Deconstruct the Classics!

Plankton · 06-25-2015, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EPOCH6

I honestly believe that Hotel California is one of the best rock songs ever written, if not the best. I totally understand that it's overplayed and that has probably killed it for so many people, but legacy and status aside, as a standalone song it's just unreal. The production is fantastic, the track is consistently evolving and keeps you drawn in, the interplay between every instrument and the way every tone compliments the others is amazing, it flows unbelievably well. Not one member of the band drops the ball on that track, everybody is on point and playing something interesting, and playing very well. Every note in the outro solo is deliberate and flawlessly played. It's one of the only tracks I can name that I prefer a fade out in. Forgive me for appealing to the epitome of the classic rock stereotype, but throwing Hotel California on while driving down the highway at sunset, sitting behind a V8, arm out the window, it's absolutely magical, there are few greater feelings in the world of Dad Rock.

All of that being said, clearly I love the track, but I honestly don't care at all for the rest of the album, besides Life in the Fast Lane.

Wow. Nicely put.

LITFL is a killer riff, and I totally agree. If the radio hadn't killed both of those songs and people just heard them for the first time, they'd be falling all over themselves to get a copy.

YorkeDaddy · 06-25-2015, 10:47 AM

I don't listen to radio, so my dislike of the song has nothing to do with hearing it too much. I just plain don't like their sound at all

Screen13 · 06-25-2015, 11:42 AM

After the gut reaction, here's my slightly pretentious overview...

Not dismissing their talent, but being a kid from that time, a lot of The Eagles' sound was really the mark of Rock driving on the MOR. The attraction of this in The States back in the day is mainly due to the fact that it did connect with the average listener who was living in a time when things were kind of going well for the Mainstream (and to be very fair for a few seconds, in a way I rather prefer that to the fantasy visual-land Selfie Generation Popular music and Rock has turned into as of late to escape the intense crap we deal with every day now). It was in a time in The US when the culture was wanting all kinds of smoothness and professionalism - and you can throw in the aftermath of dealing with the Vietnam and Nixon eras, too - and the Music industry was on the side of homogenized FM Rock that sounded good on the stereo thanks to the bulk of the customers wanting well-played music that had no rough edges or progression (ELP tried and failed to co-operate with Love Beach and lost!). It was something that sounded well in the Van with the Waterbed with the 8-Track player blasting the music out, or the Chevy with the hood down and driving Van Nuys Blvd. (or wherever else that was the hot spot) at night, cruising with the music playing and maybe a hooker or two on the street as you live life on your fast lane headed to the Drive In.

In other words, it was clearly not my scene except for the Drive Ins, although I would be watching the movies, of course.

My mention of Metal Machine Music brought me back to the time when I knew deep down in my soul that the Popular FM Rock world was not connecting to me and seeing a Cut-Out tape of MMM was. I never knew what was on it until much later, but somehow I was happy that not every musician was with feather-blown hair and a laid back attitude with a lot of talent but not much soul or energy (although I will admit that Don Henley had took a turn for the better solo-wise...only slightly, but you know what I mean). This was also the album a lot of bar bands took notes from, meaning that in a culture that crowds out originality good and bad, you had to play "The Hits" with this being a must-learn for the time, and you thought that the title track was played on radio to death in The 70's!

They were possibly the best of what they did, only I think to be bettered by the Late 70's Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band, who's sound also took the slick turn for the tame although with a little Midwest grit still keeping things solid. Still, that was the problem for me - it was Pro Music that was certainly was not for those who needed something stronger. Too many people were conditioned for Album Rock and that was a sad thing.

It was the soundtrack to the time, but not my time within.

Plankton · 06-25-2015, 11:54 AM

I first heard it when I was 11 and liked it. Still do.

*shrug*

I think it was the combining of reggae with distorted rock guitars that did it for me. The lyrics are dark, yet accessible, and conjure up many different interpretations, and the guitar solo's are very well thought out masterpieces within themselves. The pinch harmonic at 3:08 was the clincher though.

Screen13 · 06-25-2015, 11:59 AM

I'll give the title track a plus for the lyrics. They had that "Once you're in, you can't get out" feeling. They were a part of the big California Rock scene and it was big business back then, and those who were involved with music at that time in the shadier circles had that feeling in the more blunt version. The decadence had it's price - something that the local bar bands covering it and fans singing along maybe got but never got in full. It's possibly more so today, but with less interesting music.

Trollheart · 06-25-2015, 12:14 PM

So, that went as expected.

Let me total these up and we'll have the result everyone expected. As it goes, I love this album to death, but I'm not going to try to convince any of you of its worth. There's no point. While I'm totalling, does anyone else want to suggest an album? Please sign up if you do.

Trollheart · 06-25-2015, 12:23 PM

Okay, though some of you rambled on about Lou Reed I think I have a basic
5-2 against (I'm counting Screen13 as a Yay, not that it matters, and me of course)
so you'll all be glad to hear that Hotel California gets a big

Who woulda thought?

NEXT!

**Janszoon** · 06-25-2015, 12:27 PM

Well, I'd give Hotel California a thumbs up. It's not a perfect album but none of it is terrible and the best tracks are pretty great.

Trollheart · 06-25-2015, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Well, I'd give Hotel California a thumbs up. It's not a perfect album but none of it is terrible and the best tracks are pretty great.

Nice to know someone has taste!

Too late though, the naysayers have spoken. Pluto is no longer a planet, and Hotel California is no longer a classic album.

**Frownland** · 06-25-2015, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screen13

How about this album goes next?

06-25-2015, 11:54 AM	#14 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,765	I first heard it when I was 11 and liked it. Still do. shrug I think it was the combining of reggae with distorted rock guitars that did it for me. The lyrics are dark, yet accessible, and conjure up many different interpretations, and the guitar solo's are very well thought out masterpieces within themselves. The pinch harmonic at 3:08 was the clincher though. __________________ See location...

06-25-2015, 12:14 PM	#16 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	So, that went as expected. Let me total these up and we'll have the result everyone expected. As it goes, I love this album to death, but I'm not going to try to convince any of you of its worth. There's no point. While I'm totalling, does anyone else want to suggest an album? Please sign up if you do. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-25-2015, 12:23 PM	#17 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Okay, though some of you rambled on about Lou Reed I think I have a basic 5-2 against (I'm counting Screen13 as a Yay, not that it matters, and me of course) so you'll all be glad to hear that Hotel California gets a big Who woulda thought? NEXT! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-25-2015, 12:27 PM	#18 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	Well, I'd give Hotel California a thumbs up. It's not a perfect album but none of it is terrible and the best tracks are pretty great. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

06-25-2015, 11:42 AM	#13 (permalink)
Screen13 Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,388	After the gut reaction, here's my slightly pretentious overview... Not dismissing their talent, but being a kid from that time, a lot of The Eagles' sound was really the mark of Rock driving on the MOR. The attraction of this in The States back in the day is mainly due to the fact that it did connect with the average listener who was living in a time when things were kind of going well for the Mainstream (and to be very fair for a few seconds, in a way I rather prefer that to the fantasy visual-land Selfie Generation Popular music and Rock has turned into as of late to escape the intense crap we deal with every day now). It was in a time in The US when the culture was wanting all kinds of smoothness and professionalism - and you can throw in the aftermath of dealing with the Vietnam and Nixon eras, too - and the Music industry was on the side of homogenized FM Rock that sounded good on the stereo thanks to the bulk of the customers wanting well-played music that had no rough edges or progression (ELP tried and failed to co-operate with Love Beach and lost!). It was something that sounded well in the Van with the Waterbed with the 8-Track player blasting the music out, or the Chevy with the hood down and driving Van Nuys Blvd. (or wherever else that was the hot spot) at night, cruising with the music playing and maybe a hooker or two on the street as you live life on your fast lane headed to the Drive In. In other words, it was clearly not my scene except for the Drive Ins, although I would be watching the movies, of course. My mention of Metal Machine Music brought me back to the time when I knew deep down in my soul that the Popular FM Rock world was not connecting to me and seeing a Cut-Out tape of MMM was. I never knew what was on it until much later, but somehow I was happy that not every musician was with feather-blown hair and a laid back attitude with a lot of talent but not much soul or energy (although I will admit that Don Henley had took a turn for the better solo-wise...only slightly, but you know what I mean). This was also the album a lot of bar bands took notes from, meaning that in a culture that crowds out originality good and bad, you had to play "The Hits" with this being a must-learn for the time, and you thought that the title track was played on radio to death in The 70's! They were possibly the best of what they did, only I think to be bettered by the Late 70's Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band, who's sound also took the slick turn for the tame although with a little Midwest grit still keeping things solid. Still, that was the problem for me - it was Pro Music that was certainly was not for those who needed something stronger. Too many people were conditioned for Album Rock and that was a sad thing. It was the soundtrack to the time, but not my time within.

06-25-2015, 11:59 AM	#15 (permalink)
Screen13 Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,388	I'll give the title track a plus for the lyrics. They had that "Once you're in, you can't get out" feeling. They were a part of the big California Rock scene and it was big business back then, and those who were involved with music at that time in the shadier circles had that feeling in the more blunt version. The decadence had it's price - something that the local bar bands covering it and fans singing along maybe got but never got in full. It's possibly more so today, but with less interesting music.