Editorial Review:

Album Description:
Japanese-only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) paper sleeve pressing of this album. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You won't believe it's the same CD! Universal. 2009.

Amazon.com:
In some ways, Styx was America's answer to Queen. The Chicago quintet never ascended to the ranks of rock-and-roll royalty, as did their English counterparts, nor are they held in as high a regard today. Nevertheless, Styx fulfilled a Midwestern American hunger for high-flown fantasy typified on Pieces of Eight with songs like Dennis DeYoung and James Young's "I'm Okay" and "Lords of the Rings," with their elaborate arrangements, soaring vocal harmonies, and lyrical pretensions. In quite another direction, guitarist Tommy Shaw writes about basic human needs and working-class values in "Blue Collar Man," while his song "Sing for the Day" is a pleasant air, and "Renegade" a hard-charging rocker. Styx may have seemed somewhat schizophrenic on Pieces of Eight but their legions of fans diminished not a whit, making the album the band's second multiplatinum effort in a row, following The Grand Illusion. --Daniel Durchholz

If you always liked this album and have been patiently waiting for a remastered version....

Wait no longer....This CD has all the sound quality of any of their other albums that have been remastered....You wont be disappointed...The sound quality has a very full, thick sound....comparable to a mint vinyl disc...minus any foreign noise.

I have all the other CD's in remastered format...and this one fits right in....

Crank it up and enjoy!!!!

Average Rating:

Rating: - Great CD...even if it isn't a remastered version...yet
If you always liked this album and have been patiently waiting for a remastered version....

Wait no longer....This CD has all the sound quality of any of their other albums that have been remastered....You wont be disappointed...The sound quality has a very full, thick sound....comparable to a mint vinyl disc...minus any foreign noise.

I have all the other CD's in remastered format...and this one fits right in....

Crank it up and enjoy!!!!

Rating: - Aku Aku: The Easter Island Concept
Generally acknowledged as Styx's most enduring album, very few of the reviews so far have mentioned anything about the album's overall concept. Released in September 1978, there's much more to this collection than cheery vocal harmonies and a few classic rock radio hits. While the individual songs of DeYoung, Shaw, and Young are all very different, there is a recurring theme behind the lyrics.

The band's eighth studio album, Pieces of Eight's concept is the illusions of modern day living. The previous album, 1977's The Grand Illusion, also touched on this topic, but did not carry it through on every single song. ("Come Sail Away" and "Castle Walls" are seemingly just fantasy pieces, without any underlying theme.) Take a look at the songs of Pieces of Eight:

"Great White Hope": the illusion of America as the fastest gun in the west, or the undefeated champ.
"I'm Okay": the illusions behind the late 1970s self-esteem movement.
"Sing for the Day": the illusion of eternal youth.
"The Message/Lords of the Ring": nothing to do with Tolkein, but rather with the illusion of celebrity and "making it". The "ring" is the "brass ring" of success. The last verse intones: "And though the legend was pure fantasy - we still need the hope it brings."
"Blue Collar Man": the illusion of "job security".
"Queen of Spades": not about gambling (as many people suppose), but the illusion of luck and good fortune. "Luck is a lady whose smile is as cold as a stone."
"Renegade": the illusion of escape and the so-called glamour of life on the lam.
"Pieces of Eight": the illusion of wealth, and the alleged power and happiness it brings. This song also brings home the overall theme of not trading reality for unreachable fantasy. (Enron/Broadcom moguls, are you listening?)

The album then closes with perhaps the most beautiful piece the band has ever recorded, the ethereal, dreamy "Aku Aku", music to float away on. Named after the ancestral spirits of the people of Easter Island, it also ties in with Hypgnosis' outer-cover and gatefold photography. That Easter Island was chosen is also appropriate to the concept because rather than being an idyllic South Seas isle, the local history is one of people who divided into groups and almost completely destroyed each other fighting over dwindling natural resources. In other words, there are no island paradises.

Most will agree this is the last album Styx recorded before moving into their lighter, Broadway-style period. Later albums were also conceptual, but were either too elusive (Paradise Theater) or hammered home too hard (Kilroy was Here). On Pieces of Eight, the production, musicianship, and songwriting were never better, and the concept has proved even more appropriate with the passage of time. Because of the dynamic contrasts between the celestial synths/acoustic guitars and the heavy guitar rock/cathedral organ, this album was very popular with the "half-speed mastered virgin-vinyl" audiophile movement among late 1970s LP buyers (I still have mine). Pieces of Eight still sounds great today in any format, and while Styx will always be dismissed by the roots-rock crowd, it has proved to be their most outstanding achievement musically, lyrically, and conceptually. Easter Island, indeed.

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Rating: - STYX PIECES OF EIGHT
I think that this is one of the Greatest Styx albums out, along with The Grand Illusion. I'm OK is awesome, Renegade is just really cool, Great White Hope an excellent rocker, Pieces of Eight is moving, Blue Collar Man is powerful for the working peoples, Queen of Spades and Message/Lords of the Ring bizarre, but good none the less. You get the point. love it. A must for Styx fans.

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Rating: - Good
A classic. "Blue Collar Man" and "Renegade" were top 40 hits. I still think they are some of the best they put out.

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Rating: - Dennis's songs on this album shine brightest
It's funny.
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. 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!




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Related Items:

The Grand Illusion

Paradise Theater

Cornerstone

Equinox

Crystal Ball