Pieces of Eight Music

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by: Styx

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Customer Reviews
Average Rating: Rating: - Another Breath of Fresh Air For Arena Art-Rock Following up 1977's "The Grand Illusion," the album that made them superstars, would be a tough one for Styx. But one of the American Midwest's greatest contributions to music proved they were more than up to the challenge with their superb "Pieces of Eight." Rather than copy its predecessor, Styx prefers an album that is a bit less conceptual, leaving the themed-album idea alone for a while. As if its title wasn't creative and alluring enough, Styx once and for all turns their unique blend of arena-flourished art-rock into an even more monstrous form of sound, still capable of softer melodies. "Pieces of Eight" yields both the blistering guitar energy and the awareness of lighter arrangements (even if they don't fall into the "ballad" category), on such classic radio rockers as 'Renegade' and 'Blue Collar Man,' both of which are quintessential Styx. Other songs in the same vein help to maintain the album's merit, like the first three tracks on "Pieces of Eight," 'Great White Hope,' 'I'm Okay' and 'Sing For the Day.' The excellent 'Queen of Spades' addresses addiction, using the metaphor of a woman, while more sophisticated songs like the title track, 'Lords of the Rings,' 'The Message,' and the Easter Island folklore-influenced 'Aku-Aku' compliment Styx's pomp mysticism. "Pieces of Eight" is one of the band's most exemplary acheivements, making it all the more a shame that Styx was never recognized for their artistic merit. But the merit is in the music, not in critical praise. "Pieces of Eight" further proves these things for one of the greatest rock-n-roll bands of the 70s--Styx. Rating: - Following Up A Masterpiece To say that Styx was under pressure after the success of 1977's The Grand Illusion is, I'm sure, an understatement. Many bands crack under such pressure, and I believe Styx would have too, if Tommy Shaw had not stepped up to the plate on Pieces Of Eight. His were the only songs that got any air play from this album (Sing For The Day, Blue Collar Man, and Renegade). Where The Grand Illusion was largely Dennis DeYoung'shining moment, this was Tommy's chance to prove his worth to his new band. And he came through, big time! To me it was this album that proved the true strength of Styx as a Band: Unbelievable versatility. Rating: - A GREAT FOLLOW UP Pieces of Eight, is the hard rocking follow up to their 1977 heavy metal, prog rock cd, The Grand Illusion. And what a follow up it is, like their previous cd, their is not a bad song on this outing. Most bands, now a days,would crack under the pressure, of having to record a follow up, to a highly successfull cd, and have to do it with in about a year of their last release, and while still touring on their big cd. Pieces starts off rockin, with The Great White Hope, a song written and sung by JY. This song deals with the success that the band was going thru, and how one minute your on top of the world, and the pressure you under to stay on top. I'm Okay, is a brillant song by Dennis, with a great organ solo in the middle, love the way the song starts too. But every one of us at one time or another has felt the way this song is singing about, am I really different, is it okay to be this way? Sing For the Day, a Tommy Shaw song, is very good and is one of four songs of his on this cd. Even though this cd is named after a Dennis song, Tommy is the hero on this one, this is some of his best work, with Renegade, and Blue Collar Man, also on this cd, being two his greatest songs. Aku-Aku, is the ending song, and the weakest on this set. Queen of Spades, is a rocker, with a good beat. The title track is a haunting number, with a good piano part. The Message a keyboard insturmental, leads into the Lord of the Rings. JY handles vocals on Lords, this is a good song, with good guitar work in it, but JY's vocals are little too whinny in it. A great cd, from a great band, and one their last albums that seemed like a group effort, instead of indivual efforts.

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