Tuesday, June 29, 1999

Styx released Brave New World

Brave New World

Styx


Released: June 29, 1999


Peak: 175 US


Sales (in millions): --


Genre: classic rock veteran


Tracks:

Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts.

  1. I Will Be Your Witness (Shaw/ Blades)
  2. Brave New World (Shaw/ Young)
  3. While There’s Still Time (DeYoung)
  4. Number One (Shaw)
  5. Best New Face (Shaw/ Blades)
  6. What Have They Done to You (Shaw/ Young)
  7. Fallen Angel (DeYoung)
  8. Everything Is Cool (Shaw) (1999, --)
  9. Great Expectations (DeYoung)
  10. Heavy Water (Shaw)
  11. High Crimes & Misdemeanors (Hip Hop-cracy) (DeYoung)
  12. Just Fell In (Shaw/ Young)
  13. Goodbye Roseland (DeYoung)
  14. Brave New World (Reprise) (Shaw/ Young)


Total Running Time: 59:52


The Players:

  • Dennis DeYoung (vocals, keyboards)
  • Tommy Shaw (vocals, guitar)
  • James “JY” Young (guitar, vocals)
  • Chuck Panozzo (bass)
  • Todd Sucherman (drums)

Rating:

3.516 out of 5.00 (average of 18 ratings)


Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album:

“Apparently, there are more die-hard Styx fans in the late ‘90s than anyone would have imagined, since Styx quietly went gold with [the double live album] Return to Paradise, their first release for CMC International…It never would have sold that much if it didn’t have new recordings, since that's what the hardcore fans wanted.” AMG

Brave New World presents the first full-fledged collection of new Styx material in nearly a decade. Skeptics would expect the album to be nothing but reconstituted arena rock, but that’s not entirely true. True, Brave New World is in that tradition – after all, Styx was one of the architects of the style – but they try new things too, such as Tommy Shaw’s weird, neutered funk metal on I Will Be Your Witness [an odd choice for the album’s leadoff track] and Number One, or how James Young’s songs push the heaviness quotient, or how the entire album is given a clean, contemporary sound.” AMG

“Ironic, then, that the record is a deeply cynical tirade at the ‘90s…A true streak of bitterness runs through the record, culminating in the cringe-inducing assault on hipsters and pundits High Crimes & Misdemeanors (Hip Hop-cracy) (there could be an attack on rap and hip-hop in the song, as well – the title certainly suggests it and maybe the canned drum machine is supposed to recall hip-hop, but it’s impossible to tell).” AMG

Everything Is Cool was the first track sent to radio, but it went nowhere. That’s too bad, because it was certainly worthy of a fair share of spins on rock stations, but heritage bands like Styx had long ago been abandoned by the airwaves.

“As it turns out, Styx are luddites, scared or disgusted at everything the modern world has to offer (except for their biggest fan, Adam Sandler, who is thanked in the notes); there’s a genuine distrust for anything new, and deep longing for times passed (whether it’s adolescence or the band’s glory days, it’s impossible to tell) pulsates throughout the album. For the devoted and doubters alike, that bitterness keeps things interesting, but Brave New World ultimately fails because the songs just don't catch hold.” AMG

“Whether they're good or bad, the themes are interesting, and Styx has a different feel for each song, but they have no hooks or melodies to make them memorable. Concept and construction may be enough to justify a spin of Brave New World, but only the hardcore fan will delve into its beliefs, contradictions, and mysteries.” AMG

Resources and Related Links:


Other Related DMDB Pages:


First posted 3/24/2008; last updated 8/11/2022.

Tuesday, June 8, 1999

Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication released

Californication

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Released: June 8, 1999


Peak: 3 US, 5 UK, 2 CN, 11 AU


Sales (in millions): 5.35 US, 0.9 UK, 15.5 world (includes US + UK)


Genre: alternative rock/funk


Tracks:

Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to charts.

  1. Around the World (8/23/99, 16 AR, 7 MR, 35 UK, 30 DF)
  2. Parallel Universe (12/1/99, 37 MR)
  3. Scar Tissue (5/25/99, 9 BB, 11 GR, 10 RR, 11 A40, 2 AA, 1 AR, 1 MR, 12 DF)
  4. Otherside (1/1/00, 14 BB, 23 GR, 25 RR, 11 A40, 12 AA, 2 AR, 1 MR, 33 UK, 18 DF)
  5. Get on Top
  6. Californication (6/17/00, 69 BB, 30 GR, 31 RR, 28 A40, 17 AA, 1 AR, 1 MR, 16 UK, 12 DF)
  7. Easily
  8. Porcelain
  9. Emit Remmus
  10. I Like Dirt
  11. This Velvet Glove
  12. Savior
  13. Purple Stain
  14. Right on Time (2/3/03, --)
  15. Road Trippin’ (12/11/00, 30 UK, 26 DF)


Total Running Time: 56:24


The Players:

  • Anthony Kiedes (vocals)
  • Michael “Flea” Balzay (bass/trumpet/piano/backing vocals)
  • Chad Smith (drums, percussion)
  • John Frusciante (guitar/keyboards/backing vocals)

Rating:

3.981 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)


Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Album:

“Many figured that the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ days as undisputed alternative kings were numbered after their lackluster 1995 release One Hot Minute, but like the great phoenix rising from the ashes, this legendary and influential outfit returned back to greatness with 1999’s Californication.” GP

“An obvious reason for their rebirth is the reappearance of guitarist John Frusciante (replacing Dave Navarro), who left the Peppers in 1992 and disappeared into a haze of hard drugs before cleaning up and returning to the fold in 1998. Frusciante was a main reason for such past band classics as 1989’s Mother's Milk and 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and proves once and for all to be the quintessential RHCP guitarist. Anthony Kiedis’ vocals have improved dramatically as well, while the rhythm section of bassist Flea and drummer Chad Smith remains one of rock’s best.” GP

“The quartet’s trademark punk-funk can be sampled on such tracks as Around the World, I Like Dirt, and Parallel Universe, but the more pop-oriented material proves to be a pleasant surprise — Scar Tissue, Otherside, Easily, and Purple Stain all contain strong melodies and instantly memorable choruses. And like their 1992 introspective hit ‘Under the Bridge,’ there are even a few mellow moments – Porcelain, Road Trippin’, and the title track. With the instrumentalists’ interplay at an all-time telepathic high and Kiedis peaking as a vocalist, Californication is a bona fide Chili Peppers classic.” GP

Resources and Related Links:


Other Related DMDB Pages:


First posted 3/5/2011; last updated 11/16/2023.