Bits and Pieces3 Out Of 5 Stars
After hitting a new commercial and artistic peak with "The Grand Illusion," Styx wanted to prove that they could rock it with the best of them. "Pieces of Eight" was well received at the time of its release, but it hasn't aged well. It peaked at number six, and was made while the band was still getting along with each other.
"Pieces of Eight" also contains Styx's best rock song in the working man's anthem "Blue Collar Man." Anchored by a huge organ riff and Tommy Shaw's vocal, it sounded big, made for the arena. Shaw also penned "Renegade," the album's over hit and nearly as powerful. Problem is, Dennis DeYoung hadn't reached his ballad-meister phase and his two songs are the dopey "Lord of The Rings" and the title track. Led Zep had already done the Mordor thing and had done it infinitely better. The sword and fantasy thing had even been done better by Styx themselves on "The Grand Illusion's" "Castle Walls."
When the band lightened up a bit, they also showed a knack for delivering some decent material. The stately "Sing for The Day" and positive thinking "I'm OK" (James Young and DeYoung penned that one) were good, folksy pop. At the time, Styx were one of the most popular bands in America, and the solid rocking and prog-lite of "Pieces of Eight" made 1978 sound stately.
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