My Amazon Reviews: Styx "Pieces of Eight"

Bits and Pieces
3 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.

     

My Amazon Reviews: Styx "Paradise Theater"

Tonight's The Night We'll Make History
3 Out Of 5 Stars

Once "Babe" became Styx's biggest hit ever, Dennis DeYoung began to push his vision onto the band. There was always a dichotomy in the classic Styx lineup, with DeYoung wanting to be more commercial and theatrical, while Tommy Shaw wanted to be a harder rocker. "Paradise Theater," Styx's first major attempt at a concept album, has DeYoung's imprint on it, from the theater concept of Chicago's (and thereby, America's) decline through the 70's.

The concept is pretty fizzy, even if the singles hold up well. "Too Much Time On My Hands" was a venture into MTV Video for the band, while "The Best of Times" tried to capture the big balled success of "Babe." JY got his point across on "Snowblind," again dealing in the decline of things as seen through both a coke addict's eyes and lack of a future vision. (Ditto "Nothing Ever Goes to Plan.") The opening "AD 1928/Rocking The Paradise" was a crowd-pleaser designed to wake up a stadium filled with concert goers. It's hard to ignore, however, the thinness of the production, which just screams late 70's (the album was issued in 1981).

Because of the splits between Show, DeYoung and James Young (who also wanted harder rock), "Paradise Theater" is an uneven album, even though it became the band's biggest success to date. That success solidified DeYoung's commitment to theatrical concepts, which led to the "Kilroy Was Here" album (better than this) as well as driving the band towards breaking up. JY got the last laugh on "Half Penny, Two Penny" (which was highly reminiscent of "Miss America" on "The Grand Illusion"), foretelling the teardown of the Paradise but scratching at the dissent in the band. "I wanna shake myself free, Back home across the sea, where I know I'll be free..." he shouts, just before DeYoung re-enters the stage with a solo piano to reinforce the shakey concept with "AD 1958," a longing for the good old days and keeping alive "The Memories of Paradise." The band exits with an old-timey 20's sounding piano fade, but ultimately, "Paradise Theater" was grand-thater rock: just like you remember the seventies.

     

Jack Rinella Runs for Office

Just Another Politician?

My good friend Jack Rinella is running for public office. While most of us know Jack by his writing of lifestlye books and his Chicago newspaper Columns, the name on his BirthCeritificate is Joe Laiacona. And he has decided to throw his Muir Cap into Chicago Politics.

This is, to me, nothing short of heroic. Jack is facing an uphill battle here. He has been a public figure in the kink community for a couple of decades, and you can be certain that this point will be hammered upon by his opponents over and over again. It will not be easy, and it will likely provoke some highly unpleasant commentary. Mud will be flung.

Jack has the cajones to put himself on the line. He deserves our support and backing.

The following is his press release:

Summer is coming to Illinois and it's time for some serious spring cleaning. Grab your brooms and join us as we sweep our government clean of cronyism, nepotism, graft and bribery. The business-as-usual practices of under the table money, back room deals and pay-to-play politics have robbed Illinois voters of their legitimate voice. Joe Laiacona is not just another politician, and he's running for Illinois House of Representatives, 40th District.

Joe Laiacona is an 18 year resident of Chicago's north side and a homeowner currently living in the Albany Park neighborhood. He has worked as an instructor at Columbia College while pursuing interests in writing, union organizing, computing and genealogy. He is the father of two daughters and grandfather to two grandsons. He is a former Catholic seminarian, an ordained minister, an avid gardener and amateur genealogist.

Joe's Platform:
. I favor transparency in all governmental activities, disclosure of all politically-related financial transactions, and limits on contributions to and among those involved in politics.

. We cannot legislate good ethics but we can institute curbs on the actions that make political corruption financially and socially rewarding.

. I support state-wide equality in educational funding so that every child has the benefit of excellence in education.

. Our health care systems and the insurance systems that largely pay for them must be made available to all citizens.

. I believe in progressive taxation so that those with the ability to pay do so fairly while a lesser burden falls on those who can least afford it. We need to reduce bureaucracy where we can and reward efficiency whenever we find it.

. Sound pension funds for state employees are a fundamental right and a wise investment. They attract the best and the brightest to our classrooms and our state services.

. Small businesses are the life-blood of our economy. State government can positively influence the success of our economic life but where meddling only deters economic growth, it ought to remain silent.

. We have a moral and ethical obligation to protect the environment and repair the earth of the effects of pollution and greed. I support a healthy state park system, controls on poisonous emissions, and incentives to develop sustainable sources of clean energy.

. I support immigration reform that creates respect for the law, recognizes the invaluable
contribution that immigrants bring to our state, and the rights of all legal immigrants to a fair method of attaining citizenship.

For more information, go to: www.FriendsforJoeLaiacona.org