Celebration of "Inside Job"

[Ive always been a dreamer]

I noticed in Today in Eagles history that Inside Job was released on this day in 2000.

Since we don't already have an "official" thread about this album, I thought I would start one for anyone that wants to comment on the album. Since it's a holiday weekend here in the states, and the board is very slow, we may not get a lot of discussion, but what the heck - for those of you who don't have any celebration plans, I thought I'd give you something to talk about.

So here are my thoughts on the album ... First of all, I'll start off by saying that it is my least favorite of Don's solo albums. I don't think that it's a bad album, it's just that I don't think it is a good as the others. I like it more now than I did when I first heard it, but the album is just too slow and it drags a bit too much for my taste.

To me the only exceptional track on the album is Taking You Home - it is simply a beautiful song. I also like My Thanksgiving and They’re Not Here, They’re Not Coming a lot. After those, to me, there is a big drop off. Some of the other uptempo songs such as Nobody Else In the World But You, Miss Ghost, and Goodbye To a River are certainly pleasant, but really just don't do a lot for me. I know that many people think Miss Ghost is uber sexy, but honestly, that is lost on me because of the way Don uses his voice in the song. Of course, I love the sentiment and lyrics of Annabel, even though I find the melody somewhat bland.

But frankly, I think the biggest problem for me is that even though there was over a 10-year gap, this album was the follow-up to the EOTI masterpiece, and therefore, it was kind of a letdown. Don had set the bar so high with that album, that it was difficult to outdo himself - very similar to the problem the band had between Hotel California and The Long Run.

[Freypower]

Well.... I find that I now have a lot to say about Inside Job. I freely admit that when I first heard it I did not like it at all. A lot of these songs have matured quite stunningly, in my opinion. The ones that have not aged well, ironically, are the more 'personal' songs.

Nobody Else In The World But You - I like this because of the way you can hear Glenn sing 'YOU' in the backing vocals. No, seriously, I love Stevie Wonder's part in this. But it is yet another of Don's 'finger wagging' songs. It has aged fairly well.

Taking You Home - sorry, Dreamer. I should love this but I find it terminally bland. All very admirable, yes, but I can't relate to it.

For My Wedding - ditto. Sung with great restraint, but not a particularly interesting song.

Everything Is Different Now - I have to be in the mood for this one. Part of it works and part of it seems very 'forced'. The 'I found somebody with a heart as big as Texas' part is just a bit .... it doesn't work.

I'll return to this later.

[EagleLady]

Taking You Home was the high point of it for me, but everything else, bleh, and the EIDN video was creepy

[Fan_For_Life]

I really don't like to compare from one to the other. I like Inside Job as much as anything else he's done. Working It,, Goodbye To A River,,, Inside Job and My Thanksgiving are some of the best stuff on the cd.

I can see how this wouldn't have the same impact of his previous work, due to the more mellow nature of the cd.

[StephUK]

I really like EIDN - especially the choir bit towards the end.
Goodbye to a River is another of my favourites from the album. Like the title track a lot too.

[Freypower]

Taking You Home was the high point of it for me, but everything else, bleh, and the EIDN video was creepy

Wow! I am trying my best to be diplomatic, and you say that you think TYH is the best track and everything else is 'bleh'???

Now continuing on:

Workin' It' - nice, clever, complicated lyric. Don at his most acerbic. This is the song that has grown on me the most. My favourite part is the verse about films 'special effects, no story'. How effective is that compared with the line in the preceding verse about 'suffocating, quarterly consciousness'.

Goodbye To A River - absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful melody, singing and passionate lyrics. Some may disagree but this is the 'real Don' here.

Inside Job - this isn't bad but it's a bit preachy. And the end of it is too repetitive.

They're Not Here, They're Not Coming - great idea for a song. Great guitar solo. But the 'and it's a cold, cold...... world' bit annoys me. Yes, I know. I could not write a song like this.

Damn It, Rose - the standout track for me. I love Don when he sings like this (see also A Month Of Sundays). Some may find the subject matter too dark but it is full of black humour, particularly the MTV verse and the verse which follows. Deeply satisfying.

Miss Ghost - another great song. Fascinating story, superbly delivered.

The Genie - as EL said, 'bleh'.

Annabel - I apologise to Don's 'real' fans for not finding this song profound or moving, although I know it should be. I don't know what else I can say about this.

My Thanksgiving - should be the life-affirming finale and it is, for the most part.

[EagleLady]

Wow, Sorry for expressing my opinion

[Ive always been a dreamer]

Damn It, Rose - the standout track for me. I love Don when he sings like this (see also A Month Of Sundays).

I'm trying my best to be diplomatic as well, FP, but ????. As we always say everyone is entitled to their opinion.

[Fan_For_Life]

But frankly, I think the biggest problem for me is that even though there was over a 10-year gap, this album was the follow-up to the EOTI masterpiece, and therefore, it was kind of a letdown. Don had set the bar so high with that album, that it was difficult to outdo himself - very similar to the problem the band had between Hotel California and The Long Run.

Being the big year gap between cds it wasn't a surprise to me that Inside Job would sound different. One of the reasons I don't usually compare is because every artist that I've grown accustom to has brought something different to the table with each release(single tracks/cds). Whether they stray too far from the particular sound or take it to the extreme opposite. It's basically what keeps me interested in the bands I listen too.

For me this is also true when Hotel California and The Long Run are compared, I hear them as equals, not one over the other.

And since I don't want to wander too far off topic. I do think Goodbye To A River has grown to be one of my favorites. Not to take anything away from other tracks but I agree with FP that it does bring a sense of "this is what it's been all about and I also get that feeling with My Thanksgiving.

[Brooke]

I finally broke down and bought this dvd and watched it last night. My oh my, does Don look good or what?!

This is the only photo of that era I can find with him in the same outfit (and it doesn't do him justice):



Does anyone have any screen caps of it? Hint! It's in a beautiful venue and all the band looks great (besides Mr. Henley!).

I really enjoyed all the songs until the last one, HC. What in the world possessed him to do it that way?

Anyways, if you don't have it, you must get it!