They’re way too hit or miss. They have some great songs but there are also plenty of flat-out boring and godawful ones.
I think most folks’ biggest problem with them is the cash-mongering thing. How many greatest hits packages have they put it? Farewell Tour #1? Why’d they ditch Felder, anyhow?
Best songwriting team? Nah.
p.s. earning out?
I like them fine. I liked them more when I (and they) were younger.
But in listening to what are referred to as “Classic Rock” stations, they get overplayed to death. I’m currently at the point where I could go the rest of my life and never hear any of their stuff and die with a peaceful, easy feeling.
And I listen to NPR.
Waste
If we’re going to pick on lyrics, then let’s talk about: “She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah/She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah/She loves you, yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah.” or “Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah/nah nah nah nah/Hey Jude.”
Not every lyric is going to be a gem.
I’ll offer up “Just another tequila sunrise” and “take another shot of courage” as examples of some really fine lyrics from Henley/Frey.
Personally, I love The Eagles. I paid large American dollars to sit in the third row last time they came to town and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. They put on a consistently great show, both in terms of energy and quality, and I really enjoy their sound.
The only thing that I disagree with from the OP is that they haven’t gained the respect they deserve. I see an occasional comment such as WordMan’s, but I think most people would put them in their list of top 10 Bands. Though, admittedly, I could be delusional.
You won’t be surprised to know that they’re coming out with another live greatest hits album, “Farewell 1, Live in Australia” soon. 
“Farewell 1” is supposed to be a tongue and cheek reference to other artists’ multiple (false) farewell tours.
Acc to Felder (on his website), they ditched him because he wanted a bigger piece of the cash-mongering pie you were referring to above. Apparently Felder and Schmit (and Walsh??) receive significantly less of the pie than Henley and Frey. I believe he got lawyers involved so they fired him.
They said themselves it was because it wasn’t going to be their last.
And therein lies the joke.
Don Henley: “You can do as many ‘farewell’ tours as you want - as long as you number them.”
I just watched the concert that they are making the live CD/DVD from, and it’ll be worth it. It’s a fantastic concert. It rocks a lot harder than the ‘Hell Freezes Over’ tour did, which sounded a little more ‘unplugged’. For example, in this concert Joe Walsh plays “Rocky Mountain Way” and “Life’s Been Good”, and both are awesome renditions.
I have to agree with just about everything you’ve said, Sam.
One exception: “The Last Resort” is one of my favorite Eagles songs.
IMHO, they should have just stuck to backing up Linda Ronstadt when she toured. Though I dig Joe Walsh’s post-Eagles solo stuff (e.g. “Life of Illusion”).
Actually, I had mixed that song up with another one. I just picked up the 5.1 channel SACD remix of ‘Hotel California’, and when that song came up I realized my error. It’s a great song.
Personally, I’ve always regarded it as a particularly inspired three-way pun.
Spirit, as you contend is wrong, being “type of alcoholic beverage.” Dictionary.com, definition 14) spirits An alcoholic beverage, especially distilled liquor. I find no problem with the definition, in the broader sense.
Spirit, as in attitude. Narrator is boisterously demanding wine. Otherworldly/drug trip concierge is impressed by the narrator’s spirit.
Spirit, as in ghost. Depends on your interpretation of the song, but there’s a definite ghostly quality to a lot of the imagery, and this is just another line in the song playing on the idea.
I watched the concert footage.
IMHO, Joe is the only one with any energy on stage–bless his heart. He sounds better than he has in years, too (after 10 years sober). He also provided the only notes in the whole show that were not exactly what was recorded lo those many years ago.
The backstage comments were the part of the show I liked best, so there’s no chance I will be springing for tickets, should they come through town.
I have to agree with WordMan (which is not always the case on this one. Coke and Pepsi are much more popular than broccoli, but that doesn’t make them healthy for you. Henley and Frey write catchy pop songs but there’s not much musical depth to them. Lennon and McCartney wrote some catchy stuff too, but they grew as musicians and songwriters. Although there is some increase in complexity in the Eagles’ music as time goes by, it’s not much. Great sense of humor, tho…“Hell Freezes Over” and “Farewell #1”…Hee, hee, hee!
My analysis of the live show: Henley has a great voice. Joe is a top-notch guitar player. Timothy B. is still a rock star…tight pants, long hair and even when he sits he’s ready to jam. Frey always looks like he has a headache when he sings.
Well rehearsed and professional they are. Spring for $300 a seat I will not.*
Channeling Yoda I am, for some reason.
Just dropped in because The Eagles are playing on my shuffle at the moment. They came up right after Foreigner. Wait … now Lynard Skynyard is on.
Professional wrestling is also very popular.
I think he looks like he’s trying to pass an extremely large turd. 
Are you talking about Frey or Springsteen?
While McNabb’s Super Bowl performance was disappointing, I think the return of T.O., Westbrook and most of the defense means we should make the playof-…
What?
Oh … never mind!
I was sooooooo disappointed when I opened this thread …
Dude, they so ripped off Poco.
…dusty days are gone roooose of cim…
Just a few remarks to toss in here:
Rolling Stone used to be very schitzo about the Eagles. The reviewers would slam them for their perceived misogyny (expressed in songs like “Take it Easy”), yet their reviewer loved “The Long Run,” presumably because it was mostly a moody album slamming the superficiality of the West Coast, esp. LA.
(Exception noted for “The Greeks Don’t Want No Freaks,” which had Jimmy Buffett singing the chorus. Near the end, you can hear him cackle.)