The Eagles' New Album

Have you heard it? What do you think of it. It's title track, Long Road Out of Eden, is excellent. The rest of it? Not so much. A few songs are actually embarrassingly bad. But, that title track really has me convinced that it's one of the better songs from The Eagles. I'd say that it's certainly the best thing they've released since the 1980s. If you haven't heard it, I urge you to listen to the song and give me your thoughts.

In case you're unaware, it's clearly an Iraq war song. Since we're on the subject, I think the Matchbox 20 song Exile On Mainstream is also excellent. I haven't heard the full album, but I'm betting there is more than one hit there.

Discuss.

 

I didn't know they were still playing.

 

The full matchbox 20 album is a greatest hits package, so you've heard most of it.

And yes, I bought it on iTunes the night it was released at 5 a.m.

 

Well, I caught wind that The Eagles had released a new album, and the title sounded noteworthy. I couldn't think of anything to ask for at Christmas, so I suggested my sister get the album for me. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have heard the song. I don't think it's had much radio play. The album was released exclusively through Walmart, which was a little odd for that group. They've talked about that. Apparently, it's seven times platinum. So I'm surely not the only person who owns the thing.

sportschick, does this mean the big Matchbox 20 hit is actually a greatest hit from a previous album? I'm confused.

 

No, groups routinely put one or two new tracks on a greatest hits album, their way of snookering fans out of $15 or $20 for something they mostly own already.

 

The fact the Eagles' new album was initially only available at Wal-Mart kind of debunks a lot of their constant anti-corporate wailing . . . .

That said, I haven't heard it yet. I have all their records, and saw their initial reunion tour, which was great. I wouldn't see them now, since the exhorbitant prices they charge sort of debunk their constant anti-corporate wailings.

Based on their history, it's no surprise they're making statements against the Iraq War. They've always been political, and they've always leaned left.

Also: this is their first album of all-new material since 1979's The Long Run. So yes, I would agree without even hearing it that it might be their best new stuff since then.

EDIT: I misread your post. I actually liked the first song on Hell Freezes Over, that "Get Over It" thing. But the other three "new" tunes were weak, and represent their only other recent stuff other than "Please Come Home For Christmas." I like to think the new album represents more than two decades of pent-up creativity hitting the recording studio, but I fear that it's more a representation of how the quality of the past is . . in the past.

A really enjoyable band, in any case.

 

No, I think it's the only new track though. I'd have to look though.

It did come with all the videos, and if you want to molest Rob Thomas like I do, that's a nice feature.

 

I like it very much...I've had more than a few 5+ hour drives this month where I've just put it on play on Ipod and let both discs run through without skipping a track.

 

You are all diseased.

 

Feels like you made a mistake
You made somebodys heart break
But now I have to let you go
I have to let you go

You left a stain
On every one of my good days
But I am stronger than you know
I have to let you go

No ones ever turned you over
No ones tried
To ever let you down,
Beautiful girl
Bless your heart

I got a disease
Deep inside me
Makes me feel uneasy baby
I cant live without you
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it
Keep your distance from it
Dont pay no attention to me
I got a disease

Feels like youre making a mess
Youre hell on wheels in a black dress
You drove me to the fire
And left me there to burn

Every little thing you do is tragic
All my life, oh was magic
Beautiful girl
I cant breathe

I got a disease
Deep inside me
Makes me feel uneasy baby
I cant live without you
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it
Keep your distance from it
Dont pay no attention to me
I got a disease
I think that Im sick
But leave me be while my world is coming down on me
You taste like honey, honey
Tell me can I be your honey
Be, be strong
Keep telling myself it that wont take long till
Im free of my disease

Yeah well free of my disease
Free of my disease

I got a disease
Deep inside me
Makes me feel uneasy baby
I cant live without you
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it
Keep your distance from it
Dont pay no attention to me
I got a disease

I think that Im sick
But leave me be while my world is coming down on me
You taste like honey, honey
Tell me can I be your honey
Be, be strong
Keep telling myself it that wont take long till
Im free of my disease
Yeah well free of my disease
Free of my disease

 

Since we're posting lyrics:

Moon shining down through the palms
Shadows moving on the sand
Somebody whispering the twenty-third Psalm
Dusty rifle in his trembling hands
Somebody trying just to stay alive
He got promises to keep
Over the ocean in America
Far away and fast asleep.

Silent stars blinking in the blackness of an endless sky
Cold silver satellites, ghostly caravans passing by
Galaxies unfolding; new worlds being born
Pilgrims and prodigals creeping toward the dawn
But it's a long road out of Eden.

Music blasting from an SUV
On a bright and sunny day
Rolling down the interstate
In the good ol' USA
Having lunch at the petroleum club
Smoking fine cigars and swapping lies
"Gimme 'nother slice of that barbecued brisket!"
"Gimme 'nother piece of that pecan pie"

Freeways flickering, cell phones chiming a tune
We're riding to Utopia; road map says we'll be arriving soon
Captains of the old order clinging to the reins
Assuring us these aches inside are only growing pains
But it's a long road out of Eden

Back home, I was so certain; the path was very clear
But now I have to wonder - what are we doing here?
I'm not counting on tomorrow and I can't tell wrong from right
But I'd give anything to be there in your arms tonight

Weaving down the American highway
Through the litter and the wreckage, and the cultural junk
Bloated with entitlement, loaded on propaganda
Now we're driving dazed and drunk

Went down the road to Damascus, the road to Mandalay
Met the ghost of Caesar on the Appian Way
He said, "It's hard to stop this binging once you get a taste
But the road to empire is a bloody, stupid waste"

Behold the bitten apple - the power of the tools
But all the knowledge in the world is of no use to fools
And it's a long road out of Eden

 

Slight tangent here...

The Eagles sold this album only at Wal-Mart and on their website, and still have sold more than 4 million copies.

Now, I don't like the Eagles and I won't set foot in a Wal-Mart... but I think it's absolutely fantastic that a major band sold 4 million copies of a CD and the major record companies didn't see a dime from it.

Anyway, carry on.