 DENNIS
DEYOUNG
Desert Moon
A & M Records 1984
www.dennisdeyoung.com
What’s the 4-1-1?
Just one year after departing from Styx, frontman Dennis DeYoung released
his first solo album. I was recently reunited with
this album thanks to a video on VH1 Classics. That video of course
was the
title
track "Desert Moon". I couldn’t
have been more than eight years old when the video
came out. I do remember watching it on MTV. It was
about a
man that
returned
home for a reunion of some type and started to reminisce
about long-lost first love. It fits the song to a T. As I
grew up, I guess I just
lost track of Dennis DeYoung and Desert Moon.
As soon as I saw the video again,
I remembered how much I loved it. Dennis delivers the lyrics with so
much power and emotion. He may have been known for his ballads in STYX, but
this song was he best ever. The combination of synths and clean guitars,
with just the right amount of electric guitar makes this one memorable. “Don’t
Wait for Heroes” starts off with a lick that mimics the vocal melody
in the chorus. The track is up-lifting and all about self-empowerment.
Dennis says it best himself: Winners are losers / who got up and
gave it just one more try.
“Please” displays some great hard rock
guitar with its palm muted chugga-chugga riff and it fiery soloing. DeYoung
is
at the top of his game vocally, belting it out with all of his might. “Boys” sounds
like something right out of Broadway, which is where DeYoung eventually
ended up. Spoken vocals are mixed with tradition vocals while funky synth
tones play in the background. It’s a fun song about cruisin’ and
having a good time. Although one question remains stuck in my head;
what happened after Dennis packed up and set out to find his old flame
at
the conclusion of the "Desert Moon" video? The Verdict
The album only has a total of eight tracks, but they’re all quality
power-pop rock songs.
Did You Know?
Dennis DeYoung re-recorded the STYX hit “The Grand Illusion” for
Siegfried and Roy’s IMEX film.
Rating:  out
of 5
--George Dionne
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