Styx & the Contemporary Youth Orchestra of Cleveland: One with Everything [Blu-ray]

This is a surprising video. Saw the concert for the first time on TV about a year ago and was blown away. Caught a few snippets of it here and there on YouTube, and decided to go ahead and buy it. Boy am I glad I did. The YouTube and iTunes versions lack the real musical quality that the video and its THX audio exhibit. I am a big Styx fan, and they are great in this concert. But the real heroes in this one are the kids in the Contemporary Youth Orchestra and Chorus. Styx's music lends itself to an orchestral backdrop, and the musicality of the blending of the rockers and the orchestra is exceptional. Again, what carries the day is seeing the vitality and excitement of the kids in the orchestra and chorus. Their energy and sheer enjoyment of the moment makes this a music video that you want to play over and over. It's a concert that I really wish I had been able to attend, because it was one of those one-in-a-million happenings in which everything just came out perfectly. The "bonus material" on most of these things is usually not worth a look, let alone a second look, but in this video there is a 10+ minute drum solo called the Quake Cam in which the Styx drummer, Todd Sucherman, gets an exclusive camera during a long compilation song. Holy smokes is this intense. If I were a drummer I would feel so inadequate after watching this guy work his butt off the way he does. I would recommend this video to anyone who enjoys Styx, but really to anyone who'd like to enjoy a couple of hours of some of the best music video you've ever seen. You don't even have to be a big rock fan - it's that good! You will be impressed. Like the guy with the suits on TV says, I Guarantee It!

I very much enjoyed this disc. I think the audio and video are very good. The concert is very vibrant and everyone is enjoying themselves, the band, the orchestra and the audience.The songs are very good, including the tracks I didn't know.One could complain that they missed out certain songs that some people would like to hear, but I think the quality and enthusiasm for the songs played overcomes this.I see some folks reviewing this are pissed off that Dennis De Young is not on here. All I can say to that is, why would he be, he hasn't been in the band for a number of years. The guy playing keyboards and doing a little singing is very good and really doesn't deserve to be attacked at all. He has a more rock vocal approach than De Young who tended towards a more broadway kind of vocal, not a critcism, just an observation.If you like the songs listed on here I see no reason at all why you would not like this concert.I highly recommend this show for lovers of Styx and concert movies. If you only liked Dennis De Young I believe he has a concert movie of his own, but I can't comment on that as I haven't seen it yet.

I almost hate to review this DVD in such a positive light, because Amazon had all kinds of trouble finding it. As a matter of fact, they sent me two notices apologizing for taking so long, asking if I wanted them to keep trying. Thanks for your tenacity, Amazon, I really appreciate it.I just got it today… had to wait about three months for it… and OMG, it is so totally worth it!Styx is on fire with this performance, and there's so much heart and soul when they're playing with the CYO. You can see that the kids are totally jazzed, and you can tell that they rehearsed their butts off to play this show.The mix is great on this- I listened in DTS, and everything is placed, eq'd, and mixed just right. The camera work is really good, and about the only downside is that during the first couple of numbers, there were some people standing slightly in front of the back-of-venue camera, so you get some slight shadows. However, that's a minor niggle, and there are at least four cameras on this show so it doesn't happen too often.So, if you're in the least a Styx fan, this is a must.Sorry if I've caused you more headaches, Amazon ;)

It' the only concert I've ever attended and I wasn't there. I've watched it eight times so far and can't wait to plug it in again. It's harmony and melody, it's hard hitting rock, it's youth gone wild and a classical sense. Crescendo starts from the beginning and delivers the knock out punch at the end. We may never see arena rock combined with Nirvan's "Smells like teen spirit," again. Watch for the Styx medley and see what youth gone wild means. The spirit of being there is something you will never forget and the DVD is your keys to the car. I saw this by accident on HD Net. I didn't know this thing was going to make me cry,....again and again. Styx rose to the occasion and allowed the rock star in these kids to come out. I heard it is coming to PBS soon as well. This will revive the songs of the period as well as the new ones. Those kids finally defined what a "band rat" could really be. They were released and they followed the hounds of hell into the fire. Rock out on a cello, a trombone, or a violin,....and bring it home on a French horn or the oboe. This was the best accident I ever fell into. If you love music and want to see it come alive then you need the DVD for home and the CD for the car.

Wow is all I can say, wish I'd bought this DVD sooner.. I'm in my 50's and have always loved their powerful melodic songs, I've only been to see them once but this DVD makes you wish you were there like no other music DVD that I've watched. It's great to see such enthusiasm from band and orchestra alike and as the CYO director said, they are made for each other in so many ways.Whether you are already a Styx fan or have only just discovered them, I'd say buy this DVD asap and drop everything ( as I did when it landed on my doormat ) sit back with the volume up as loud as possible and be enthralled, amazed and in awe of the musicianship on display from a true supergroup at the top of their game.The camera work gets 9/10 for me and only missed a perfect score because the camera didn't always follow Tommy shaw on his solo's.. as a guitarist I want to see every note as it's played! That aside this is a fantastic DVD to own and spend 2 hours + with, and to watch over and over, as I most certainly will.I also bought the Styx - Grand Illusion & Pieces of eight Blu Ray along with this one, and though that is okay, it's not a patch on this one.

PROS;Great music, superb sound & Video Quality.Styx are at their Best! The childrens orchestra & chorous are having a great time and it really rubs off on you!A Little Con; The lead guitar solo's are a little too much 'in the background', although they improve as the night goes on.

I am very much a STYX fan of old & was pleased to here renditions of several classic songs. The orchestral backing was okay but on occasion i felt took something from the Quality of these Classic Hits.Furthermore it was good to see STYX giving the benefit of their wide experience to a rising Orchestra. Just not what i had expected.

musical and vocal perfection ( as usual )

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