13 years after Hell froze over, the Eagles release their long-awaited new studio album, “The Long Road Out of Eden”, a two-disc, 20 song collection. They’ve been busy touring since then, but have only released a few singles. 1979’s “The Long Run” was their last album of all-new material before Don Henley famously announced, “It’ll be a cold day in Hell before the Eagles get back together.” They had been scheduled to start recording on September 11, 2001, but of course, other events took precedence that day. But tomorrow’s the day. It will be sold exclusively by Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club for the next year. I know many Dopers have issues with Wal-Mart, I’m not going into the pros and cons of purchasing from them. Those of you who choose not to purchase it from Wal-Mart can buy it directly from the band’s web site . All I’ll say is I pre-ordered mine. I got an email notice it’s been shipped an is en route and there’ll be no heartache the night I play it.
OK, I’m going to use my one free bump to bring this back to the front page.
Come on, no Eagles fans here? No love for their first album in 13 years? First all-new one in 28 years, actually, since “Hell Freezes Over” was partially concert material with some new recordings thrown in.
Somebody has to be looking forward to this one. Or if you didn’t know about it before, then you found out from here. Bueller? Bueller?
Have you heard the released new singles? Are they good? It is interesting that they are trying to release new stuff as most established bands seem content with touring and playing their old stuff. I really liked the 1979 album.
I like the song How Long, but although they sound like they could’ve recorded it 20 years ago, watching the video…holy cow! Have Henley, Frey, et al aged!
I used to like the Eagles a lot, then I just stopped listening them one day. I’ve probably listened to Greatest Hits 1 & 2 hundreds of times. Love Lyin Eyes, Desperado, Peaceful Easy Feeling is one of my favorite songs.
But sure, I’d give their new album a chance. Wonder where their songs would be played, classic rock or country stations? What was rock back in the 70’s is now country.
That’s an interesting question. I just got the new Van Zant brothers album and that’s marketed as a country album. Johnny, of course, took over Lynyrd Skynyrd from his brother Ronnie, and Donnie has been the leader of .38 Special, two of Southern rock’s biggest acts.
Really, what are the odds that there will be any good songs on it that will compare to their great material from the 70’s?
Other great classic rock bands have tried it without success.
Creativity just seems to dry up after awhile.
The last thing the Eagles want to be is a “greatest hits” band playing all their tunes from the 70’s, but maybe that’s all they can do. Concert goers generally hate stuff from a classic rock era band’s new album. They come for the “greatest hits”.
I sincerely hope I’m wrong. I’d love to hear a new Eagles song on par with Tequila Sunrise, New Kid In Town, Train Leaves Here This Morning, After The Thrill Is Gone, etc, but it ain’t gonna happen.
Don Henley has issued some great solo albums since the breakup, including “Inside Job” in 2001. I think his songwriting skills are still quite good. And they have released a couple of new singles this decade. I’ve heard “Hole In The World” and “No More Cloudy Days.” I don’t think their creativity is gone. As Archive Guy says, the new songs they’ve released sound like they could have been recorded 20 years ago.
Most of the reviews I’ve read say that this album basically turns back the clock, and the Eagles are sounding just like they did in the 70’s. There are songs that are compared to “Life in the Fast Lane” and “Hotel California” - and not disparigingly.
I figure it’s going to be par for the course for an Eagles album. Beautiful harmonies, good songwriting with some catchy hooks, pleasant to listen and tap your toe to. But probably nothing groundbreaking or awe-inspiring, and with a hint of smugness and preachiness thrown in.
It’ll probably be better than most of the CD’s this year, and rank as a middle-tier Eagles album - not quite at the Hotel California level - more like The Long Run.
