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.