The new Eagles recording is out and I’ve taken a couple of days to listen before giving my opinion. I’ll be writing about my love for the Eagles, and my impatience while waiting for this new double-disc CD, on Sunday in the newspaper.
This will serve as a little review.
First, the Eagles have never been a critically-acclaimed band. But, when I read the reviews of the Eagles’ music, I always come away thinking the reviewer just doesn’t get it.
The Eagles are and have always been all over the place. With four amazingly talented musicians at the front, how could they not be? Don Henley is the brains. Glenn Frey is the fun. Joe Walsh is the musical backbone. And Timothy B. Schmit is the spirit.
Long Road out of Eden includes 20 songs. One of the early criticisms is that it didn’t need to be a double set; that there are several songs that could not have been included. I agree. There are three or four songs that could go. But there are 16 or 17 that are from good to great, and having been an Eagles fan since 1972 I can honestly say this CD is one of the best they have produced.
My favorite songs: Waiting in the Weeds, Long Road Out of Eden, Do Something, Frail Grasp of the Big Picture, Somebody, What Do I Do With My Heart, Busy Being Fabulous, No More Walks in the Woods, How Long, Guilty of the Crime, I Don’t Want to Hear Any More. Ah heck, all of them are my favorites. I’m nothing if not loyal to the Eagles.
Now, I want to hear what you have to say about this record. And I also want to again pledge to attempt to keep in better touch here on this blog. How many times have you heard that?
4 Comments
Hi Bob-
I picked up the disks first thing Tuesday morning. Couldn’t wait to get my mitts on it.
Like you, I think some of the songs could have been left off but overall it is a great effort by an iconic band.
For everyone that has followed both the collective efforts as well as each member’s solo careers, this album really pulls it all together. There are definitive Eagles songs such as How Long, Waiting in the Weeds, Busy Being Fabulous, and Long Road out of Eden. Then there are songs that could have landed on any of Henley or Frey’s or Walsh’s solo albums.
In closing, I was dissappointed that they chose Wal-mart as their distribution vehicle and I have read their comments as to why they did, but that along with performing at the CMA Awards next week really had me scratching my head since this really runs contrary to the band’s reputation.
hey bob!
your old buddy stevie d down here in dallas….and your old eagles compadre…only you and i truly know the eagles like they should be known…so i knew you would write about it on your blog…checked it out.
here is my concern…the album is interesting…the music is clean and crisp like always…problem is…the song writing is weak.
not enough good songs.
waiting in the weeds is easily the one song that most sounds like eagles genius…long road out of eden is top notch…signature song of the album…but after that…what is truly a great song?
frey and schmidt sound like sentimental old lounge singers to me.
i am disappointed.
but i knew i would be. everything henley does these days is great…the rest of the guys are done.
all the best…hope all is well…say hi to haertl to me.
swd
First of all Bob, great to have you back. Yes, I wish you would post more often.
Second, I must agree that the new Eagles CD is awesome! I like all the songs, some better than others; but I still think ANY new Eagles music is better than NO new Eagles music! Now if they would only do a concert in the midwest without charging an arm and a leg for a ticket, I might be able to go!
I love the Eagles, although I’m probably not as big a fan as you are. I’ll be purchasing Long Road Out of Eden this weekend and I look forward to spending hours playing it over and over and over… That’s the best thing about Eagles music. It never gets old.