If classic rock still has something to say in the chaos of 2025, Studio D’Lux is the messenger—and their latest single, “Easier Said Than Done,” (out on April 11th) is the kind of anthem that demands your attention. Doug Kistner, the band’s driving force, isn’t just assembling legends like Bill Champlin and Keith Howland for nostalgia’s sake. He’s lighting a fire under the genre, and this track proves it.
“Welcome to a life we never knew / Cuz they’ve changed the rules again.” With those opening lines, the song sets its stakes in the now. This isn’t just rock revival; it’s resistance wrapped in groove. Bill Champlin’s unmistakable vocals ring with gravitas, channeling years of grit into every line, while Howland’s guitar work slices through the mix with surgical precision. It’s like Chicago got darker, leaner, and more urgent—then decided to come back swinging.
The rhythm section, driven by Liberty Devitto’s bombastic drumming and Malcolm Gold’s tight, melodic basslines, adds a swagger that never loses its pulse. The song’s got a prog-rock undercurrent, but it never trips over itself in complexity. It’s a steady, soulful march forward: “We ain’t stopping no way for anything / Ain’t slowing down for anyone.”
Lyrically, “Easier Said Than Done” hits on the anxieties of our time—shifting realities, fear in the air, and the exhausting task of reinvention. But rather than wallow, Studio D’Lux offers a rallying cry: “Face our fears / Look it straight in the eye.” It’s a song about adaptation, guts, and grit—a message for anyone still standing after the last few chaotic years.
Kistner’s production keeps everything sharp but warm. There’s clarity and cohesion without sterilizing the passion. The transitions—especially into that resonant chorus—are so tight they could draw blood.
“Easier Said Than Done” might sound like it came from the golden age of FM rock, but its heart beats in real time. It’s Springsteen urgency meets Toto finesse, delivered by a crew that knows exactly what they’re doing and why it matters.
–Rick Neilsen
