This NYT article, “Dark Songs by California’s Eagles” is from Jan. 9, 1977 and gives an overview of the band’s albums up to 1977. There are some interesting, insightful comments, especially these two passages:
https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/09/a...-songs-of.htmlThe Eagles have their flaws. They can sometimes be silly and self‐pitying and take themselves much too seriously. There is the added curiosity that in a band of five writers, no one has managed to come up with an even remotely happy love song or anything intentionally funny. But that is really beside the point. The Eagles make good music which is no less stylish and intelligent for being straightforward, which is sometimes the hardest style of all.
On this album, they are growing up. They don't seem to like the idea very much (what future is there in rock for an adult?) so that through all the songs there hovers a question of where do they go from here. It also gives their work a touching quality that transcends any given topic and which is at variance with its frequently tough tone. Their original innocence is completely gone, however blind or contrived it may have been in the first place. What's left is music that is singable, danceable and listenable. That's quite enough.