Click here to listen   We are on Twitter! Get your Rock History Book headlines on our Twitter page! Click Here. Top Stories   Birthdays This Week June 8: Alex Band (The Calling) (1981) Nicci Gilbert (Brownstone) (1970) Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran) (1962) Mick Hucknall (Simply Red) (1960) Bonnie Tyler (1953) Boz Scaggs (1944) Chuck Negron (Three Dog Knight) (1942) Nancy Sinatra (1940) June 9: Dean Felber (Hootie & The Blowfish) (1967) Dean Dinning (Toad The Wet Sprocket) (1967) Jon Lord (Deep Purple) (1941) June 10: Faith Evans (1973) Lemisha Grinsted (702) (1973) Jo-Jo (K-Ci & JoJo) (1971) Dan Lavery (Tonic) (1969) Jimmy Chamberlain (Smashing Pumpkins) (1967) Maxi Priest (1961) Shirley Alston (The Shirelles) (1941) June 11: Dan Lavery (Tonic) (1969) Joey Santiago (The Pixies) (1965) Kim and Kelley Deal (The Breeders) (1961) Donnie Van Zandt (38 Special) (1952) Frank Beard (ZZ Top) (1949) June 12: Robyn (1979) Kenny Wayne Shepherd (1977) Bardi Martin (Candlebox) (1969) Grandmaster Dee (Whodini) (1962) Michael Hausman ('til tuesday) (1960) John Linnell (They Might Be Giants) (1959) Brad Delp (Boston) (1951) Died March 9, 2007 Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick) (1951) June 13: Raz B (B2K) (1985) Rivers Cuomo (Weezer) (1970) Soren Rasted (Aqua) (1969) Paul DeLisle (Smash Mouth) (1963) Dennis Locoriere (Dr. Hook) (1949) June 14: Billie Myers (1971) Chris DeGarmo (Queensryche) (1963) Boy George (Culture Club) (1961) Alan White (Yes) (1949) Rod Argent (The Zombies) (1945) June 15: Dryden Mitchell (Alien Ant Farm) (1976) Ice Cube (1969) Scott Rockenfield (Queensryche) (1963) Steve Walsh (Kansas) (1952) Garry Roberts (Boomtown Rats) (1954) James Smith (The Stylistics) (1950) Russell Hitchcock (Air Supply) (1949) Ian Matthews (1946) June 16: Gino Vanelli (1952) Edward Levert (The O'Jays) (1942) June 17: Kevin Thornton (Color Me Badd) (1969) Paul Young (1956) Barry Manilow (1946) June 18: Nathan Morris (Boyz II Men) (1971) Dizzy Reed (Guns N' Roses) (1963) Alison Moyet (1961) Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins) (1957) Paul McCartney (1942) June 19: Brian Welch (Korn) (1969) Brian Vander Ark (The Verve Pipe) (1964) Paula Abdul (1962) Ann Wilson (Heart) (1950) June 20: Twiggy Ramirez (Marilyn Manson) (1972) Murphy Karges (Sugar Ray) (1968) John Taylor (Duran Duran) (1960) Michael Anthony (Van Halen) (1955) Cyndi Lauper (1953) Lionel Richie (1949) Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys) (1942) Gene Simmons Accused of Sexual Assault May 28, 2010 – How could a meeting between a make-up artist and Kiss’ Gene Simmons go so wrong? Well according to documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday the guitarist wanted more from her than she was willing to give and it didn’t involve make-up. More Bret Michaels Didn’t Tell His Doc About American Idol May 28, 2010 – Didn’t Bret Michaels look healthy on American Idol on Wednesday night? There is a chance he wasn’t. More Don’t Let Elton Cook You Dinner May 27, 2010 - File this under “You can’t be good at everything.” Elton John was arguably the biggest solo musician in the world in the seventies and he was easily in the top 10 in the eighties but it seems he was too busy conquering the world to learn to cook. More Reformed Faces Set for Vintage at Goodwood Without Stewart May 27, 2010 – The good news is the Faces are back together but the not-so-fine print says Rod Stewart will not be in the mix. More Only 2% Separated Final Two On Low-Rated American Idol Finale May 28, 2010 – “What-eva” seems to be what many are saying about Wednesday’s American Idol finale. While 24.2 million viewers checked out Simon Cowell’s swan song it was the show’s lowest rated finale since season one which could spell trouble for winner Lee DeWyze. More Paul McCartney’s Daughter Controls his Touring May 27, 2010 – It sure sounds like Paul McCartney is a responsible dad. The former Beatle say he never tours when it’s his turn to look after his daughter Beatrice – his child with ex-wife Heather Mills. More Slash Yawns at New Rock Scene May 27, 2010 – Slash says he’s not holding his breath for the next big thing in Rock. In fact the former Guns N’ Roses guitarist is disappointed in the current Rock scene. More Jones Experimenting With Summer Festivals May 18, 2010 – Norah Jones says she hasn’t done too many festivals in the past because her music was too “intimate and quiet.” More Phil Collins, Huge Alamo Fan May 11, 2010 – The name Phil Collins reminds us of countless hits, huge arena tours and complicated drumming. How about the Alamo? More Sting Says Legalize Marijuana April 5, 2010 – Sting seems to be fed up with our paradigms around pot! The singer says we, as a society, spend too much time putting marijuana users in jail when legalizing the substance could feed the hungry of the world. More Get More Music News About Us Volunteer with Us Check out Our Sister site below Join our Facebook Group and get on our mailing list. Here   Custom Search
Eagles - Long Road Out of Eden October 26, 2007 - I, like most, go back a long way with the Eagles. As a teenager when there were only 10 albums in my collection two of those were Eagles LP's. The Eagles quota for most of us former bell-bottom, mullet-top, crotch rockers in the seventies was pretty good. I didn't have a close friend in high school that didn't own at least "Hotel California" or "One Of These Nights" The prolific early Eagles recorded one LP per year between 1972 -1977. (ok, one of those was the "Greatest Hits") The Long Run followed in 1979 and after many years of playing live like a 'chainsaw in a hurricane,' the band was burnt out on drugs, groupies and each other. It was all over by 1980. Interestingly, it took this group 35 years to get to "Long Road Out of Eden," their 7th studio album. That's kind of nuts when you think of it but forgivable considering the staying power of their product. Long gone are original guitarist Bernie Leadon who helped give them that country flavor, Randy Meisner who sang "Take it to the Limit" (he also punched Glen Frey in the nose before leaving the band in 1977) and Don Felder, who co-wrote and came up with the great guitar riffs for "Hotel California." He was kicked out of the band in 2001, sued and won an out of court settlement. So, are the remaining core guys, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit still the Eagles? Is the whole greater than the sum of its parts? Does it still sound like the old band; hell, is it good enough to qualify? Yes, on all marks. In fact with the exception of the two funky tunes, this album could have been released as a more creative follow up to "The Long Run." This new CD is that good. Though it could use a few more "stare at speakers/jaw dropping" tunes it still has no bad tracks. As if doing it by duty, the album opens with an a capella "No More Walks in the Wood," it's as much a campfire cowboy song as it is a social, environmental statement. It's simply, a quick reminder of how big a part the harmonies played in the success of this band and it sets the appropriate mood for what's to come. The first single "How Long" was actually an old Eagles 1974 concert stand-by written by JD Souther (better known as the silent or 5th Eagle back then, though he was never in the band.) Frey's kids found a clip of the Eagles performing it on Youtube and they redirected their dad to revisit the track. "Busy Being Fabulous," one of the first tracks written for the album in 2001, is classic Henley/Frey Pop/Country/Soul. It also fits into the usual bitch-rant the band was famous for. There was always some woman doing them wrong back home while they were on the road with hookers and blow. This one laments the adventures of a mom trying to loosen the load of her family for a crack at popularity. Hey, wasn't Britney's album released today? An alcohol free Joe Walsh reminds us again that loud garage band songs never get old on "Guilty of the Crime." It serves as a speeding ticket tune, with a nice grungy tempo and Joe still sounding drunk - Hey, you gotta have a hobby. His other track on the album "Last Good Time In Town" could have easily been hen-pecked from, arguably his best solo album, "But Seriously Folks." It's goofy yet brilliant with a chorus that's strangely hypnotic. Henley's haunting "Waiting in the Weeds" is the album's high point. A love song about the passage of time. It could also describe an aging country/rock band waiting for just the right time to present their new invention, well at least their old wine in new bottles. It does suffer from Henley penchant for coming up with an exquisite chorus and driving it in the ground by repeating it endlessly. They give the same treatment to the funky "Fast Company" featuring Henley singing falsetto wrapped around balls a blazin' horns and the chorus over and over again. I still loved it. The title track opens with a creepy, ominous Middle Eastern flavour, setting the pace for the Eagles social commentary on our involvement in the Middle East. Henley says," We may think we are civilized, but we have a ways to go yet." It's got that epic feel; maybe it's trying to be the bands new "Hotel California" though good it can't compete on that platform. The bouncy "Somebody" co-written by Jack Tempchin who co-wrote "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and "Already Gone" has Frey sounding deliciously evil. He had fun recording this tune and it shows. Frey, who's southern vocal slant helped put the band in the country world, sounds more sophisticated now especially on the inspirational "You Are not Alone." and the tender "I Love to Watch a Woman Dance." "Fail Grasp on the Big Picture" presents more funk for the band. It's about the dumbing down of our culture. Henley and Frey are obviously attaching questionable journalism especially idiot shows like TMZ and Entertainment Tonight. Thanks for nothing Mary Hart! Both Frey and Henley said that going into this project they wanted to continue the Eagles tradition of having all members contribute input and lead vocals. Timothy B. Schmit, co-wrote and sings lead on two. "I Don't Want to Hear Any More" though written by Paul Carrack sounds suspiciously like their old hit "I Can't Tell You Why." Schmit is enveloped by classic Eagles harmonies on "Do Something" with twangy guitar in tow. Henley says, "I think the point of the whole album is summed up on the last song that Glenn wrote with Jack Tempchin, "Your World Now." The crux of the whole thing for me is those two lines: "Be part of something good, leave something good behind." For me that sums up everything, to my children, to my fans, to everybody. If there was one message to this album that I want to impart, that would be it." While old rockers are famous for losing the edge that made them relevant in the first place, the Eagles have aged and their take on the human condition is even more poignant and just as easy to listen to. "Long Way Out Of Eden" is classic Eagles. - by John Beaudin Read More on the Eagles Randy Meisner Former Eagles member Randy Meisner tells the truth about his old band //See more Let us Make Sure Everyone Who Visits this Site Knows Who You Are! - Advertise with us. We build the Banners for free and we'll spread you on every page of this site. Contact us now. Retro Review: Linda Ronstadt - The Very Best of -Sept. 24, 2002 - In high school my best buddy John Scott could never understand how I, a rocker, preferred Barbra Streisand over Linda Ronstadt. //See more Retro Review: Bruce Hornsby - Spirit Trail- Oct. 16, 1998 - No one could ever accuse Hornsby of not paying attention. Every lyric on 'Spirit Trail,' his sixth album, describes his unquenchable thirst to understand what were all doing here. //See more