This album is cheezy, it is trendy, it is dated, it is melodramatic. But, it is great. This brings back memories of third grade all over again. Kids running around the playground during recess, pretending to be robots screaming Mr Roboto. I got a copy of it as a kid from a friend who taped it off his dad's vinyl. That, along with M's Pop Musik. Holy Cow, did I play that thing.
But, the fact that it appealed to a third grader should tell you that the album itself really didn't have a lot to offer to a honed musical ear. I know, after years of listening and reading up on other reviews and whatnot, that this album really was Styx at it's low end. Although it sold a bunch of albums, the "Rock Opera" approach that DeYoung wished to pursue was not favored by the rest of the band. To me, looking at their career and musical output, I think DeYoung had gone a little loopy and HE is the one that broke up the band. Yeah, he's got a good voice, but DUDE! LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID!!!
The only thing to add to this disc is the two Japanese mixes of Mr Roboto. But, I really did a number on that logo, didn't I?