Main menu
Fretplay home Submit tabs

Styx
Styx tabs Styx discography

Channels
Guitar channel Bass channel Guitar videos Reviews

Message Forum
Guitar forum Bass forum Bands and artists Promote your band Recent discussions All categories

Fretplay.com

Styx guitar tabs

CD reviews

Pieces of Eight

Styx - Pieces of Eight Audio CD

A fair review of the Styx "Pieces of Eight" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Styx reviews here, or go back to the Styx tabs.

Band: Styx
Title: Pieces of Eight
Rating:

Release Date: 2009-04-28
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Great White Hope 2: I'm O.K. 3: Sing for the Day 4: Message 5: Lords of the Ring 6: Blue Collar Man 7: Queen of Spades 8: Renegade 9: Pieces of Eight 10: Aku Aku

Dennis's songs on this album shine brightest

Dennis DeYoung once said he was not so happy with the contributions he made to this album, because he did not pen the hits 'Blue Collar Man" or 'Renegade"

He always has been their primary hitmaker. It's funny. But, the funny thing is, it's HIS songs on this record that FAR outshine either of Tommy's hits, or any of the other songs here.

This is my second favorite Styx Album, tied with Grand Illusion, and only slightly behind Equinox.

Probably a harder rock album than GI, with a really fantastic progressive edge to it. The keyboards on this album just kill!

Band Lineup:
Dennis DeYoung-keyboards, synthesizers, lead vocals (and the most talented member of the band)
Tommy Shaw-Acoustic and Electric Guitars, vocals, sometimes lead vocals
James JY Young-Guitars, vocals, occasional lead vocals
Chuck Panozzo-Bass, vocals
John Panozzo-Drums, percussion, vocals

Breakdown:
Great White Hope--written by JY, it's actually one of his better songs. His voice is about as tolerable as it could ever be. . . . . and the keyboards in this song are outstanding. 7/10

I'm Ok--I like the message this song sends. Wonderful singing by Dennis, and great organ work. Written by both Dennis and JY, which just goes to show that collaboration between two people whose musical leanings are very divergent can produce OUTSTANDING musicianship. 10/10

Sing for the Day--written by Tommy for his daughter, which gives it some of the sentimentality akin to songs like Babe or Lady that were written by Dennis. This is my least favorite song on the record, and not a rocker by any means. Intriguing arrangements, however. 2/10

The Message--instrumental. Killer synths. Composed and performed by Dennis 6/10

Lords of the Ring--Written by Dennis but sung by JY. JY does it justice too, amazingly enough. Nice Synths in this one too. 7/10

Blue Collar Man--Ok. . . . I'm gonna tell you right now. . . . I am SICK of this song. It's been overplayed. Nice rocking track with some really good harmonies and keyboards (thank you Dennis), but it's one of the weaker songs on here. . . . along with Sing for the Day and Renegade. 3/10

Queen of Spades--HOLY CRAP, what an OUTSTANDING song this is. Written by JY and Dennis (those two need to collaborate more because the result is ALWAYS incredible). . . but sung by Dennis. Probably the hardest rocking song Dennis sings for Styx. . . . and DAMN he can sing along with ANY hard rock vocalist. This is Dennis is in his hardest rock guise. . . . and all it does is leave you wanting MORE!!! Fantastic melodies. . . . guitar work. . . . keyboards. . . . . and VOCALS complete with screetching. Wow. 25/10

Renegade--Their other "hit" from this record. Written and sung by Tommy. It's a good rocking song, but I'm totally sick of this one too. Overplayed! Good harmonies, however. 3/10

Pieces of Eight--I LOVE LOVE LOVE this song. The melody, the keyboards, and Dennis's singing just KILLS. Written and sung by Dennis. . . . it's one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard in my life. I'd describe it as a very melodic, yet rocking song. Anthemic. Outstanding musicianship here. Of course, we cannot forget those trademark Styx Harmonies either. . . . 25/10

Aku-Aku--Instrumental, written by Tommy. 4/10

Anyone who wishes to understand what Styx is all about would be best served making this album as one of their initial selections. It's outstanding. . . . . and in NO WAY can Cyclorama be compared to this beautiful album. Cyclorama was done without Dennis. . . . and No Dennis=No Styx. Ever.

THIS is Styx at their best. My highest recommendations go to this album!

.

The apex of amazing album oriented rock music
This album, PIECES OF EIGHT was the final masterwork from this grand band before their slow descent into the banal (see KILROY WAS HERE. STYX (in the later 1970's) was the greatest rock and roll band playing. )

As others have stated previously, this album flows wonderfully from beginning to end, with a modest bump in the road during THE MESSAGE and LORD OF THE RINGS.

RENEGADE and BLUE COLLAR MAN need no introduction to classic rock afficianados, as they are staples on radio to this day. In fact, these two songs may have been the catalyst for the downfall of the band, as Dennis DeYoung resented Tommy Shaw's hard charging songs for being the only "hits" on the album.

However, Dennis' own PIECES OF EIGHT and QUEEN OF SPADES just might be the most creatively brilliant rock songs on this album. From the soaring keyboard cords and vocal choruses, these two tracks take rather sublime lyrics within a still revolutionary sound that modernised their rather Tolkeinesque story lines into rock tracks of unparalleled beauty and force.

But the best tracks on the album are the slower, more ethereal, tunes from Tommy Shaw, SING FOR THE DAY (a wonderful minstral's song of the love shared between a band and its audience. )

A plethora of songs have been written about being a rock and roll band and the troubadore lifestyle of fame and fortune, but never had there been a song of such beauty and tenderness of such a subject (DEAR MR. FANTASY from Traffic does not compare lyrically. ) "Hannah you're with me in spirit wherever I go/ From the ends of the Earth to all points between high and low/ each night by the stage you appear as you are/ the ever intangible child/ ageless in time as Adorian Gray/ oh, Hannah I know that it's you and you're leading me on. . . Hannah, don't fail me I need you like never before/ Father Time's on my back, at my heals, behind every door/ and he say's "Son when the youth has but gone from your face/ will she let you grow older with grace? Will she give you up for one younger than you? Oh, Hannah please tell me the things that he says are untrue. . . I'm honestly hoping you'll always be there. "

Aku-Aku closes out the song with one of the most serene and soulful instrumental pieces as has ever been recorded. From the nearly sensual guitar intro through its gathering steam of layered instruments, this song yearns for a place within the audience's collective soul and offers nothing short of harmony and love for all who listen.

While THE GRAND ILLUSION has garnered far more sales and has collected many more awards (primarily based on the title track and the richly soaring anthems COME SAIL AWAY and MAN IN THE WILDERNESS), PIECES OF EIGHT flies through the stereo speakers with much more beauty and artistry than any STYX album before or since. The next time this band wouuld release an album that compares favorably to PIECES OF EIGHT would be in 2003 with their release (sans Dennis DeYoung) CYCLORAMA.

I cannot recommend highly enough the purchase of the album PIECES OF EIGHT, as one of the best rock and roll releases before the decline of rock and roll music and the decline of the band STYX. This album is well worth the expenditure of your 'pieces of eight. '

.

Pieces of Eight my Favorite Styx CD/Album
I recently collected a compilation of my favorites of Styx tunes throughout the years and the one CD that pulled the majority of my favorites came from this release. Out of all of the Styx's works this release is my favorite. Great White Hope, Blue Collar Man, Queen of Spades, Pieces of Eight, Renegade, Aku-Aku, The Message/Lord of the Rings. All are great classics. I agree with others this release was the most complete in terms of their diversity in musical style from Aku-Aku, nice clean instrumental ballad to Queen of Spades their darkest tune in a single CD/album release. I think Dennis must have been in midst of a divorce when he wrote Queen of Spades.

Styx brought music that was inspiring sometimes mystical and pragmatic. All in all great memories from this CD/Album.
.

Styx - A Let Down From The Previous Album
Their previous album "The Grand Illusion" had been both an artistic and commercial success and "Pieces" would prove to be another multi-platinum seller. By the time "Pieces Of Eight" was released in 1978 Styx were on a roll. The album's two big hit singles "Blue Collar Man" and "Renegade" were both Tommy Shaw penned hard rock songs that featured the band at their heaviest. In fact Shaw really has most of the best moments on this album with the folksy "Sing For The Day" being another highlight. The Dennis Deyong tracks don't fare as well. "I'm Okay", "Lords Of The Ring" and "Queen Of Spades" don't really work as either progressive rock epics or rockers and end up falling a bit flat. The title track fares a bit better, and is a decent albeit short progressive rock song. James Young's contribution "Great White Hope" is not one of his better one's either and is ultimately forgettable compared to many of his other compositions. This album has not aged all that well and comes across as quite dated in spots. Overall "Pieces Of Eight" is an average Styx album and worth owning, but is not nearly as good as it's predecessor "The Grand Illusion".

Why hasnt Styx had their catalog remastered?
Some people knock Styx but I think the music is really good and has stood the test of time better than other rock music from the same period. This was one of the first albums I ever purchased back when I was a teenager. I Purchased a foreign version of this album to see if it was mastered better than the American version, but it was identical. Styx's early recordings have been remastered, when will the big selling albums like this one be done?
.

You can see a complete list of all Styx discography, or go back to the Styx tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.