By Vinnie Apicella

What a difference a Shaw makes… as in Tommy Shaw, the multi-talented guitarist/songwriter who makes his return to this prodigious group that first got its start nearly thirty years earlier! The fact is, Shaw makes them stronger on several levels, but "Brave New World" showcases the power in unity that each unique individual brings to the studio. Styx' place in history was assured long ago and now at the break of the new millennium, they've met the challenge head on that they can again be a significant contributor in the future. Always embracing several aspects that reflected the differing backgrounds of the individuals, "Brave New World" continues their tradition of diversity, an uncommon uniqueness that will appeal to the many fans, past and present that they've accrued over the years. "Brave New World" explores the future in mainly in an adult contemporary sense, particularly where DeYoung's concerned, noticeably through the sentimentality of "While There's Still Time", "Fallen Angel", and "Goodbye Roseland", all clearly exemplifying his greatest attributes as a model performer with an emotionally moving thought. Shaw plays the dominant role here as he assumes a great deal of the singer/songwriter responsibility notably on the anthemic "Number One", the exuberant all out rock of "Everything is Cool", and "Heavy Water" which has the bludgeoning guitar signature of James Young all over it. "High Crimes & Misdemeanors" displays a wily means of maneuvering with its offbeat personality that keeps a firm grip on their sense of humor in challenging the hypocrisy of prominent double-talkers, while the brass-enhanced idol-rock vibe of "Just Fell In" speaks of "falling into a manic depression and wanting to spend it with you". Styx, always the visual spectacle on stage, once again continues to take that concept to the studio where every piece of music on "Brave New World" recaptures that theatrical grandeur on an audio level that continues to defy all logic and expectation from this timeless band!

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