12/21/2023 0 Comments Styx pieces of eightThe record really belongs to Tommy Shaw (not Dennis DeYoung for once), who delivers three of the band’s biggest hits. With that said, Pieces of Eight is certainly anchored by some heavyweights. Those who enjoy Styx’s Greatest Hits compilation should immediately delve into this album because it offers some of the best non-singles in the band’s catalog. Most casual fans aren’t familiar with the gritty rocker ‘Queen of Spades’, the percussive gallops of ‘Great White Hope’, the sticky melody of ‘I’m OK’, the harmonic chants of ‘Lords of the Ring’, the poignant chorus of the title track, or the delicate beauty of the instrumental closer ‘Aku Aku.’ These tracks never earned extensive air time during the album’s release, but they’re among the best songs the band has ever composed and also contribute heavily to Pieces of Eight’s mysterious allure. If The Grand Illusion was essentially a greatest hits album, then Pieces of Eight is overflowing with hidden gems ripe for the plucking. Generally speaking, it’s tied with The Grand Illusion for possessing the honor of being Styx’s most critically acclaimed and highest-grossing record, and it’s also arguably one of the greatest classic rock albums of all time. As the album eclipsed even the loftiest expectations set by its predecessor The Grand Illusion, Pieces of Eight became one of the last truly great rock ‘n’ roll albums that Styx would ever create (before Dennis DeYoung’s theatrical ambitions derailed harmony within the band). In the middle of that celebrated run was Pieces of Eight which, while not quite a household name, still represents Styx at their undeniable peak. They were the first band to ever achieve this feat consecutively, which speaks to the brilliance of their work during that era. Review Summary: One of the best and most underrated rock records in history.įrom 1977 to 1981, Styx released four multi-platinum records.
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