4 Voices and vices combine for a worthwhile album experience. Not gonna love every song, but that’s not the point of this music. Repetitive lyrics and beats taken to some extremes—but both are catchy and reward multiple listens. Simple here means stripped down. In a good to the point way.
Not my cup of tea, and a lot like tea, I drink these songs once in a while for change of pace and to see if my taste has changed. My opinion of these songs have not changed: good musicians playing some catchy hooks, lyrics that are banal, and not especially moving. I enjoy Peg and and couple other songs. But not gonna cry or fuck to the album. Ever.
Classic rock in a classic album. Since I live at The Hotel California (in Hollywood, where the album sleeve was shot), I have listened to it numerous times. It holds up. I also love The Big Lebowski. Of their types, each is great.
Shocking in all its metal edges! Fun, triumphant, ecstatic, a hell of a good time. I forgot how good this really is. Classic!
Before reviewing this album in its entirety, I thought Billy Joel nothing but schmaltz. Tasty for a nibble, but not something I would make a whole meal out of. I was wrong. It is a great album. With the exception of "Just the Way You Are", I loved each song. "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" great lyrics, the first section manages to not become saccharine and in the second section uses pace and new instruments to build upon the early theme. Likewise "Vienna" mimics the same structure. This structure of slower, more deliberate, more sparse performing followed up in the second part as something more complete, more whole, more energized seems to be his "hit song" formula. It works well, like the best Broadway songs do. He is less strong when he keeps emotions vapid and strangles the rhythm of a song. Overall, a very fine album (really a 4.5)
Good, not great.
Despite the glow from press, and the classic song, Help Me Rhonda, the album is not a classic. Many of the lyrics don’t hold up well (misogyny throughout) and the arrangements redundant. On the plus side, the harmonies and vocals remain very solid.
I posted a review and it’s not here? What happened?
One if the few live albums I love—the songs of my youth. As is typical, a studio album has cleaner sound and sharper harmonies. But Ian Gilliam is a hell of a live singer—operatic or metal in style—he blended this into his own finest moment (apologies to JC Superstar). Individually, all the musicians crank. Lord on keyboards and Blackmore on guitar especially stand out. The songs are some of the finest hard rock songs I’ve heard and I now want to find this album for my collection.
Remarkable album—glad to hear it again after decades. It’s Progressive Rock, at its finest, whatever that means! Musically strong and well sung and the compositions very good. That’s what comes out now—the compositions are very fine, indeed. That said, I grew less and less interested in the album as it went along and by the end, I had enough of it.
One of the best albums ever-with brilliant song craft and top production, albeit stripped down to emphasize the purity of this masterpiece. Each song is superb, and I especially enjoy “It’s Too Late” the finest break-up song ever.
Moments
When these songs hit they’re extremely good, like a top vintage cru—but some of the songs are well below a standard of excellence associated with an all time great album. Great moments: Message in a Bottle, Bring on the Night, Walking on the Moon, and The Bed’s too Big Without You. I enjoyed less than expected because of the clunkers.
intrigued at first, it became boring after a couple of songs.
Classic in all possible ways!
Wanted to love this more as some classics on here showcase his writing and singing in finest form
Not to my taste-and it’s not nostalgic or fun, either. Hard no.
Using Spotify, I liked four of the songs especially. It seems at first listen to be an album that I might like over subsequent listens. Their is a lack of dynamic tension between songs--some may view this as a strength; to put it differently, most of the songs sound the same. I appreciate most the vocal harmonies that sound almost like "parallel organum" in Latin chants.
Sometimes pure poppycock, yet always interesting and worth multiple plays. I recommend being drunk on whiskey when listening to it.
Hits as hard now as ever—I did not predict this would last. And I’m sooooooo glad it remains vital.
A fun revelation—Iron Man and other heavy metal moments done in Swedish pop style. Not just a one hit wonder, but an interesting and dynamic band. Excellent vocalist. Why don’t rock bands have female vocalists? This one does and it’s all the better for it.
Some good songs and some crap—I’m less and less interested in the band and its music.
Not a fan or even an amused bystander-flat out painful to listen to an entire album of this mediocre music. The vocalists also provides the least inspired introductions I’ve heard from a major band. Seriously, why is this album selected? It is trash.
One of the best albums, of course. It might be the best ever. The final song, A Day In The Life, may also be The Beatles finest song. Listening to it again in 2025, it remains timely, perhaps because it is timeless. The compositions impeccable, including lyrics. The production is a masterclass. The musicians at peak. Even the album art extraordinary. Possibly flawless.
Moments of glory don’t make up for a lack of new ideas, sonically or lyrically.
One of the best debut albums. And or amazes still.