Aug 072007
The Eagles are putting the finishing touches on an album’s worth of all-new material. They promise to tour extensively in 2008 in support of this album. Their smug mugs and highlighted, remaining wisps of hair will never fade away. Joe Walsh claims that the new material will “go in some really, really new, different directions. It’s hard to compare to anything that I hear out there now.”
Bring on the Psychic Oblivion!
In related news:
Van Halen, Roth to announce tour next week
New Jimmy Buffett Song ‘Cold Weather and Personal Responsibility’ Disappoints Long-Time Fans
little known Eagle factoid, from that bastion of cyber truth, wiki:
“Don Felder appeared in the 1980 film “Caddyshack”, particularly the synchronized swim scene in the golf club pool.”
They’re takin’ it to the limit…one more time…
Funny that Jimmy Buffet should come up. The other night some mid-70s movie, Rancho Deluxe, I believe was the name, was on tv. It starred Jeff Bridges and a young, long-haired Sam Waterston (never saw him with anything but a vatiation on the JFK/Alan Alda hairdo). I was intrigued by the opening credits song, a 2nd-rate Eagles-style number. Then a credit for “Music by Jimmy Buffet” rolled up on the screen.
I’d hate to own tickets for anything beyond the first 2 shows on that reunited Van Halen tour.
Has anyone since perhaps (and only perhaps) the Beatles said that their forthcoming album will “go in some really, really new, different directions. It’s hard to compare to anything that I hear out there now” and the album comes out and it really does?
I really dig Rancho Deluxe. One of my favorite 70s drugged-out westerns. Did you stay on until the scene where Buffet plays live? Pretty interesting, with a cameo from the all time great cult actor Warren Oates playing harmonica.
Wow, I should have known that was a “Dr. John movie.” I only saw the first 20 minutes or so before having to do some stuff around the house. It was off to a good start. I must have missed Warren Oates’ name in the credts. he alone would have been cause to blow off my chores. It will probably play again on this one weird channel we get.
I would suggest that there is a profound link here, not just the obvious one between Buffett and the Eagles, but between both those bands and Van Halen. Halen is not without its echoes of Psychic Oblivion, albeit with the new muscle of the 80s: the parties that it offers are quite close to oblivion parties. Everybody pass out in bushes now!
As to the horror of the Eagles “new material,” get over it. The true horror is the Eagles original material. And I say that with full acknowledgment of the beautiful DEPTHS of that horror that many of you here are still on the run from. The fact that the original Eagles material exists is the proof that this new material was always inevitable. Think on that, ye believers in the death’s head of rock, and weep silently into the vast ocean.
I’m not sure about Van Halen as Psychic Oblivion–they headed toward oblivion, true, but had none of the ennui, necessary for psychic despair.
After reading the recent biography, “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon,” I think that Zevon did manage to constructively use the Psychic Oblivion template to further craft his examination of, and meditation on, the dark side of LA.
The Eagles, for all their pretenses to realizing the heart of darkness (as mwallyou reminds us) ended up turning it into a sort of perverse celebration. A lifestyle for those totally lacking in self-awareness. Not tragedy, so much as farce.
Absolutely, good Doctor. VH picks up meaninglessness in a manly, crunching embrace and downs that six pack with fervor. But of course, that was possible mainly because meaning in rock and roll had already been laid–oh so softly–in its final resting place.
Did Van Halen find some ten year old to be their singer, to complement their twelve year old bass player? Maybe Drake Bell can open up for them?
As for The Eagles, I think the only thing left for Joe Walsh to break the spell The Devil Himself, Don Henley has cast upon him, is to wedge one of those custom made Carvin guitars into a closet door, and run into it at top speed, impaling himself and excorcising his Henley Demon.
Sorry, Joe. It’s the only way out.
2000 Man wrote:
I hope you’re not knocking Drake. He’s huge in our home. I’ve been thinking about writing something about how much better his music is than 75% of the wussy power pop stuff that some folks go ga-ga over.
Nope Mr. Mod. Not knocking The Drake. Love the Drake. Well, don’t hate the Drake, anyway. When his TV show came out I got phone calls from people I hadn’t seen in years saying there’s a kid on TV that “looks JUST like you did!” If I’d have known I was a handsome devil, maybe I’d have tried to learn all three rock n’ roll chords a little harder. I’m knocking Eddie’s kid (and Eddie for throwing out the bottom end of his band and the backup singer).
Back to The Eagles. Is this the albium that they will sell exclusively through Wal Mart? I hope so. Then I won’t hear it in any stores I go into by mistake. If I ignore The Apocalypse, then maybe it won’t happen to me!