Don Henley - End of Innocence
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Free Music Notes for End of Innocence
Free Music Review: Don accurately documents the end of the 1980s with INNOCENCE
Hit: 5 Stars
After the Eagles' acrimonious break-up at the beginning of the decade, the individual members couldn't have pursued more different solo careers. Glenn Frey tried his best, but his success came mostly with soundtrack songs like "The Heat Is On" (from BEVERLY HILLS COP) and "You Belong To The City" (from MIAMI VICE). Joe Walsh had already had a considerable career before joining the Eagles as a solo artist and leader of the James Gang. But even his solo career was a bit less than satisfying in the '80s. Don Henley, on the other hand, who was probably the least vocal of the Eagles (at least musically), had only just begun. I CAN'T STAND STILL (1982) was a good start for a solo career, but was immediately overtaken by the sheer flawlessness of BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST (1984). Dated as it sounds today, it was still an excellent example of Don's cynical look at society of the time. With Reaganomics at their height, Don was probably one of the few people brave enough to claim that all things may look good on the surface, but could cost us dearly in the long run. By 1989, with Reagan gone, and Bush the elder starting out, it was time to look back at our progress and regress of the decade, and ever the unofficial political pundit, Don Henley contributed his viewpoint with END OF THE INNOCENCE. In a decade where pop music was so much geared towards the youth market, a near-middle-age guy like Don Henley having hits was quite an anomaly. But it showed that adult wisdom was still very much appreciated among the din of prefabricated pop music. END OF THE INNOCENCE proved that Don had learned a whole lot more in the 5 years since BEAST. Opening with the immediately recognizable piano chords of Bruce Hornsby, the title track on the surface sounds like end of a love affair. But when you dig deeper, that's only part of the story, for the song has Don claiming that after an age of tax cuts, recessions, and government deregulations, we're facing an uncertain future as to how those things would soon affect us. Some truly wise words for a song that became a top 10 hit in 1989. While BEAST captured the '80s at their materialistic peak, INNOCENCE had Don examining the fallout. Other songs like "How Bad Do You Want It?" (another social commentary masked as a song about a lovers' quarrel), "Shangri-La", "If Dirt Were Dollars" and "Gimme What You Got" further examine the idea that in an age of "free money", we were too busy reaping the benefits while not looking close enough at the side effects. This may be considered a little hypocritical coming from an artist like Don, whose albums always bring him plenty of money. But for a man who's also gotten involved with environmental causes like the Walden Woods Project (which he helped found), perhaps he really is putting his money where his mouth is by calling it a corruptor of society. Not every song on INNOCENCE is social commentary, though. The more personal statements of INSIDE JOB are foreshadowed on the album's other two hits singles "The Last Worthless Evening" and "The Heart Of The Matter". With most love songs not surpassing the old "I love you, I can't live without you" standard, those two songs on INNOCENCE have Don looking at a different side of love that is more honest and adult than what you'd normally hear in constant rotation on the radio. And with many middle-aged artists trying their best to be young and hip, Don wasn't afraid to act his age. After END OF THE INNOCENCE did its time on the charts, Don Henley fell silent for most of the 1990s. But that's not to say he was taking a load off. With the Eagles reunion we thought we'd never see, Don getting married and starting a family, and his record company trying Don's patience, no wonder we wouldn't hear from him until the new millennium. While INSIDE JOB took a long time to appear more because of life itself and not Don's legendary perfectionism, that was actually good. A whole different era would take its time unfolding Don had a chance to put in his two cents about it.Free Music Review: The view from the decade's turning never rocked so hard.
Hit: 5 Stars
The End Of The Innocence may have marked the end of an era, but it is unquestionably the musical pinnacle of Don Henley's career. The one drawback may be that Don spoke too soon by his disparages of Reagan and the social mindsets of the 80's. Considering we had yet to see Clinton and the 90's, the album almost sounds dated, but the messages are just about timeless.The title song, sounding almost like a requiem for the 80's, stands as one of the greatest ballads of the decade, recalling the small-town beginnings of many an American. "How Bad Do You Want It?" is Eaglesque in its lyrics although set to the pulsing rhythm of Don's solo work. Regarding the rocking "I Will Not Go Quietly", I had the fortune of seeing Don live on his 2000 tour, and in closing with this song, he was true to his word. Right after that, "The Last Worthless Evening", is unskippable as one of his more romantic musings. "New York Minute", a very unique song for Don's catalog, weaves a bluesy tale about the terrors of being alone in the city. On the other side of the country, "Shangri-La" depicts Hollywood as seen through the eyes of the young and struggling. And then come the three bitter but catchy attacks on life in the late 80's: "Little Tin God" knocks the pins out from under crooked televangelists, although the slant against Reagan's campaign of American Pride is thinly veiled, remiciscent of how another President was attacked still more brazenly in "Everybody Knows". "Gimme What You Got" sounds like it was written for the movie 'Wall Street', railing at how easily greed can replace ambition with one barely noticing. "If Dirt Were Dollars" could arguably be a sequel to "Dirty Laundry" in its not-as-satirical exposure of the circus of news coverage, or is it sensationalism? The album's stirring finale is another return to Don's tangible but rarely seen forgiving side, and he admits applying the message of "The Heart Of The Matter" in a way, helped with the Eagles reunion 5 years later.
It's hard to locate a low point in the album, as all the songs are memorable, even if the views don't agree with yours. Don never sounded better(except live), so grab this one and somewhere on here you must find a song you love.
Free Music Review: Don Henley - His Best Solo Album
Hit: 5 Stars
For me this album was Henley's high water mark as a solo artist. The album was another huge hit that spawned several big singles and propelled the album well beyond platinum status. This is one disc that deserved the sales in my opinion as every song on it is a winner. Henley's social, religious and political commentary has never been more prevalent, and whether you agree with his points of view or not, the subject matter is always thought provoking. Highlights of the disc include the opening title track which was co-written with Bruce Hornsby. Bruce's signature piano is the main instrument of this tale of lost innocence in the Regan years of the U.S. "I Will Not Go Quietly" is a rocking duet with Axle Rose from Guns And Roses. "The Last Worthless Evening" is a cool ballad that was a big hit. "New York Minute" was another big hit with great lyrics. "Little Tin God" is Henley's reggae-ish take on religion. "If Dirt Were Dollars" is another great lyric and one of the heavier rocking tunes on the disc. The last track "The Heart Of The Matter" is one of those relationship songs that came along at just the right time in my life. This song always brings me back to my turbulent 20's, and relationships gone badly. The lyrics pretty much reflected exactly what I was going through at the time, and it was like Henley got in my head and ripped this right out of my brain. He does this type of song as well as anybody in my opinion. Henley is once again supported by an all star cast of players. The music is never overly adventurous, but fits exactly what Henley was trying to get across in most cases. There are a few weak tracks here "How Bad Do You Want It?", "Shangri-LA", and "Gimmie What You Got" are all ok, but not up to the rest of the disc. Overall though this is a very enjoyable album and the best of Henley's solo career.Free Music Review: Truly Innocence
Hit: 5 Stars
When The Eagles split during the 1980's, they truly have had some split decisions during the era. Even though three of the 5 memers really struggled during that time, two of them actually made the mark solo. In that time, Glenn Frey and Don Henley each embarked on successful solo era. While they both did extremely well, Don Henley seemed to show a whole lot more within the solo act. In the 80's he seemed to break down so many doors and stories within his videos and his actual songs from three solo efforts. Out of all three of his efforts, Building The Perfect Beast, I Can't Stand Still, and The End Of The Innocence, the last one actually made the greatest impact, and opened so many doors for so many people.The End Of The Innocence, Don's 1989 record, was worth 5 years within the making. In fact, the record really seemed to be one of the few records that actually spoke out true Americana at that time. The melody ranges beautifully with great songs from sorrow to New York Minute, to ballads of forgiveness, like Heart Of The Matter and The Last Worthless Evening. The record seemed to open so many so many doors for so many performers including Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, the Gospel group Take 6, and the other recluse of the 80's outside of Michael Jackson, Axl Rose. Although the record is short, the music still seems to break very well, as an 80's version to Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. That's what I think it is to be anyway.
Although many people don't seem to get the message within The End Of The Innocence and Don Henley's voice today, it is still one of the greatest records to ever come out during the 1980's and still just as strong and assetive as it was back then. If you're a fan of The Eagles, get this record. If you're not a fan of Don Henley, you still should try to get a listen to this crafty and dynamic record.
Free Music Review: WISH MORE YOUNG PEOPLE GOT INTO STUFF LIKE THIS
Hit: 5 Stars
Being only eighteen I've grown up with this album and I have loved it ever since I was little. My fave song was always 'Last Worthless Evening' as it is so beautiful. Recently I have been listening to it again and the sheer astounding accuracy and cleverness of the lyrics always amazes me. The triple-genius cluster of 'Little Tin God', 'Gimme What You Got' and 'If Dirt Were Dollars' is breathtaking, especially 'Gimme...'s bitter observations on the materialistic greed and brutal hypocrisy of modern American culture ..."you can arm yourself, alarm yourself, but there's no where you can run, cause a man with a briefcase, can steal more money than any man with a gun". So tragically true. It's not all gloom though either. 'If Dirt Were Dollars' appears to revel deliciously in it's own realisation of human irony and the gentler songs and 'I Will Not Go Quietly' offer bold glimmers of hope. I was brought up on my father's varied taste in music and thus love many acts that many young people today are not so aware of. Stuff like Steely Dan and similar era stuff. I think everyone should listen to this album - it is beautifully crafted and expertly written and Don Henley's vocals on all of the songs but particularly on the confessional, bittersweet reflections of 'Heart of the Matter' are impeccable and moving. This album is timelessly relevant and gorgeously delivered.