1001 Albums Generator
Hotel California by Eagles

Hotel California

Eagles

1976
3.58
Rating
30254
Votes
1
4%
2
12%
3
29%
4
33%
5
22%
Distribution
Genres: Rock Styles: Soft Rock, Country Rock

Reviews (page 8 of 15)

Almost none of these songs are available via Youtube music. Only new kid in town, Pretty maids all in a row and Try and love again. Luckily I know the rest quite well. I love this kind of music and the album. I think Hotel California is slightly overrated, but New kid in town has some beautiful harmonies. Live in the fast lane is a nice listen. All around good songs!

One good song.

I went into this album with curiousity as the only song I had heard before was the titular Hotel California which I received very well. Overall the album, was pretty much without fault in terms of the music however I was hoping for more songs that really hit. It happened once during Wasted Time, however afterwards the songs were mostly comfortable but nothing too special. I would listen to the album again but would likely find myself skipping more towards Hotel California and Wasted Time with the rest being more of a filler listen. This will receive a 3.5/5 and be bumped to a 3 as it did not quite hit the height of being able to bump it to a 4, which might have been different with one or two more "standout" songs.

Good album. I liked the different themes they explored in their songwriting. Iconic guitar riffs throughout and the title track is a certified classic. 3.5/5 Fav tracks: Wasted time and The last resort

Hotel California is iconic but overall I dont know why this get's listed in various Greatest of All Time lists other than it sold a tonne. It's easy listening that was very popular but theres nothing ground breaking here. 3.5/5. Raising to a 4.

Easy Listening.

Fun listen, but not sure it’s something I’d return to regularly.

Classic from war back

All time star album!!

I like Eagles

Zeitlos großartig!

Overplayed. Not my favs. But they were good at their time.

Enjoyed this - smooth, 70s easy listening. They’re no Fleetwood Mac but it was still very good. Hotel California absolutely slaps so maybe a little all downhill from there.

The morning after listening to this album I'm humming a new kid in town

This album is divisive. Which is fairly ironic as the Eagles themselves seem to be laid back and easy going. You either like it or you don't, I suppose. 9 songs (really 8 songs and a reprise) on this one. I happen to enjoy pretty much all of them. I'll give this one a high 3 low 4.

“What were the seventies in America?” Is a question to which this is one of foundational documents. In this thesis, I shall argue…

Love the title track, but all I've ever heard about this album is that besides that there are no other stand-outs. Let's see if that statement rings true. Haven't heard that first song in a while, but damn is it good. Great storytelling. Love singing along. I wasn't sure about this second track, but the quiet moment with the lines "You look in her eyes/ the music begins to play" has me sold. Lovely! Life in the Fast Lane is fun and fine but nothing that really moves me. Wasted Time is well made and all, but New Kid in Town explored the same mood in a better way. Victim of Love, while very simple, is a welcome change in mood. Like the guitar riffs throughout! The vocals in this next track remind me of Bowie. It's a nice enough song, I could see myself moving a lighter at a live concert to it. Despite being very similar to some past tracks, Try And Love Again actually hit a chord with me! The Last Resort is a great closing track and it seems to be in support of native americans and anti colonialism? Yeah, it's a great song. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I was expecting one good opener followed by some boring 70's dad rock, but that was not the case! Good experience, and while the high of the first track was never again matched, there are still some gems here. Bye-bye

I haven't listened to this one in a hot minute. The Eagles are for sure a greatest hits kind of listen for me. The first 3 songs are absolute bangers. Then it sort of lets up in the middle, before coming back strong for the close. If they had kept up the pace set at the start of the album, this would be a 5/5 no brainer. But "Wasted Time" through "Pretty Maids" just brings the album down for me. That being said the guitar throughout the album is amazing, and the vocal melodies really hit when they hit. Standouts are "Hotel California," "New Kid in Town," "Life in the Fast Lane," and "Try and Love Again." Big Lebowski jokes aside, Hotel California gets a pretty solid 4/5 for me, it's always a good listen but isn't a perfect album.

Very easy listening....solid 3

Did not enjoy it :( It's like a weak 2 at most but the attempts at actually rocking out and the really soft MOR tracks on here were really not for me (Life in the Fast Lane, Wasted Time, Pretty Maids All in a Row are weak 1/5 for me) and so I have to go lower. New Kid in Town, Try to Love Again and The Last Resort are both highlights (close to or comfortably a 3/5) and I think they succeeded most when sticking to that kinda soft rock formula but most of these tracks just feel so disposable - even the main big title track (which isn't that overplayed for me and so can say with a clear head that I just didn't like it).

First song is good but overall pretty mid

This accommodation holds only solid (dad rock-) numbers. Simply noone can escape the all-time-megahit "Hotel California" and the two other rock standards "New Kid In Town" and "Life In The Fast Lane". But the B-side can't hold this level. And of course it must be said: "I hate the fucking Eagles" ;) Not easy for me to decide between three and four stars. 3,5

This was very soft. It was hazy, in a way. Dreamlike. The Last Resort was a great finisher for the album. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning. New Kid in Town was great. I hear Hotel California and Life In The Fast Lane weekly. Victim Of Love will be getting more plays by me. Fantastic album.

Classic. Enduring music. All songs well produced. 4.5

a classic. quality is very high

Favoriten Hotel california New Kid in town Wasted Time Pretty maids all in a row Try and love again

milquetoast to the nth degree

Legendary album. Not just the hits but it's pretty great all the way through, I also particularly enjoy Wasted Time and Try to Love Again. Not sure it's musically that ground breaking but these are just really solid songs, good harmonies, good guitar solos, cynical lyrics. What's not to like?

Decadent rock and roll with a country music echo, a different take on all things America and the disaffected masses!

Great album. Hadn't heard much beyond the title track before, but enjoyed it as a whole after a full listen. Every tune offered something new but contributed equally.

I've got to say I disagree with the Dude, I enjoy The Eagles.

Not as bad as I thought it would be. There are some nice melodies here, but maybe a little too soft all the way through

Ok boomer.

A 70s soft rock classic with incredible vocal parts and harmonies and subtle arrangements that makes all the difference from a bland soft rock album.

Ekstra. 5/5. Lubię taki rock hardrock z lat 70 i 80.

Ok. It is Hotel California.

The title track pulls the album up from a two, just too Easy Listening for me

The eagles are the first band I was ever obsessed with. I would go to Sam Goody and try and get every CD I could. Read biographies about them. They were a favorite of my dad too. I’ll always have a place for them in my pantheon. With that said, I think they’re great tunes and as good as it gets for 70s rock. Their lows are…awful. I think that HC is considered great because I don’t think it has lows. Bringing in Walsh was huge as well as he brought an edge to their sound that hadn’t been there. Henley is an underrated singer/drummer. Great songwriter as well. The band’s animosity towards each other is impressive and I really need to watch their documentary. I also like bands who have different singers. Here we have Henley, Fry, Walsh, and Meisner. The vocals are so strong.

I think the first three tracks are the high water mark and HC itself is undeniably a classic, but then this gets more and more overindulgent for my liking. The quality of the music is great but it all feels middle of the road, which is what they were clearly aiming for!

I thought I knew this album and had extremely high expectations. I am a little sad as it turns out my view of Eagles is built based on their "A" game titles. Hotel California is a great. Nothing wrong with the album its good but many songs are just bland. Not in a shit bland kind of way. Like a VW they are extremly solid and reliable and often arguably the best choice but sensible doesnt always mean best. VW can make some amazing sports / luxury cars but at their core they are a sensible mans car. I am going to go get into my VW group car and cry now.

What an album of two halves. Kicking off with one of the best tracks ever recorded, the first few songs assure you are in for a banger of an album. Unfortunately the album falls off into some generic slow county rock, finishing with an unenjoyable dirge. The balance on this as an album is too much towards the the uninspiring which is a shame given it includes such an iconic and culturally significant track.

Possible to not like a band but quite like an album? Yes.

Pretty good.

I really wanted to hate this - the eagles represent so much I hate in self-satisfied, bloodless soft rock...but, it's pretty good? There's a reason the title track is a classic, and New Kid and Life in the Fast Lane are also pretty great driving rock songs. It tails off a little towards the end, and I can't morally give it a 4, but definitely a high 3.

This album is the definition of bland

Sounds like a blast, I just hope it doesn't have Bed Bugs.

Title track aside, it’s mid tier yacht rock.

My god, these songs are so utterly, profoundly lame that it's almost disturbing. On paper, it's all there, but the whole thing feels so plastic it almost becomes an uncanny valley imitation of human soul and emotions. The title track is a classic, who am I to deny it - but with each track afterwards, any semblance to the fire that ignites raw creativity and passion fades further and further from view. I'm so glad punk happened the very next year.

Is this really in the running for greatest album? It has one good side and then just duds except Victim for Love. Nah. It's just a fine album.

1. Hotel California is amazing of course. May be the only song I have heard on this album. 2. New Kid in Town - Don't love this one. When guitar gets going I really like the guitar part and the chorus is okay. Don't love the verse structure. 3. Life in the FastLane - Oh of course I have heard this one also. Great song. Best guitar licks on the album. 4. Wasted Time - This one is pretty great too. Almost like a good love ballad. Interesting classical bit at the end of it. I'm not mad at it. 5. I missed the title of the last song. Victim of love maybe? It was fine, forgettable. 6. Pretty Maids All in a Row - Don't love it. Not sure it fits well with the album. Too slow and mellow. It was fine. 7. Try and Love Again - I miss the amazing guitars from earlier in the album. Where did that go? This one is ok. Pretty forgettable though. I feel like you would love this one if you are a Mega Eagles fan but that's it. Oh there is some guitar but not close to earlier in the album, not as good. 8. The Last Resort - I think at this point I'm ready for the album to be over. Great songs at the beginning but the beginning but I haven't loved anything since track 4. Album was fine. Just feel like the band wasn't consistent. If I didn't know who the Eagles were I would have thought this was an album with a few different bands on it.

Other than the hits on the album, felt a little underwhelmed.

So many good songs on it and a masterpiece of the country / rock genre.

One classic song, followed by a decent song, followed by a load of rubbish

Scrapes a 3 as I lost interest at points despite how good it is.

Dad Rock at its most Dad Rockiest! Being a Dad I enjoyed it.

Didn't think I liked the Eagles, but I quite enjoyed this one. Easy listening. A very accomplished album - hangs together and moves through a few hits with good additions. Not sure how often I will listen to it but probably a bit more now that I've listened through our little group! x

Iconic album from one of the most successful bands of all time.

Stinky album

Surprised not to be giving this 5 stars, but just because some of its great doesn't mean all of it is. Some incredible moments and world class tunes, but also some moments where it fell into middle of the road soft rock. Blinding guitar playing throughout though.

It's loses pacing in the middle, but is bookended by two very solid songs.

Good, known and expected. 3/5

The Joe Walsh contribution stands out, of course. Perfect.

It’s not a bad album but I understand why people are like warm on the Eagles

Welcome to the Hotel California—such a lovely place, such a lovely face, and somehow still one of the most hauntingly perfect albums ever made. From the edge-of-paradise mystique of the title track to the wild rhythm of Life in the Fast Lane, this album walks the line between dream and disillusion. New Kid in Town is heartbreak with a smile, Wasted Time aches in all the right places, and yes—Pretty Maids All in a Row still gets an invite to the party. Try and Love Again? Don’t need to. This album already nailed it. It’s The Last Resort, the top shelf, the forever play. You can check out any time you like… but you’ll never want to leave.

So boring holy shit

3 hits in this one, the biggest is of course Hotel California. The rest is like three songs that are good but not as great.

There are bands that play a style of music because that is what they are most passionate about. Then there others that just do what's popular. The eagles are the latter. Competent but fairly soulless 2.5*

Eneste grunn til at dette albumet får en treer, er tittelsporet og til en viss grad de roligere sporene (Wasted time og Pretty maids...). Håpet siste spor skulle følge denne trenden, men den gang ei. Resten av albumet var dørgende kjedelig. Forstår The Dude enda bedre nå.

Ah, at long last, I get to review Hotel California. My parents listened to The Eagles quite a bit when I was a kid, and I kept that tradition going through most of my college years. However, I don't think I've ever listened to all of this album. Other than reviewing The Eagles' debut album a while back, I haven't listened to them much since college (about twenty years ago, yikes). I have higher expectations for Hotel California than I did The Eagles self-titled album, so I'm hoping I'll really enjoy listening to this today. I thought Hotel California was really good overall. There were definitely parts that I enjoyed more than others, but as a whole, this is a solid album. I’ve had a soft spot for the title track on this album since I was a kid. The guitar playing is absolutely fantastic throughout the song, the bass playing is great, and I love Don Henley’s vocals. The songwriting here is fantastic as well, and I love how the theme of addiction on this song can be applied to so many different things in life. As a kid, it drove me wild that this song’s story wasn’t completed by the lyrics, but as an adult, I feel like the solo at the end completes the story. “Hotel California” more than earns its reputation as one of the best classic rock songs of all time. Even though I love the title track, I don’t particularly care for “New Kid in Town.” It’s a fine song, but after the high of “Hotel California,” “New Kid in Town” feels like such a bore to me. However, “Life in the Fast Lane” is great. The bass is groovy, the lead guitar has a perfect desert flair to it, and the lyrics tell a captivating story of a couple whose life has been taken over by their desire for material excess. I love the piano and Don Henley’s vocals on “Wasted Time,” and even though its sound is a far cry from the songs I like the most on this album, it’s absolutely beautiful. The strings that kick in about halfway through are great too. I really love how the second side of the album starts with the reprise, opting to continue with the beautiful string arrangement that kicked in on the second half of the song. Even for a short reprise, I love the mini-crescendo the song builds to. “Victim of Love” goes back to the guitar rock with the southwest flare that I love on this album. This is far from my favorite Eagles song, but listening to it reminded me just how much I love Don Henley’s singing. “Pretty Maids All in a Row” and “Try and Love Again” are fine songs, and I don’t mind Joe Walsh’s or Randy Meisner’s vocals, but they just don’t hold a candle to Don Henley. Even though I’m not crazy about either of those songs, they do both bring a good sound to the album. “The Last Resort” isn’t a favorite of mine either, but I love the synthesizer that’s used towards the end of the song. Even though I’m not fan of it, it’s a nice song, and it’s a great closing track. I was really hoping that this would be a five-star album for me, but it falls a bit short. “Hotel California,” “Life in the Fast Lane,” and “Victim of Love” are all stand-outs on here, but I feel like they blow everything else out of the water, and I wish more of this album kept with the rock sound that was prevalent on those songs. Still, this is a really good album, and I can understand why it was so well received by critics and why fans of The Eagles really love it. However, I can also see why Rumors took home the Grammy award while Hotel California didn’t.

Never been much of a fan of this album, but it has been some time since I've listened to it... I reluctantly listened to it again today... I'm still right, this album doesn't resonate with me. Its ok, but in my mind, its over hyped.

Fantastic album. So many songs I already love. The middle section could hit a bit harder so I’d give it a 4.5. It needs to be a perfect 5 to be a 5 so for that, it gets a 4.

Who knew the eagles were so divisive?! Not me. A bit drab in the middle but overall it was an enjoyable album

Awesome album. Top 20 all time!

Better than Coldplay.

Decent 70s rock album

I have not listened to this album in its entirety in years. I must say it is excellent from beginning to end. The songs all meld together great so it feels symmetrical as you weave from one stpry to another. This album shows the talents of all the songwriters in the band and highlights the great playing from each member. Favorite songs are “Victim Of Love”, Life in the Fast Lane”, “The Last Resort”, and of course the title track.

Ah, the Eagles. I was a big fan back when I was a kid. Been a long time since I’ve listened to this one, so it was interesting to revisit. I’d say “Life in the Fast Lane” still holds up, as does the classic title track, though I’ve heard that one so many times I don’t really need to hear it again. Everything else on the album is a bit too mainstream 70s yacht rock for my current taste. Well written and immaculately produced, but not what I’d listen to today.

When I was 15, I took a trip to the East Coast to visit family. Lots of driving from New Jersey to Maine, so I had my trusty Walkman with me. When we stopped to see my brother in New Hampshire, he gave me Hotel California on cassette. On the drive from Concord all the way up to the most northern part of Maine, it's about an 8 hour drive, and it's nothing but trees, I had that tape on constant rotation. This may be the first time I have listened to the full album since that trip, 35 years later. So let's see if I enjoy the album as much as I did back then. The title track, in my opinion, is one of the greatest songs ever written, multiple interpretations of the words, a classic rhythm and melody, and an excellent solo and instrumental section to end the track. But that is just track one, how does the rest of the album stand up? I was just watching an interview with Billy Corgan last night, and he was mentioning how musicians just know when they have that hit song or record that is going to be remembered. So it's interesting that the Eagles released New Kid in Town as their lead off single for this album. They had to know Hotel California was the song that was going to carry this album. Regardless, New Kid is a great Glenn Frey song. Probably the only bad part of this album, is we only get one Frey song. I think the beauty of this album is the pace. It has all the ups and downs in all the right places as the third track is a banger with Life in the Fast Line, then we bring it back down with Wasted Time to end side one. We start side two off with another great rocker, Victim of Love, then it wouldn't be a classic Eagles album without Joe Walsh, and Pretty Maids All In A Row. The second half definitely mellows out, as Randy Meisner gives us another slower piece with Try and Love Again, but this does not slow down the momentum as we prep into the epic closer with The Last Resort. There is something to be said about 35 years ago, without the need to pull out my smartphone and look up every detail of this album. Just to have the grayish cassette with the song titles to look at, and just the music and your own thoughts to take you away. That old cassette is long gone, lost to time, but my love for this album remains. So I think I will be upgrading that old cassette, for the current preferred listening format ... new vinyl.

Genuinely didn't know that the Eagles made music other than Hotel California. Like, I've heard other songs, but I didn't make the connection to the name. 4/5

Yeah, it's all right.

Pretty much impossible not to give this 5 stars. The bookend tracks are amongst the best of this genre/era, shades of Thunder Road/Jungleland as far as storytelling and thematic strength. The instruments across the album are so freaking tight. Having different voices and feeling is also a major strength for them. Pretty Maids All in a Row and Try and Love Again didn't hit as hard as the rest of the songs, but I'd like to listen to this album more frequently and really let them hit because there's still stuff to love.

I kind of hate the song Hotel California, but these guys know what they want to do and they're good at it. 3.5

So, it starts off strongly and I was pleasantly surprised but it is all downhill from there as it descends into boring MOR ballads. Someone once ghosted me with the parting line ‘we are all prisoners here of our own device. Thanks Micah, I hope you are doing well. 2.5. Swithering over which way to round…

I hate the Eagles and this album deepened the hate.

I mean "Hotel California" is one of the greatest songs of all time. I'll say the same as for Bohemian rhapsody; if most of the world population knows the entire lyrics for your sih and a half minute long and 50 year old song, you've done something right. "New Kid in Town" is great as well. 4/5

One of my favourite albums. Absolutely fantastic

Classic.

high 3. Similar but all super listenable.

It's a good album, it has good classics, like Hotel California itself, but I had the feeling that at the end of the album I was very tired, as if I was listening to the same song.

Hotel California (the song) is a classic that though isn't my weapon of choice most days, still has my respect. It's by the best song on the album compared to the rest. I think the problem I have with the deep cuts on this album is that there's ideas and bits that I dig but the execution isn't for me. As a result, this tends to be a massive mixed bag of boring rock ballads that I don't care much for. I can understand why old dads eat this kind of stuff up, but as for a young college kid like myself, it's not something I would return to. The title track will always be iconic and the rest will always be the rest. This is an album meant to be commercial and it shows (4/10, 2/5 on this scale)

Hugely popular album from my teenage years. Still had plenty of interest.

4/5 classic

a classic album... every song is a banger... five stars... Don Henley was established as the lead singer... of the 8 songs, he is lead singer on five... one each get Frey, Walsh, and Meisner... and they all hit homeruns... a first ballot hall of fame album.

A killer title track which everyone has heard a thousand times, followed by other songs that pale in comparison but are totally fine, if a bit bland at times. The album tracks don’t pop but make for easy listening. Nothing to get mad about!

It's a question as old as Hotel California itself: What *is* Hotel California? Is it purgatory? Is it addiction? If you ask me, I'd say it's a 1976 studio LP by American rock band Eagles. With that out of the way, I can't say this was truly terrible, I just really don't care about Eagles. I mean, to list some positives, the title track is really great, yes its kind of played out, but it really is sort of an all-timer. Evocative lyrics and a hell of a guitar solo seal the deal, but I don't have to tell you this, you have definitely heard this song. While I don't agree with the seemingly extremely common belief that this is the only good song on the album, I think the gap between it and second place, Victim of Love, is noteworthy. Victim of Love is a pretty good rock song, it's catchy and driving and whatnot, it's just no Hotel California. Aside from this, Pretty Maids All in a Row is a pretty decent ballad, but the rest of the album just doesn't really do it for me. Eagles hit a kind of perfect commercial rock sweet-spot on this, as far as generating hits goes, but it's just not a formula that I think results in a particularly interesting album.

I could insert the Big Lewbowski quote here, but I’ve been beaten to it by many other middle aged men.

prvu pjesmu svi znamo, ostale dosta odudaraju od nje i, premda su pristojne, teško da će ikoga oboriti s nogu

The only worthwhile song on this album is Hotel California. The rest are terrible. Since the song after which the album is named would easily be 5 stars by itself, that bumps its rating up. If the entire album was just that one song I would be way happier.

Enjoyed it more than I expected.

Undeniably containing classics, but I would pick their debut album over this. I'm sure it'll grow with me over time - and maybe after a listen to it on my CD - but it just seems a bit pop-y or something. That being said, the title track, Try and Love Again and The Last Resort are great. Try and Love Again is my favourite! 3.5* rounded up (where I gave their debut album 4* outright!)

*Insert Big Lebowski quote here* 6/10

Enjoyed. Would buy on vinyl if found second hand

[before listening] ah SHIT! well. 6 albums before i rolled Dad Rock, not a bad streak for a list as weighed down by that sort of rockist pap as this one. i'll give it a fair shake but none of the big hits do much for me. [after listening] yeah this is boring, insipid and mediocre deserves to be one of the 1001? hahaha no

I wish this album didn’t have some halfway decent songs, because I really don’t like the eagles. That said, the Gypsy Kings version of Hotel California is far superior, but I have to give these jerks credit for writing it. Also, I really don’t like this yacht rock crap either.

Ive never been a big Eagles fan. This album definitely has some hits (understatement) and strong moments. It also has a lot of sentimentality that doesnt really gel with me. Overall- good album

aggressive cumming

Great album.

Iconic. Title song a bit overplayed but still a classic. 7/10 fav songs : Victim of Love & Hotel California

Some really good depth. I enjoyed this - driving down the I-5 south in California.

Wasted Time is an aptly named song. However, the rest of the album is comfortable listening and fits like a 10 year old Birkenstock. Hotel California (song) is genius and somehow doesn't get old.

One of the classics. The only downside is that this one has been so overplayed over the years, but there's still magic here.

Multiple classics...but a few weak ones too.

Fine. Better than I thought, but boring.

pretty good. 7.5/10

This album was released when I was a college student. The Eagles were pretty big at the time and this album propelled them to a super duper top band. Just about everyone had the album then (not me, strangely). I know every song on the album except the Joe Walsh track. The Eagles promoted the album with a tour in early 1977, with Jimmy Buffett as the opening act. Jimmy was just getting popular back then. I saw that show at the Richfield Coliseum (which no longer exists). I think having seen the band in concert requires me to give the album a high rating.

Wouldn't you know, I wrote an undeservedly long review for this one (mostly about how I didn't know there were *two* Dons in the Eagles, one being Henley (no direct relation to the shirt) and one being some guy I've never heard of, yet somehow neither is Don McLean (who I like fine, by the way)) and my computer restarted and I lost it. But that's fine because the Eagles are bad. My main points: - This is 70s country to me and IDK why everyone (wiki) calls it straight-up rock. - Vocalist ranking (based on these songs): Meisner > Frey > Walsh > Henley - Hotel California is probably my favorite Eagles song, but I still dislike it very much. Perhaps if they weren't as overplayed as they are, I'd give this a 3, but it is very overplayed and I've been hating the Eagles for a long time, so I give it a 2. Maybe I'm starting to get freer with the 2s. If there's another Eagles album (god forbid), maybe it'll be a 1!!

Enjoyable but basic radio rock music

Thought I’d hate it. Never listened to the eagles before so there must be a reason. Loved it. Great singers, great guitarists.

Excellent 👌

Decent listen

I suppose I understand the hype, good vibes, American Wedding still better honestly

Really nice album, the album follows the vibe of hotel California and keeps giving. Made for an enjoyable drive! 8/10.

Everybody’s always wondering how this is the greatest selling band of all time. No seriously, everybody is wondering that. It’s one non sensual single and a bunch of filler. How did they bamboozle so many people? It remains a mystery.

Surprisingly a lot of big time hits on here. I’ve hear all of them before but never realized they all came off of the same album. Solid lineup can’t go wrong playing them around anyone

Beginning and end of this album were solid. Maybe I lost interest part of the way through and picked back up towards the end, but the first three tracks (Hotel California, New Kid in Town, and Life in the Fast Lane) felt solid, and the final two (Try and Love Again, The Last Resort) felt similarly. Of songs I have not heard before, my favorite was probably The Last Resort.

Some timeless hits that make it an undeniable classic, there are some indulgent moments that push it to be a bloated orgy

very nostalgic for me, reminded me of riding in my dads mercedes when i was little

there was 2 good songs and those are their hits soooo…. as the dude says, it’s been a long night and i hate the fuckin eagles man i don’t hate the eagles but i get where he’s coming from now. they’re not my top i’ll say that.

Some great songs

I don’t think I can name a single complaint I have with this record. It’s truly a classic. It’s really hard to overstate what a massive positive impact Joe Walsh joining the eagles had. The title track is legendary, but the rest of album really stands up. A bunch of musicians from the south recording an album about California in recording studios in both LA and Miami makes this, in my opinion, one of the best and most American rock albums of all time. It’s got just enough of that country twang shining through to differentiate itself from a lot of contemporary albums, but it never feels forced or fake. The song “Wasted Time” has always stood out to me as being crushing and beautiful at the same time. It’s far and away my favourite Eagles song. This is one of those records that I’ll put on every few months, and I love listening to it every time. 5*

I wish I could unhear all of the times I had ever listened to "Hotel California" to listen to it for the first time now. When you've heard a song a million times throughout your whole life, it's easy to not really appreciate all of the little intricate details that go into it, and there are many of these in its six and a half minute run time. I tried to listen to it as if I never had before and I reached the conclusion this song is something of a masterpiece that I never really appreciated before. That being said, I think it was a mistake to open this album with the title track. After "Hotel California", the remaining tracks on the album just seem kinda... unremarkable. Flat. Phoned in. "Life in the Fast Lane" is alright, and "Wasted Time" I like, but basically none of side 2 stands out to me. Maybe I would've liked the album better if it started with the other songs and finished with a stroke of genius rather than starting at its best and going downhill from there.

Grotendeels overbodige plaat.

This album is 1 good guitar solo and the most mid margaritaville soundtrack. There are two good songs hotel California and surprisingly the best on the album, Try and Love Again. Life in the fast lane continues to be the worst song written. Overall didn’t change my opinion of the eagles. Incredibly overrated and just okay. 5/10

As overplayed as Eagles are, there was plenty on this album I hadn’t heard before that were a nice surprise. My favorite being “Try and love again.” 90% of this album is great for any occasion. Album is a solid 8/10

Eagles are alright sorta boring at times to me. Hotel California feels so separate from everything else but it’s not bad background music though I have a visceral hatred for life in the fast lane for some reason and maybe that’s biasing me towards the whole thing

It was okay. 'Hotel California' is nice. Not impressed overall.

Sappy synth pop meets crunchy guitar riffs in a clash of unremarkable and unforgettable ballads. This album was all over the place. I appreciate that the songs had an undercurrent stitching them all together. A little overdone at times, but an enjoyable listen nonetheless. I left happy to have heard it.

Ah it's pretty good

The Eagles are NOT yacht rock. And that's all I have to say about that. Hotel California is nonetheless an all-time great song apparently about California.

Excellent musicianship and songwriting, just not my style.

I did not expect to particularly enjoy this but I also didn’t expect to actively dislike it even more after listening the whole way through. Listen, I get why it’s on this list; it was and remains ubiquitous. And technically, yeah, these guys seem like good musicians - particularly the guitar work. But that almost makes it worse, because everything about this record is slick and soulless. In its best moments it’s like the opening music they do for Sunday Night Football on tv - obviously designed to get you amped up, smooth & distracting enough for you to not think at all about how it’s turning your own human emotions against you for someone else’s commercial gain. So much of American culture is this now - it infuriates me to learn that we checked in here all the way back in the 70s. I want us to leave! Having now actually listened to them sort of on purpose, I guess I also hate the fucking Eagles, man.

I just can't with this band- either I like it or immediately tune it out.

Est-ce que c'était pas un tout petit peu chiant en fait ?

I have no need to listen to this. I know how good it is. I will though. 5/5

I suppose a lot of people would list this on their top 100 albums let alone 1000. Peak Eagles, the album is commercial yet has some biting lyrics and uncomfortable themes. The title track is of course so well known it became a meme before memes were a thing. Life in the Fast lane is a good rocky song. The last Resort comes across as a country song in places, but heavily orchestrated in others. This is one of those albums where the styles can change quite radically from song to song. I like that.

It's good music, it just didn't resonate with me personally so I can't give it 5. But still really good.

Another not great album to cap off a week of not great albums. Only 3 stars cos of the title track.

There is two fantastic songs on here Thats it Still 4-star

Rating: 6/10 Hard carried by Hotel California and Life in the Fast Lane. Everything else is pretty boring and unremarkable.

Classic song(s). Sound of an era. But yeah, like my dad said to me growing up, “after 30 years of hearing the same songs every night at work, I’d be fine if I never hear them again.”

Hotel California has one of the most famous guitar solos ever and I never get bored listening to it. Life in the Fast Lane is a fun groovy one to listen to as well.

Giving some credit where due i suppose, these guys had a bunch of hits and a bunch of them are on this album

2-ply super soft bullshit. And dude, Red Man is not the preferred nomenclature. Native Americans, please

Vinyl: Yes Fav Song: New Girl in Town Notes: I get it but I'm over it.

If I'd never heard any of these songs before, I'd appreciate this album a whole lot more. As it is, after hearing Hotel California for the ten thousandth time it just doesn't have the same effect. Guess that's why it makes the list: iconic sound, tracks that spawn generations of fans, and just not something I'm gonna smoke in my pipe that often.

Beautiful album!

Don Felder’s songs are good.. the titular track’s guitar is solid. But it’s been a long night, and I hate the fucking Eagles.

Between the SoCal-Laurel Canyon themes, the storytelling, the guitar brilliance, the excellent harmonies, and especially having Joe Walsh spread his vocal wings (pun intentional) and belt out a ballad, this is purely majestic. VICTIM OF LOVE ~ NEW KIND IN TOWN ~ LIFE IN THE FAST LANE just straight cAsH mOnEy!!

Why is every song 5 minutes

Potentially hot take but as a whole it didn’t do everything it needed to to be one of the most celebrated albums out there

My dad used to put this on during roadtrips so everything about it is familiar and it is a good album

I get the criticism of it being a bit bland, but it is a classic for a reason. The culmination of the "California Sound"

Good songs but also not my jam or vibes. Great opening few tracks but everything else was a little underwhelming.

Hotel California is so good… and the rest of the album is so mediocre.

This one is a no-brainer for me. One of my favs.

Eagles are so great, I had never listened to this album, and im glad I did. Rating it a three, but really enjoyed the singles.

5 in another life

Pre-listening thoughts: generator… stop giving us all these good albums all at once… we are going to be left with slop by album 300 please… Post/during listening thoughts: I actually went roller skating to this album. It was the perfect length and wonderful spring/sunny day atmosphere. Some people say Eagles aren't yacht rock but I would disagree. I think they're almost textbook definition of it. I'm also not really sure why everyone HATES them cause I enjoyed this overall but some of the songs weren't like super memorable. 7.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nah Fav tracks: Hotel California, New Kid in Town, Life in the Fast Lane, Try and Love Again Least fav tracks: n/a

All songs sound the same Mid at best Folk not rock by any means. Hotel California is the o ly thing holding this down

Not my cup of tea

Not familiar with first track but might be popular some day.

I figured I'd give this a shot when 1001Albums pitched this to me to see if I really did hate the Eagles or if it was just a meme opinion I absorbed through film and the internet. Turns out I am in fact not a fan of this kind of slow, soft, reggae-tinged, tropical, sap ballad type of pop rock. None of the songs are all that exciting to me, and I while I'm a sucker for classic rock stuff to a degree the title track always stuck out as lame to me. Midwestern boomers longing for the exoticism of the west coast / the tropics while zerking it with pina coladas and acoustic beach side love ballads just doesn't warrant the rock coat of paint. Crackkkers need to knock that shit off.

Like the music, but maybe the eagles are bad people idk

The title track is a classic, great intro, dark lyrics and memorable solo. The rest is at times OK or sometimes, for me uninteresting, not my thing , AOR or soft rock.. whatever.. The last songs I couldn't finish them

It doesn't do much for me personally.

WELCOME TO THE HOTEL CALIFORNIA!!!!! SUCH A LOVELY PLACE!!!! SUCH A LOVELY FACE!!!! Resten av låtarna är också bra I guess, jag gillar att många av dem är som små historier man kan lyssna på.

Great album, great band. Though it's overplayed. I don't listen very much. I can usually hear the songs on the radio frequently.

Tapera down after the title hit Still nice though 4/5

One of the best overall albums ever. Stacked with hits.

I did appreciate the yacht rock elements of it because I love yacht rock but wow the eagles are really not for me. And also one of my least favorite people in middle school was obsessed with the title track so I might be biased but idc this sucked

Great listen, got into my playlist

Can’t go wrong with this classic

The title track is amazing. "Life in the Fast Lane" is decent. The rest of the album is OK, but I'm surprised the album did as well as it did.

If all the songs approached the quality of the title track amd a few others, this would have been a strong 3. But, too much of it is too middling. You can see why their Greatest Hits album is their best selling album

It's amazing how familiar most of this is for how much I dislike it.

really fun album!

Pixie looks like he enjoys the first song! Me and Nata chicken are high enjoying icecream vanilla\! And we watched the Minecraft Movie today 2025, it was a really fun chaotic time, the children yearn for the mines!!!

Simply based on the historic nature of the album and the staying power of the songs, this album still holds water.

And who doesn't like THIS album? This is like Springsteen, if you don't love it you're a red commie who enjoys killing puppies, right? I'm paying attention, and tracking reviews...

Starts off hot with the ubiquitous title track, then shifts gears through blues rock, ballads, and country rock. They’re at their best when they hit that classic rock groove. Everything else is forgettable.

Some of the guitars kick ass, the slow ballads are not my jam. Really 3.5 but the familiarity bias is real.

The Dude fuckin’ hates the Eagles man and I disagree. Hotel California (song) is a classic for good reason. And I think Life In The Fast Lane is my favorite Eagles with its energy straight from the open. Side 1: 5 stars Victim Of Love is the highlight of side 2 while the rest of it wilts in comparison to side 1. Side 2: 3 stars

Exceptional album, a collection of solid rock songs. I will say, I feel like there weren’t too many standouts aside from the title track, but I still feel that the songs are all great.

There's not a lot to say about this album that everybody doesn't already know. It was the #1 album in 1977, the year I graduated from high school. Personally I've worn it out, but there's a couple of tracks on there, namely "Wasted Time" and "Victim of Love" that are timeless to me and which I consider the best on the album. If this album doesn't deserve 5 stars I don't know what would qualify.

The title track on here is of course as iconic as they come, for good reason. And there's a couple other very very good songs on here- I debated between 4 and 5 stars on this for a while, and went with 4 because while it has a couple incredible songs the album as a whole doesn't quite carry the same weight.

Haven’t finished but nevertheless liked it 50/50

I've heard the title track about 10,000 times, but always as background music never on a good system sitting in the sweet spot. It's an impressive performance. So I'm grateful that this exercise pushed me to do something I otherwise would not have. 3 stars

Some dad rock can be good for the soul, but most of these songs are too slow for my liking.

Good album, definitely not my favourite. I was probably frustrated a bit too because I signed up for this project to broaden my horizons, but I get this one as first (again, not that I don’t like it, but i’ve heard it named “greatest” and recommended everywhere) and it was underwhelming to see it once again.

This is just a great, classic album.

Noooo!!!!! A real text conversation between Reggie and I to explain my feelings: AC: Afternoon MLB is such a vibe. Wednesday is the frickin day, man RM: Hell yeah. 12:35 start for STL v PIT, then baseball for the rest of the day. What a time to be alive AC: Love it. I’d much rather ball in the background than Hotel California. That’s my 1001 today… blegh RM: I mean it's not the *worst* eagles album lol AC: The amount of cocaine/mimosa-fuelled sex that’s happened to the tune of this album… RM: And that's a bad thing?!?! AC: Great point RM: We’ve all been there *mimosa emoji* AC: Well, this conversation just wrote tomorrow’s 1* review hahah RM: Hahaha glad I could help *laughing emoji*

Spending more time with this one will easily bump it up to a 5.

overplayed for a reason

Didn’t listen to this as carefully as I would have liked but cool nonetheless. Hotel California is a good song but I could go without hearing it for a year or two

Another overplayed 80's icon. Still a great record though. "Pretty Maids...." Is one of Dylan's favorite songs. I enjoy some of the mellower songs as much as the hits tbh

i lovee this album my favs r probs hotel California and the last resort but rly all the songs r amazing also new kid in town, life in the fast lane, try and love again, pretty maids all in a row honestly the whole album is so amazing

hasn't aged well.

Love you mom! You’re favorite album is here

It's not good when the words I would use to describe the overall texture of the album are 'hollow', 'monotone', or 'shrill'. It's funny because I actually think there are some decent ideas here from a music-writing standpoint (wasted time, pretty maids all in a row), conflating my final score to something like 1.6. But the whiny voice, lazy bass and boring guitar riffs lead me to believe that nobody in the band seems to have the talent or range to explore these ideas.

They are technically skilled, and the highlights for me are the times the guitars duel, like at the end of Hotel California. But everything screams corniness for me. I prefer more punk-laden social commentary, not this.

One of those bands where people think the writing is really deep and get a lot out of the songs, but I definitely don't. Songs like Life in the Fast Lane are just a waste of time for me, where's the intrigue? The writing is slightly more complex than the average pop song, but not by much. The rock songs with boring lyrics are blended in with boring ballads like Wasted Time which makes it that much harder to listen to. Plus you add in the plausibly problematic fact that these guys are consistently judging women "out in those bars" after a breakup. "I could be wrong, but I'm not, no I'm not" is also one of the most obnoxious things I've heard a boy band say after telling a woman how she feels. Even writing a song about environmentalism ain't gonna save this from a 1/5. I'll be curious to see what the rest of the group thinks, because I think the Eagles will be lost to time here in another decade.

Can't hear the Eagles without thinking of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JlmvtAHhnc Anyway, the title track suffers from its success, but unlike Paranoid or other heavily-played tracks, it's harder for me to see its virtues. Dunno why. Still okay, but it wasn't starting from high bar. Don't think I've heard the rest of this album. Don't think I like it much. I'm not opposed to dramatic schmalzy stuff but this really doesn't do it for me much. This is just very boring. They take the most boring of country and fuse in some of the most uninspired rock. 1.5 stars, rounding to 2. This was bad in a nothing way, rather than the offensively awful GNR. But this and Van Halen have similarities in quality.

Fortunately, unlike the Hotel California, you can leave the Hotel California album. There are two good songs on this album, the title track and Life in the Fast Lane, so this gets one star for each of those.

A beautiful masterpiece, creating waves through each track. Really taking you on a journey

It was actually pretty solid but also forgettable. Hotel California is (too) well known and it’s a classic but no other song really stood out for me

4,5/5 ⭐ atemporal demais, eagles não erra nunca, músicas viciantes e gostosas de ouvir

I'll never understand how people can hate on the Eagles. Are they perfect? No. But they're sure close to it. Hotel California just shoots out of the gate with straight heat. Sure we all know the song, yes you've probably heard it too many times. But that doesn't make it a bad track of music. Quite the contrary IMO. Going right into New Kid in Town which I think is so underrated,. Then to life in the fast lane. Like c'mon man. They might a song out of a warm up riff that Joe Walsh used to play. The record definitely drops off a bit after that. But i think the first 3-4 definitely give this record a solid 4. They were cranking out a ton of music at this time and this was the tail end before there was a 3 year break until The long Run(also a little underrated). Will forever love the Eagles and tell everybody to watch the Eagles Doc. It's killer

I hate the title track

Fav: Hotel California Least Fav: Life In The Fast Line A lil better than the other Eagles album on here, but at the end of the day it’s sadly still just the same old Eagles

This is really good! I guess I never really listened to the eagles. I knew of hotel california but I don’t think my brain knew it was them

It’s a classic. Very nostalgic

Solid fun listen. I dont think i was blown away by most of the tracks, but glad i listened!

Title song is amazing rock storytelling. But the rest didn’t resonate with me

Nonstop bangers. They could re-release this album as a Greatest Hits album and I wouldn't bat an eye. Badass technical guitar work, some of the best harmonies in rock, (mostly) good songwriting, and solid band cohesion make this a Top 10 album for me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This album has this one great track which is Hotel California.

I'm with the Dude on this one.

First Eagles album, already enjoyed the title track and listening to this through twice gave me 2/3 more tracks I enjoyed. I did find a few too many of the tracks a little uninspiring though. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

What can I say about Hotel California? It has one of the greatest songs of all time kicking it off. Such an incredible song, no words I say can do it justice. From the soft guitar intro kicking it off, to the smooth lyrics, to the outro. Just a perfect song. And that outro? It's a full two minutes long, normally I'd say that's too much. The song is over, just end it. But not Hotel California. That outro just keeps up the amazing energy the song brings. If anything, it feels too short, I could hear those guitars wail for a lot longer. I could give this album a 5 star rating on this song alone, even if the rest of the album was terrible. But it's absolutely not. It keeps going strong with some more good smooth rock with New Kid In Town. Life In The Fast Lane kicks the tempo up a bit nicely. Wasted Time tones it down a bit, but still a nice song. Victim Of Love was ok. Pretty Maids All In A Row was sweet. Try And Love Again moves along nicely. The Last Resort ends it out smoothly. Great album, loved it the whole way through. I also love that this album was released on my birthday, 7 years before I was born. Best song: Hotel California

The first side of this album is great with four very strong Top 40 hits. Turn the record over and it just (imo) peters out. I guess that's the reason I was never a huge fan of the Eagles. I always felt their output to be very inconsistent.

Hotel California - 4/5 New Kid in Town - 4/5 Life in the Fast Lane - 5/5 Wasted Time - 2/5 Wasted Time (Reprise) - excluded from rating Victim of Love - 4/5 Pretty Maids All in a Row - 2/5 Try and Love Again - 4/5 The Last Resort - 2/5 Average score: 3.4/5 (rounding down) honestly thought i'd find this a complete snoozer, i've only ever heard Hotel California and Life in the Fast Lane in the past. i was pleasantly surprised at how many tracks i did like, most were at least a 4 the album started strong, but definitely lost a lot of momentum once you reached the middle onward. Wasted Time and The Last Resort were definitely my least favorite of the songs, which likely dropped my rating significantly

The great songs are great. The title track is an all timer. But man, there aren't too many songs here and half of them really drag. Wasted time with the reprise right in the middle is a downer.

Less than 24 hours later and I can’t remember anything about this album.

This album is the definition of a deep cut. So many massive hits. One of the all time greatest albums made.

really solid album, guess I like the eagles

Hating on the Eagles is dumb... Hotel California, the track, is a masterpiece, and the whole album is a solid 5 even w/o this song.

title track and fast lane are bangers… the rest is ehhh..

Some good stuff here! The first half of this album could have been 5 star, loved it. 2nd half was good but seemed to slow down too much for my liking I knew a lot of these songs already - a very enjoyable album 4 ⭐️

title track great, the rest I can take or leave

One of the best American bands

Never cared for The Eagles or this album in particular

Didn’t really listen actively but some decent songs on it 7/10

Not my type of music really. But it's not bad. It's something I could listen to once in a while.

Love this one.

Awesome album. Great song after great song.

yeah this is fire. obviously the first 3 tracks are bangers but I never listen to the rest -- also pretty good. i really liked Victim of Love, haven't heard it as often.

Some of the best

Nothing groundbreaking but they are the best at what the do. And this is their best

Ugh. Boomer shit.

3.5/5 Hotel California (the song) is an absolute masterpiece. The rest of the album doesn’t matter anymore. Even after hearing it so many times it still stays top class. The rest of the album is just solid. Favourite songs: - Hotel California - The last resort

Snoozacella. Yawnstock. Boringbury. Dullapalooza.

The Eagles is one of those bands thst have a great song you discover on Guitar Hero and think "man, I should listen to more of these guys", only to discover that Guitar Hero chose their one good song and everything else pales in comparison. Hotel California is a great song. Unfortunately, nothing else on the album is as interesting sonically, lyrically, or thematically. Great album cover though.

Best Eagle album by far. This should be in everyone's collection.

Like The Dude says, “I hate the fuckin’ Eagles, man.”

Hotel California is an incredible song. Loved every single bit of it. The rest of the album surprised me. I've never gotten around to the Eagles before so I thought it would sound similar to that song. But It was way more american and pop and rock n roll, and was giving me main-character-energy doing my high paced walk. Very driving music. The band sounds so good. His an amazing singer, and the guitarist is having the time of his life. The whole production reminded me of Fleetwood Macs "Rumours". Maybe it's the same studio? It's a very dry and saturated sound, almost cliché sounding. Loved the second and third track as well. From there it got a bit bland, but I liked the string and orchestra interludes, they were epic. Got a bit bored by the ending, except for the final son. I don't remember the name, but it got me in my feels.

If a near perfect album was ever made, it is this one. From the guitar master class by Felder/Walsh in the title song, "Hotel California", to Don Henley's soaring vocal in "The Last Resort", from start to finish, it is onenof the best albums, ever.

8/10. The music in this album is very splendid.

Yeah I I like it

Not the eagles man... The Eagles’ *Hotel California* stands as a timeless masterpiece of 1970s rock, blending lush harmonies, intricate storytelling, and virtuosic musicianship. Released in 1976, the album captures the decadence and disillusionment of its era, anchored by the haunting title track. “Hotel California” remains iconic, its cryptic lyrics and dual guitar solos symbolizing the seductive trap of excess and the elusive American Dream. Tracks like “New Kid in Town” and “Life in the Fast Lane” showcase the band’s versatility, weaving country-rock roots with sharper, edgier tones. Don Henley’s weathered vocals and the band’s meticulous arrangements—layered with Joe Walsh and Don Felder’s searing guitar work—elevate the album’s introspective themes. The closing epic, “The Last Resort,” reflects on environmental and societal decay, underscoring the Eagles’ knack for blending personal narratives with broader cultural critiques. While some may find its polish almost too pristine, *Hotel California* endures as a profound exploration of ambition and emptiness. A landmark in classic rock, it’s a album that invites both sing-alongs and deep reflection—a testament to the Eagles’ legacy.

hate the fucking eagles, man

Classic yacht rock

Title track is legendary. Thought the rest was a little uneven

Absolutely beautiful, love this song, it’s pretty popular and for good reason. If you don't know what song to play at a white dad party this is probably your best option. The lyrics are fantastic start to finish, no notes. I still wish I had the strength and memory to learn the guitar riff without my fingers falling off.

i really enjoyed this album. there where a few times it sounded a bit too country for me, but even then it’s not like country music is horrible, just a bit annoying sounding to me (blame my dad for having a country music phase in 2016). i’ll almost certainly buy this album on CD if i see it at vinnies, Hotel California is an obvious hit but i also really enjoyed Pretty Maids All In a Row and Wasted Time (reprise). i’m struggling to pick between a 4 and a 5 but im just not super drawn to listen to this album again for a little bit, i might reserve my 5’s for albums that i get hooked on, and this one, while it has all the ingredients of an album i’d love, just didn’t hook me.

I like prog-adjacent jazzy dad rock, but i also hate country. Hotel california starts strong, but then nosedives into country-esque dad rock. It threatens to get interesting again but it doesn't really hit the mark. I liked the last resort though and Hotel California is a classic.

Album is very dad rock. Favourite Songs: Hotel California, New Kid In Town, The Last Resort. Least Favourite Songs: Wasted Time (Reprise), Pretty Maids All In a Row.

As with most Eagles albums, everything by Glenn Frey or Don Henley - which is most of the album - is extraordinary.

'Hotel California' is undoubtedly one of the tracks of all time. But I'm not sure it's good enough to make up for what is an otherwise pretty bland album in my opinion. Standouts Hotel California 3/5

Hard to find to listen to so may not have got a fair shake.

A seminal Fave

The Eagles "Hotel California" Country Rock. That's not a seal of approval for me. Anything to do with 'country' is a red flag for me. But I have to say the three singles are real gems. I like "A New Kids in Town" more than the title track "Hotel California" - the singing is just beautiful. OK, the rest of the album doesn't quite convince me, but overall it's a good album.

Like catching up with an old friend.

I thought I might like this album better than my pre-conceived notion that I didn’t, but I was wrong. It’s pretty awful. The three hits that open the album have always been annoying to me, although the title track has a Steely Dan reference (They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast). The other “hit” (Victim of Love) is meh. The Joe Walsh penned track “Pretty Maids All in a Row” was decent, though. The Eagles have two great songs in their catalog, Already Gone, a rocker that has great guitar work (but they didn’t write it) and I Can’t Tell You Why, an achingly beautiful ballad with a lead vocal by co-writer Timothy B. Schmidt (also in Poco, a great country-rock band).

I cannot recall ever listening to this album, yet I knew virtually every song. When I was a small, small kid, I definitely listened to a ton of Eagles, especially Greatest Hits vol 2 (which explains knowing four of these), The Long Run, and Hell Freezes Over (which explains another three of these). Ah, there we go, only “try and love again” hasn’t been permanently etched into my brain. I knew I’d know the first 3 big singles, but it was a pleasant surprise getting hit with nostalgia on every other song, too. “Hotel California” was one of the first songs to make me realize lyrics can have deeper meanings, too. (Before that, I was not probing Kriss Kross for meaning. They’ll make you jump. Full stop.) Also, in the “life is funny” category: distinctly remember listening to “the long run” on cassette tape while I played video games, age 10 or so. Today, how’d I listen to this album? On my phone while playing video games. Hard not to give that a 5: I’ve loved all these songs for a long time. Maybe not “life in the fast lane,” which sounds the most dated, but some of the others hold up. I may have to hand in my hipster card. I will also say, apart from any nostalgia: these guys can write a great final minute of a song. I’m not confident the songs in whole would stand on their own if I was just hearing them for the first time, but the last minutes of Hotel California, New Kid in Town, and Try and Love Again introduce musical ideas that are the best parts of the songs (the entire solo of HC is its best part), the final minute of Wasted Time complicates its lyrics interestingly, and the final minutes of Victim of Love and Life in the Fast Lane just thump you over the head with their respective best parts, which is never a bad songwriting idea. The final minute of The Last Resort is a fitting coda to the song and album. I award no bonus points to the final minute of pretty maids. You really blew it, pretty maids.

Kelly would be proud.

The Eagles are one of those bands that I feel have been pushed on me for so many years, but for some reason I never quite connect with. This album is actually very good, both as a concept album and with its individual songs - the first 4 alone are true classics. But this will never go on my mecca of albums. There is nothing that jumps out at me anymore, which would make sense considering I've heard all these songs so many times. I'll never understand the pure hatred of certain songs either. They were popular at a time for a reason. Maybe Hotel California is to some what Mr. Brightside is to others? Who knows.

Probably the best Eagles album (it's basically their greatest hits). But, it's still the Eagles.

Very melodic, reasonably calm, nothing intense or heavy. Victim of Love was probably my favourite. Not the biggest fan, felt a bit boring, but liked all songs enough to add them to a playlist.