View That is brassy censure from a band that, in the Seventies, embodied Hollywood vainglory, shining its klieg-light guitars and vocals on the low roads through high living with an often wicked insight that only comes from knowing each mile intimately. But there is a potent restraint to "Long Road Out of Eden," in the bleak, hollow mix of acoustic guitar and electric piano in the verses and the overcast sigh of the harmonies. There is empathy, too, for the soldier on night patrol, with dirty work to do and everything to lose. "I'm not counting on tomorrow/And I can't tell wrong from right," Henley sings. "But I'd give anything to be there in your arms tonight." That's not self-interest -- just the purest need.
The resemblance in title between this album and the Eagles' last studio record, 1979's The Long Run, is no coincidence. Henley and singer-guitarist Glenn Frey, the band's surviving founders, have always written and sung about asphalt and distance —: getting as far from responsibility as possible, crawling home, bruised and maybe wiser, when the fun runs out. And making Long Road Out of Eden was a protracted haul in itself. Henley, Frey, guitarist Joe Walsh and singer-bassist Timothy B. Schmit reportedly worked on the album for six years, and the Topanga-country gallop "How Long" goes back much further. Written by veteran compadre J.D. Souther, it is a previously unrecorded relic of the group's early-Seventies live sets.
But the Eagles' original studio albums were all models of clenched-gleam detail, and Long Road suffers from sprawl. "Center of the Universe" makes the most of its bare bones -- the circular-staircase effect of the guitars -- and "Waiting in the Weeds" lets the lyrics carry the impatience ("I heard some wise man say that every dog will have his day/He never mentioned that these dog days get so long"). But Schmit's sweetly sung spotlights are Eighties-ballad sugar. Walsh's "Last Good Time in Town" is a wry cantina-swing sequel to "Life in the Fast Lane" -- staying home apparently is the new going out -- and he cuts through the salsa-lounge grooming with James Gang-era guitar. Seven minutes, though, is a long time to sing about doing fuck-all.
Henley and Frey still find easy pickings in bad behavior. In "Fast Company," Frey affects a Prince-like falsetto over a chilled-funk stroll, playing an old-timer who can't even remember the action he used to get. "Busy Being Fabulous" is classic Eagles saloon-band shine about an errant filly, except this one is a mom who can't tell the difference between raising kids and being one. And Henley may be having a grim laugh at the Eagles' own expense in the materialist rant "Business as Usual": "A barrel of monkeys, a band of renown/But business as usual is breakin' me down."
Nothing, of course, is business as usual in the music industry, and the Eagles, now running their own label, have chosen Wal-Mart as the album's exclusive retailer. There is an inevitable contradiction in buying a record that attacks corporate greed and blind consumerism in songs like "Do Something" and "Frail Grasp of the Big Picture" from a superchain with a bleak record on employee rights and health care. But Long Road Out of Eden is available direct at Eaglesband.com for $11.88, a bargain even with the misfires -- and worth it for the title song alone.
(Posted: Nov 1, 2007)
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Review 1 of 26
JJJZ writes:
It's about time we had some new Eagles music to listen to. Long Road Out of Eden is great! Disc 1 is outstanding! I don't have to agree with these guys politics to love their music! Hands down they show why they are one of the best groups ever....they write most of their own music and songs, they are outstanding singers and they play and use numerous types of instruments. Besides the Beatles, what other group gives you such a variety of singers on one album than the Eagles! It’s no wonder these guys have already sold over 700K in the first week which is tough to do these days. My only hope is that younger musicians who only know how to play three cords and scream their lyrics on stage will learn something from these old guys on how to produce music. So the album has some anti-war themes so what! In 2004, I was in Baghdad and if I have to go back again, I'll be taking my new Eagles CD with me! Thanks to the Eagles!
Nov 8, 2007 20:37:21
Review 2 of 26
waynenm writes:
People, please. This is perhaps the greatest Eagles album. Borrowing from every part of their repertoire and improving on it. Thanks to all of the Eagles for finally giving us this great work, worth the wait. I am sure among others who thought we'd never hear this level of great recording again. Impeccable, wonderful, and sure to be the top selling album of the year as well.
Nov 8, 2007 19:38:20
Review 3 of 26
LiquidRockMonclova writes:
Well, what can I say?...nothing new in the album, as good as you could expect from these guys, nothing has changed and that's why I didn't like it so much...it is way too soft and the lack of strong lyrics is in every track...this is by far an album exclusive for Eagles fans and 70's rock lovers...
Nov 8, 2007 10:18:44
Review 4 of 26
cesarin writes:
estos gueyes son la misma chingadera de hace mas de veinte años y es el mismo pinche sonsonete que les gusta a los putos gringos rancheros gueros. Por mi que se vayan mucho a chingar a su puta madre estos aguiluchos viejos
Nov 7, 2007 09:31:01
Review 5 of 26
lemi413 writes:
well ...what can i say ... it just get better and better with every new listen. Its been a long time since i heard something so good ... and brings back the memories of times when music means something to us. When lp was something to charish and listen for a long time. Its just feel good music done by men who knows their craft and who r the best at it.There r no need to analize their music by some social or "rock" standards ... its simply good music ... and when i play it in my car ... i only can say thank u and bravo ... and im gonna listen it for a long time to come ... with all the old eagels song ... this new ones r just as good ... mybe even better ...
Nov 7, 2007 05:34:43
Review 6 of 26
VulcanDude56 writes:
It's been 28 years since there last Album. I would say this is a pretty good effort from these guys. I miss Don Felders guitar. But, oh well. Times change, People get older, Musical tastes change. I like this CD. My favorites are... The Last Good Time In Town. (Always liked Joe Walsh.) And, Waiting In The Weeds. But, all the songs are good! It's just a matter of preference. This is not there best Album. But, In an era of no talent, Lip sinking, Studio created Artists. And, I use the word Artist loosely! It's a Pretty Damn Good Effort. And it's well worth the money!
Nov 7, 2007 02:17:21
Review 7 of 26
somodat writes:
Reminds me of the first one in '73. Missed Meisner on the high harmonies. It's like seeing your first bike at a neighborhood garage sale. They took good care of it and even gave it some paint, but just as you wax nostalgic you do notice a few spokes missing. Does everyone have to be an advocate for something really important? If I need to hear preaching with my rock I'll download some Stryper. There's a $5 charge for whining.
Nov 6, 2007 18:50:06
Review 8 of 26
DonHarrold writes:
A truly great record that will be immensely enjoyed by Eagles fans. Maybe the overall impact would have been better if they had cut down to the best 10-12 songs rather than 21. The title track, particularly its first verse, made me stop and think twice; really moving. Go and get a copy! The more that are sold the better chance of a major tour next summer.
Nov 6, 2007 11:33:23
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