PIECES OF EIGHT

5 stars people! From the point of departure of John Curelewski and Tommy Shaw joining the band, up to Paradise Theatre, you could see/hear STYX changing musically. Equinox was a good album, Crystal Ball a bit better(Tommy joined the band right before the Equinox tour and wrote songs on this album), and The Grand Illusion was incredible. How could they top it? Well they didn't, but they definately matched it! Pieces Of Eight is one of the three albums STYX made I call a 5 star piece of musicianship. No not Cornerstone, the follow up album, but Paradise Theatre gets the other 5 star honor. Get those three. If unhappy, send to me I can always use another copy. Pieces of Eight starts off with Great White Hope (4 stars), a James Young rocker. Next up is I'm OK (4 stars), Dennis Deyoung doing a great job on keys, pipe organ and vocals. Sing For The Day (4 stars) is Tommy Shaw's opening number and it is a folk sounding song with mandolins and flowing keyboards that make one think Medeival Times. The Message is an instrumental (keys only). I was reading Sword of Shannara at the time and it really fits. Goes right into JY singing Lord Of The Rings(3 stars). Not a bad song but only matched by Aku-Aku (last song) for bottom honors. Tommy sings Blue Collar Man (5 stars) next and gives an excellent song to you. If you haven't heard it, climb out from under the rock you live under. My favorite STYX song of all time, Queen of Spades follows and I cannot see how it wasn't selected to be a radio release. Oh well different tastes. Styx hardest rocker sung by DDY with a slow ballad-like start and a swift kick in the rear galloping riff! Amazing song with amazing harmonies. Renegade (5 stars). Haven't heard it? Invest in electricity please. Great rock song from Tommy Shaw. The title song, Pieces Of Eight, reaches out to your ears and says listen. Beautiful music, not a ballad, not a tempo burner, good listening song. Buy the album and fall in love with STYX. Get Cornerstone if you want, it is a 3 along with Equinox and Crystal Ball. Kilroy was Here? 2 stars.