Where Classic Rock and Metal Music Fans Hang Out
EAGLES:HOTEL CALIFORNIA ALBUM REVIEW
1. Hotel California...What a great song. It's hard to believe that this song is 30 plus years old. The acoustics are outstanding. Nice vocals by Don Henley. What can you say about the extended, mind-boggling lead guitar at the end of the song? It's at least 2 minutes in length and is very reminiscent of Skynyrd's Free Bird, not in sound, just in style...10/10
2. New Kid In Town...Surprisingly, this is the only lead vocal for Glenn Frey. But it is very smooth and Henley's backing vocals work perfectly on this song. This track and the previous track were both number one hits. Another perfect song in my opinion...10/10
3. Life In The Fast Lane...A nice riff to start this song off. This is basically a well told story about, well, living life fast. "They knew all the right people, they took all the right pills/they threw outrageous parties, they paid heavenly bills". Very good lyrics to this story...9/10
4. Wasted Time...Okay, this is my favorite all-time Eagles song. Another storytelling song, this one about a relationship breaking up and starting again and all of the feelings that go along with it. I love the piano and orchestral arrangement, as well as the lead guitar work. Henley's vocal is incredible...10/10
5. Wasted Time (Reprise)...I must admit, I don't really know what the purpose is of a reprise. Maybe, because this is considered somewhat of a concept album, it's to pick the story back up on side two of the LP. I just don't know. The track is simply an orchestral arrangement played to the tune of the previous track. It's nice, but is it needed?...7/10
6. Victim Of Love...Another lead vocal by Don Henley. This is a good song, but my least favorite on the album so far. Lyrically (spelling?) speaking, it's really good ("You say He's a liar, and he put out your fire/how come you still got his gun in your hand"). But for some reason, I'm just not that big on the melody. Still, it's a good tune...8/10
7. Pretty Maids All In A Row...Man, what a great vocal by Joe Walsh. He certainly doesn't have a great voice, but it just works so well on this song. This song is so underrated. Quite simply, this is a beautiful song...10/10
8. Try And Love Again...Love the lead guitar intro on this one. Vocals by Randy Meisner. This is yet another very underrated Eagles' song. It's about getting past that difficult breakup, slowly letting that past go and the excitement of starting a new one. Such a great song...10/10
9. The Last Resort...Back to Henley again. This song tells the story of the destruction of our environment or our society. It's not a bad song, it just doesn't do anything for me...7/10
Hotel California was released way, way back in 1976 and spawned two number one hits for the Eagles. I think it's their best album followed closely by The Long Run (more on it later). When I listen to the Eagles, it's not for their expert musicianship or blazing lead guitar work or head pounding anthems. Although their musicianship is very good quality, they are about storytelling. And I love a good story. They have multiple lead vocalists, which I really like in a band. In my opinion, their songs are timeless. Especially their relationship songs. All of the stories in these songs happen time and time again in people's lives. One thing that I didn't realize until I sat down this time and listened to this album is how it is dominated by Don Henley's vocals. That's not a bad thing, I just hadn't realized it before. The artwork for the album cover is perfect. I look at that and can imagine the story of the title song and how it fits so well with that album cover. Overall, this is an outstanding album, definitely in my top 20 all-time.
Hidden Gems (Songs you must hear if you haven't already):
Wasted Time
Pretty Maids All In A Row
Try And Love Again
Songs I would choose for a compilation:
Hotel California
New Kid In Town
Life In The Fast Lane
Wasted Time
Pretty Maids All In A Row
Try And Love Again
2. New Kid In Town...Surprisingly, this is the only lead vocal for Glenn Frey. But it is very smooth and Henley's backing vocals work perfectly on this song. This track and the previous track were both number one hits. Another perfect song in my opinion...10/10
3. Life In The Fast Lane...A nice riff to start this song off. This is basically a well told story about, well, living life fast. "They knew all the right people, they took all the right pills/they threw outrageous parties, they paid heavenly bills". Very good lyrics to this story...9/10
4. Wasted Time...Okay, this is my favorite all-time Eagles song. Another storytelling song, this one about a relationship breaking up and starting again and all of the feelings that go along with it. I love the piano and orchestral arrangement, as well as the lead guitar work. Henley's vocal is incredible...10/10
5. Wasted Time (Reprise)...I must admit, I don't really know what the purpose is of a reprise. Maybe, because this is considered somewhat of a concept album, it's to pick the story back up on side two of the LP. I just don't know. The track is simply an orchestral arrangement played to the tune of the previous track. It's nice, but is it needed?...7/10
6. Victim Of Love...Another lead vocal by Don Henley. This is a good song, but my least favorite on the album so far. Lyrically (spelling?) speaking, it's really good ("You say He's a liar, and he put out your fire/how come you still got his gun in your hand"). But for some reason, I'm just not that big on the melody. Still, it's a good tune...8/10
7. Pretty Maids All In A Row...Man, what a great vocal by Joe Walsh. He certainly doesn't have a great voice, but it just works so well on this song. This song is so underrated. Quite simply, this is a beautiful song...10/10
8. Try And Love Again...Love the lead guitar intro on this one. Vocals by Randy Meisner. This is yet another very underrated Eagles' song. It's about getting past that difficult breakup, slowly letting that past go and the excitement of starting a new one. Such a great song...10/10
9. The Last Resort...Back to Henley again. This song tells the story of the destruction of our environment or our society. It's not a bad song, it just doesn't do anything for me...7/10
Hotel California was released way, way back in 1976 and spawned two number one hits for the Eagles. I think it's their best album followed closely by The Long Run (more on it later). When I listen to the Eagles, it's not for their expert musicianship or blazing lead guitar work or head pounding anthems. Although their musicianship is very good quality, they are about storytelling. And I love a good story. They have multiple lead vocalists, which I really like in a band. In my opinion, their songs are timeless. Especially their relationship songs. All of the stories in these songs happen time and time again in people's lives. One thing that I didn't realize until I sat down this time and listened to this album is how it is dominated by Don Henley's vocals. That's not a bad thing, I just hadn't realized it before. The artwork for the album cover is perfect. I look at that and can imagine the story of the title song and how it fits so well with that album cover. Overall, this is an outstanding album, definitely in my top 20 all-time.
Hidden Gems (Songs you must hear if you haven't already):
Wasted Time
Pretty Maids All In A Row
Try And Love Again
Songs I would choose for a compilation:
Hotel California
New Kid In Town
Life In The Fast Lane
Wasted Time
Pretty Maids All In A Row
Try And Love Again
Tags: album review, don henley, eagles, glenn frey, hotel california, joe walsh, randy meisner
© 2010 Created by Classic Rock Revisited Admin
