showtunes Dennis, because that's how he's always been. I just don't think the quality of the songs is up to par.
I agree 100% I just think they were worn out by this stage and needed a break. It sound sounds like that to me (Grant)
All the Styx albums on A&M from 1975-1983 were self-produced. So, you can't blame the producer. Also, to Rand's point, Rush did it first with 2112. Mr. Roboto is about Kilroy dressing up as a robot. He's trying to convince the other robots that he's one of them. Tommy has said that he couldn't think of songs about robots. I only think of Roboto as New Wave. The rest has got a sci-fi bent. I don't like Martin's comment about Styx's playing abilities. Again, to Rand's point, do any Prog concept albums make sense? I actually like Kilroy more than the previous two. Cornerstone is Pop, and Paradise Theater sounds like a Vegas lounge act. Also, the previous two albums have too much piano. On Kilroy, Styx bought back the Oberheim on Kilroy. I do detect some Prog on Kilroy, but filtered through a futuristic prism. I dig the middle section of Roboto
JIF882, thanks for commenting! There was a change in sound on Cornerstone when Rob Kingsland & Gary Loizzo took over the engineering reins from Barry Mraz . Things began sounding sterile...lifeless. Give me Barry Mraz as an engineer any day over Kingsland & Loizzo. I do like Kilroy more now than I did back in the day. I'll have to listen for the Oberheim again. (Grant)
I 100% disagree with this review.
As a casual Styx fan prior, this is the album that made me really love the band and go back and by their entire catalog.
I hate Broadway music shows, but managed to really enjoy this record. The story I found interesting (maybe not spectacular, but decent) held my interest, but I loved this album mainly on the quality of the songs. "Just get through this night" is one of the best songs Tommy has ever sang. I loved the instrumental music, which I'm sure Dennis largely collaborated on. Tommy himself in 1983 interviews said his voice has never sounded better, and I agree.
All of the songs were well written. What isn't always liked is the styles. The harmonies were excellent as always. JY's "Double life" & "Heavy metal poisoning" were among the best songs he's recorded.
You mentioned Casio synths. Where? The synth sounds on this record were top of the line, and great patches. Dennis was legendary in the synth world, and inspired me to play synths myself. He used his various Oberheims on this record, as well as the new Roland Jupiter 8. When I hear the synths in "Mr Roboto" & "Just get through this night", I hear what sounds like futuristic music.
Yes it's true Styx had partly gone the New Wave format on this record. That probably had some resistance from some people. But it's not the first time they tried that. The previous album's "Too much time on my hands", a single I purchased, was clearly a new wave song. It was a massive hit for the fans, and helped them have a #1 album and made them one of the top touring acts. I never heard anyone complain about this song's New Wave format. Why wouldn't the band try it again? Also, The Cars were an opening band for Styx, and no doubt left an influence on them to go with the trendy New Wave format. I'm actually the keyboardist for a Cars tribute band, but Styx has been my favorite band for 40 years! I largely listen to prog rock (noticed someone's shirt in your video). Some of my other favorite bands are Genesis, Yes, Kansas & ELP.
I never understand the hate this album gets with some people. Undeserved. But one thing is clear. There is no album by any band that is universally loved. Music is always a matter of opinion. Some of us can question what passes for music today is barely considered music, but the musicianship on this album is top notch no matter if you liked it or hated it. And the drums you mentioned, John Panozzo did a fine job on this record as he did on all of their records, and great percussion work too. Certainly my favorite drummer the band has had, despite their current drummer maybe having some more advanced chops, I loved John's taste and what he did with the songs.
I love the passion you have for this record! So when did you get turned on to this album? A lot can depend on when someone hears something and how they view things. Either way, we appreciate your comment :-)
@@thecontrarians2438 I was a casual fan of Styx since early 1978 when I got my first boombox AM/FM/cassette player. Songs from the Grand Illusion were played on the radio. I started buying singles from Styx and continued liking them and buying singles
the next few albums.
On the strength of "Mr Roboto", my Dad came home one day with the Kilroy was here album. He loved the song, but I loved the whole album. This immediately led to me buying other Styx albums and really enjoying them and before long I had the entire catalog. I even loved the early albums like the first album, which was the hardest one to find and took us a few years looking through used records to get a copy of Styx I.
I loved Dennis voice and Tommy too, but especially the incredible instrumental music the band did. I enjoyed progressive rock & new wave which was a popular format in the early 80s. The synthesizer work Dennis did on Kilroy was here is greatly under appreciated as he really worked hard on it and came up with some great keyboard work throughout. The album was not a failure at all because it contained one of their bigger radio hits, and still became double platinum which although a slight step down from previous albums, the hit single made up for it in sales. But the negative reception from the band members about the album (especially Tommy & JY) and a few of the fans was discouraging to Dennis to ever do such great synth work again. And by the time they got back together many years later, the music industry and styles in music drastically changed. So to me, it's the last real Styx album and I feel it was one of the better ones. The live show was also amazing and captured on home video. No dull moments.
There are many people that would agree with me. But the album has it's share of haters too. There used to be a tribute band that had many UA-cam videos called "What not to do to your Roboto" that made their own movies with the story tied in. " I don't see the videos up now.
I enjoyed the story and generally dislike musicals and Broadway style music. This album is not Broadway style music. I think the theme and lyrics annoyed some listeners. I don't listen to lyrics, so they don't bother me. I listen strictly on melody alone. I also felt the single "Mr Roboto" rocked and had some heavy electric guitar and drums in places and is far from light & easy music like some would make it out to be saying "they didn't rock". Plus, if you look at the catalog of songs from Tommy, many of them do not "rock" they way the band members would make you think. Styx was never about hard rocking for most of their catalog, except the songs from JY. He should have been in Metallica or a group like that. I also felt Tommy & JY did some of their best work on the Kilroy album. Puzzled why they would hate the album so much.
By the way, my favorite style of music is progressive rock. I play albums from bands like Genesis, Yes, Kansas, ELP, The Moody Blues, etc. Even with the addition of more new wave style, I still felt a connection to prog rock on the Kilroy album. Can't say the same about the next several records Styx did in the 90s and early 2000s.
I like "Heavy Metal Poising" ... that's about it 😔
I get it...
I like this album, now Edge of the Century, that is a turd in the Styx punch bowl.
Growing up in Chicago I can honestly say it sucked then and still sucks now. The true death nail in their career. "A dog's breakfast of horrible music" 😂😂😂 Couldn't have said better Martin.
Styx has and had way better albums for damn sure.
Yes, but what is the worst Styx release? Thanks for the comment!
@@thecontrarians2438 Absolutely
@@petebrown3715 but what is the worst Styx album?
Alot of it feels phoned in. Don't Let it End and Mr. Roboto are great - even Haven't We Been Here Before. Trouble is all the rest of the songs (mid temp to rockers) seem trite, have cartoon production / feel like demos and or perfunctory; It just doesn't feel fully formed. I remember feeling really let down when I listened, it could have been epic. Styx usually had MANY album tracks that became favorites; not so with KIlroy Was Here, unfortunately. Paradise Theater worked well, not this one. I love Dennis, but I could understand Tommy's dissatisfaction at that time when Styx hit their nadir with the studio song 'Music Time' on their 1984 live set "Caught In The Act'. Styx's worst song ever.
Another fantastic Trio and discussion
I always thought the concept/story was really good but not executed as well as it could have... It could have benefited from more input from the other band members. If you think about it, there's no better way to talk about the theme of censorship than to write some heavy rockers that could actually be censored and have those push the story. Not saying they should be vulgar tunes, but the album is generally docile because of DeYoung's writing style and it could have been so much more cohesive if JY and Tommy had done some of the angriest rockers they had ever done on this album. There's attitude lacking. Heavy Metal Poisoning is the only real rocker and it's a tremendous tune. That proves my point, a little. I don't have any aversion towards any of the songs but they do suffer from blandness often. What I've seen from the tour is still entertaining, regardless. I also think it's not the worst album and I'd rather have imperfect Styx than no Styx at all, so I still give this a listen when I'm in the mood for binging their great discography. It can never be a top 10 for me, their first decade was pretty consistent and at least two latter period albums are much better...
Thanks so much for the comment! What would you rate it out of ten? The last two albums are brilliant! I can hardly wait for the next Styx album!!
I would rank it 6/10, seems too generous for most people, but it's justified by not having aversion towards the songs like I said, and it's viable for repeated listens. Unfortunately for Kilroy most Styx albums are an 8/10, except maybe two others. That includes their latest. The Mission is a solid 9! Hopefully the next album will be just as good.
@@gabriellarrubia1006 6/10...dang. You like what you like, but you have to admit...Styx is on fire with studio releases right now
I don't like any Styx music except Children Of the Land from Styx 1 and the whole Catalogue after
ELO “Time” was SO MUCH BETTER!
Very bad. They definitely outlawed guitars in the future because they are virtually nonexistent on this album! The ones that are there are either suffocated in the mix or absolutely lifeless. I think the worst thing about the project is that DeYoung had the others in the band sing a lot of the songs! The least he could have done was to spare them the humiliation! I do think that there are several songs that have real potential. They could be quite good with the classic Styx approach. Elvis DeYoung is indeed "dog's breakfast"!! Couldn't be said any better, Mr. Popoff!
Thanks Vaughan for the comment! Dennis should have put this out as a solo project.. (Grant)
The fact that this album went Platinum is crazy to me because it is awful. Goes to show you that just because an album sells well does not mean it is good.
One of my favorites.
Love it! What would to rate it out of ten?
one of the worst albums I ever bought - so bad and disappointing - I loved the single Mr Roboto - thats why I bought it
I loved Styx prior to this album. I don't care for it and I lost most of my interest in them at this point.
I had the same experience back in the day..
Kilroy was Here is definitely top 3 worst Styx albums...not many would disagree :)
The biggest problem with this álbum is that, for a supposed "concept álbum", the concept itself is not so much undercooked but completely thrown at random.
I mean, sure, there is a base idea there. But just that. Tommy's famous quote about coming up empty with songs about robots pretty much says it all. It's like they gave up halfway and just let Dennis run the show, knowing he'd screw up, thus finding a convenient, but all too willing, escape goat for the eventual backlash.
More than that, I can't agree with Martin Popoff on this one, as the cover is horrid and, quite frankly, given the whole context of the time, even mildly Japanophobic, really.
It’s not the greatest album they have but it’s not the worst either
Steve, what would you rate Kilroy? What's the worst Styx album in the vast catalog?
@@thecontrarians2438 well, I have never been a fan of edge of the century. Just cannot stomach that album.
@@MrMusic193 what would you rate Kilroy?
@@thecontrarians2438 OK, I am in the process of listening to the album right now soon as I’m done, I am going to write a more comprehensive review.
So for the most part, I do think Kilroy is a worthy addition to the Styx catalog. One of my favorite songs is don’t let it end. That’s a nice, typical Styx ballad with Dennis de Young’s great vocal. The one song that I would say is a throwaway on here is High time not really happy with that one. As far as an actual rating, I would maybe give it 2 1/2 stars.
Better than the rep it gets
Rating out of 10???
@@thecontrarians2438 I’ll go with a 5
Awful album...What were they thinking
probably was all the cocaine...haha (Grant)
SUcks 🥺
Rating out of 10??
@@thecontrarians2438 2 at best...seen them in concert after release of Kilroy Was Here...horrible show...luckily I seen Styx at Paradise Theater tour
@@purplesabbath thank you!
I like pieces of Eight but Lord of the Rings is just awful. So, no one should have been shocked with a full platter of crap.
Kyle, Kyle...Lord of the Rings?? I don't agree, but appreciate the comment! Is this the worst track on Eight?
@@thecontrarians2438 For me, it is.
It’s a pretty dreadful album. There isn’t anything on it worth hearing again.
Martin is a dullard. Kilroy was here is a great album.
a great album? Come on... The Grand Illusion is a great album. I'm just messing with you. I really think it's great that you dig Kilroy! Thanks for the comment!
No. Just no.
Rating out of 10??
@@thecontrarians2438 One out of 10. That's for JY''s comedy singing on Heavy Metal Poisoning. Tommy Shaw's vocals on this drives me insane. He sounds like a wimpy 14 year old. It's Styx's Hot Space. Let's forget it never happened and move on.
I skip high time and heavy metal poisoning when I listen to it. Makes it shorter and more listenable. Still sounds dated.
I enjoy every song...but to be fair it was my own I got into first firm this band from My Pop's album collection..Elton John... Steve Miller...riger Miller...Alan Parsons...etc..I grabbed em up and eargobbled em up...and this LP always stayed top tier fun to listen too...and music is supposed to be engaging... subjective? Duh!?!