Review #207: Eagles, The Eagles
#207: Eagles, The Eagles
The Eagles has one of the wildest band histories ever — they’ve had nine different members over the years, and they had a shocking amount of conflict for a band who sounds like “musical wallpaper,” to quote Don Felder’s memoir Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles. Case in point: Bernie Leadon, who has a prominent role on this album, their debut.
Leadon came from a bluegrass background, and was particularly great at playing the banjo, though he also had a big guitar playing role here. He eventually left, in part because of his frustration with the band’s inner politics and in part because he wanted to leave all the drugs that the Eagles were doing behind. Honestly, good for him.
But let me tell you, the Eagles’ sound misses him. Every time I heard a banjo I was delighted.
FAVORITE SONGS:
“Take It Easy” — Badass banjo #1. Don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy.
“Witchy Woman” — She got the moon in her eyes. Purportedly about Zelda Fitzgerald. Fun fact, I sing this song to my dog whenever she’s “witching.”
“Chug All Night” — “Is this song about beer or driving?” I asked myself when it started.
“Nightingale” — This one won me over as it went on. Just a rockin’ love song.
“Train Leaves Here This Morning” — I love songs about trains.
“Take the Devil” — This was actually one of my favorites. It’s got acoustic guitar and an extremely dark electric guitar. Or maybe I just love songs about the devil.
“Earlybird” — Okay I HATE birds, so the screechy chirpy bird noises at the beginning made me so angry. But the banjo!
“Peaceful Easy Feeling” — Gosh, the love songs on this make me really happy.
“Tryin’” — I’m just arriving in the city and there’s music on my mind. Randy Meisner’s voice is my favorite. Am I an Eagles fan now? I think so!
LEAST FAVORITE SONGS:
“Most of Us Are Sad” — This song wasn’t playing for 30 seconds before I was rolling my eyes. Why are the lyrics on this one so much lamer than “Peaceful Easy Feeling”?
IS RS FULL OF IT?
Love them or hate them, the Eagles changed rock music forever. Talk about cross-genre appeal and you have to bring up the Eagles. If you can love both Van Halen and Nirvana, you can love the Stooges and the Eagles.
