Pieces of Eight - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

Mike DeGagne of Allmusic praised the album, saying that the songs on the album "rekindle some of Styx's early progressive rock sound, only cleaner." Rolling Stone reviewer Lester Bangs was more critical of the album, however, saying that "What's really interesting is not that such narcissistic slop should get recorded, but what must be going on in the minds of the people who support it in such amazing numbers. Gall, nerve and ego have never been far from great rock & roll. Yet there's a thin but crucial line between those qualities and what it takes to fill arenas today: sheer self-aggrandizement on the most puerile level. If these are the champions, gimme the cripples."

The album peaked at #6 on the Billboard album chart, and like its predecessor would go Triple Platinum.