Don Henley, Don Henley - Inside Job

Often taken to task for the maudlin mellowness of his back catalog, Don Henley's viewpoint on Inside Job is frequently as astringent as any of the best of his solo work, if refreshingly more stylistically diverse. Whether skewering the self-absorbed target of "Nobody Else in the World but You" with some welcome funk or lambasting the corporate co-opting of Mother Nature in "Goodbye to a River," Henley still wears his heart proudly on his sleeve. But the changes in his life have also blunted a previous propensity for self-righteousness into something more akin to subtle, resigned irony, and this album wears it well, especially on strangely downbeat "celebrations" like "For My Wedding." Featuring a typically all-star cast of guest musician pals (including Stevie Wonder, Randy Newman, Glenn Frey, and Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench), coproducer Stan Lynch (formerly of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers) has helped Henley fashion a more timeless, deftly shaded production envelope that should age better than most. Though he still can't help lament his world's hardening and loss of innocence (to the point of "They're Not Here, They're Not Coming," echoing Randy Newman's "Trouble in Paradise" nostalgic plea to "bring back the Duke of Earl"), Henley does it here with a subtle grace that may just win him a few new, late-blooming fans. It's an album that underscores how quickly life's fine wine can unexpectedly turn to vinegar. --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

Great response

The CD arrived well before it was expected and was in nearly perfect condition,Very satisfied with the service and the product June 18, 2008

What was he thinking?! Drum machines??!!

This album has some great songs!.....
....ruined by drum machines and crappy instrumentation and arrangements!
One exception is "For My Wedding" which is perhaps my favorite of all Don Henley songs. It's in the Top 5 for sure.

Like I said, this album has some really great lyrics. I sincerely regret that no one said to him, "Don, what the hell are you doing?! You're going to ruin these great songs with a drum machine?!!"

This album would have been great with some songs "unplugged" and others played with a good straightforward band.

I recently played this album again, and frankly I couldn't wait for it to end. The drum machines bug me so much, I want to scream at him! "Why??!! Why??! WHY???!!!!"

Clue: How to ruin a good album: Use a drum machine instead of a drummer! November 9, 2007

Don Henley's Best

Inside Job is a great album - one I've listened to at least 100 times so far. I never get tired of the messages on this disk, nor do I get tired of the melodies and the great musicianship. "Nobody Else in the World but You" rocks and has the flavor of a rap or reggae tune. "Taking You Home" is a story about his wild life about to settle down, about Henley getting married, a slow and soulful tune. "For My Wedding" is a slow, mellow, almost reverent song about his love for a woman he is about to marry and how fragile love is among the evils of the world. "Everything is Different Now" is practically a continuation of this theme of breaking with his wild past and settling down, and he is affirming how great and wonderful his new life is. He sings with passion and fire on this tune. In "Workin' It" Henley skewers the pitfalls of a materialistic lifestyle and the contemporary American culture. It's a rapid fire listing of what's wrong here: advanced technology to base human attitudes.I really like this tune since it uses plain speech to get to the heart of what he's trying to say:America has a lot wrong with it, from the strong trampling on the weak, to corporate rip-offs of their workers, and a great musical effort accompanies the lyrics, especially the great solo guitar. A lot of these tunes reverberate with the sound of the Eagles, which Henley once played with."Goodbye To A River" is a very sincere and introspective song about the death of a river, and this song proves Henley is a great writer who can stand without Glenn Frey's help."Inside Job" is the title song of this album and probably the best tune. It is about economic wrongs, corporate rip-offs, even the dangers of apathy in the face of clever tricks to get our money and take away our freedom. I think this tune reflects Henley's struggle with the record company to own his own tunes, since there are references in the lyrics to this fact."They're Not Here, They're Not Coming" is a satire about the UFO phenomenon and the harmonic convergence of the late 80's. Henley's singing resembles the Eagles sound very much on this tune. He cautions the listeners to cast their gaze on earth and humanity because they're not coming, just to get McNuggets! "Damn it Rose" is a slow, sorrowful, and soulful song about Rose, who commits suicide, and Henley recounts the struggles her young son will face growing up without her."Miss Ghost" is a bluesy number about a ghost from his past, who would be better off dead, since he seems to be saying he knew Miss Ghost personally. This is a really catchy tune, one I never get tired of, due to Henleys professional abilites and his soulful voice. The great keyboard sound helps to set the errie encounter with Miss Ghost, someone who causes him to think introspectively about a former love, about his failures and about self-deceptions and personal mistakes with a woman."The Genie" is a rockin' song about addiction and the price one pays to feel good for a short time. He's preaching about avoiding this evil of addiction, and he probably knows firsthand coming from the Eagles success story, how tough it is to remain humble and avoid arrogance. "Annabel" is a sweet, slow and tender song to his supposed daughter about growing up and he affirms he will always be there for her. "My Thanksgiving" is a distinctly Eagles-sounding song about affirming life and his goals to be happy and thankful for everything he has achieved. There is a fleeting reference in this song to leaving the wild life behind when he says, 'Sometimes you get the best light from a burning bridge.' So, Don Henley's Inside Job is a fantastic album, probably his best effort, and one which is relevant and musically "perfect" as far as I can see. August 7, 2007

The Zenith and Ebb of Trying for the Big Statement.....

Still at the beach folks. The mime troupe has behaved except the other night when they invited a Gilbert and Sullivan touring company to give a performance of "The Pirates of Penzance". It took place on a yacht anchored off shore about 80 yards from my sand castle. The mimes clapped with one hand and I wondered why these actors would bother without any applause? I could ask my guides. But until I do - I will look askance at Penzance and wear those incredibly expensive headphones that block out all noise.
I must admit that I was somewhat disappointed by this album. I suppose, in fairness, how could Henley hope to reach or equal "The End of the Innocence"? But, that being said, it was a long, long, LONG wait (what was it? 10 years or so?) between offerings. I realize that he did get involved with The Eagles again. And that probably took some time. Still- some of the songs here were worth it- some were not. Plus, I probably object to the flow or continuity. Too many ballads. Too much slowing down after he reaches an infectious groove. However, after all, it is Henley and the lyrics never fail to impress. There are mottos, sarcasm, irony, wit, tenderness, illumination and the hard, cold truth. All this- and perhaps at times- too much.
He begins fine enough with "Nobody Else in the World But You", a song about supreme shallowness. This song excites and should have set you up for what follows. But, it doesn't. I can accept the known love ballad of "Taking You Home" and the lovely acoustic heartfelt "For My Wedding". But, probably they would have been better positioned elsewhere. The other ballads are too laboring for me. "Goodbye to a River" echos his belief that the beauty of nature is slowly being destroyed by the human race. "Damn It, Rose" (about a motherless child) is a good song. But, perhaps too depressing to be included. "Annabel" a sweet lullaby is nice, but out of place between two stronger songs. I don't mean to suggest that these songs aren't good- they just aren't strong enough for what Henley is capable of. Perhaps that is my objection.
That being said- he can still sprinkle songs with great lyrics. In "Everything Is Different Now" (having an honest love change his whole world) the music is strong without rocking out. The lyrics? Poignant and effective. Truth (Heaven shot back-"You get the love that you allow") and what is important in a genuine life ("what it means to you to be alive?). Henley has the capacity to cut through the nonsense of life in such a wonderful and direct way. This song, I think, is one of his best.
Have no fear- he is not without humor. In "They'e Not Here, They're not Coming" ( a sly jab at government deception and aliens), he quips that we can't expect to be saved by a spaceship. It's too dangerous in a world that won't "give Oprah no home on the range". I laugh at this, however, a glaring notation on the pettiness and ignorance of importance in humanity.
On "Miss Ghost" we have an appropriate eerie groove. He is haunted by the vision and memory of an old lover. Obviously, she had too many illusions (or delusions) and he quips, during a toast to her memory, "Here's to seeing through you- Miss Ghost". So clever. So great.
"My Thanksgiving", I think, is an attempt, to make the big statement like "Heart of the Matter" did. It is a thankfulness for life, with all the foibles one must endure. The song, at least rocks a bit. But, you also get the tidbit of truth with "sometimes you get the best light from a burning bridge". He sneaks lyrics in for you to think about. That is such a strong part of his music.
Winding up we have "Inside Job" which shows his mistrust towards the powers that invade our lives and alludes to a conspiracy of sorts. The music is disjointed, but with an urgency. Not sure if I really like it. I don't like to think about politics and government. I'd rather concentrate on the sun shining and being by the ocean. But, hey, that's just me.
"The Genie", however, is one of my favorites here. Reflecting that there is always a price to pay for our actions, we can never reconsider. The motif- you can never go back. Once the genie grants your wish, you can't erase it by putting him back in the bottle. It's like opening Pandora's Box- the damage is done.
In closing- is it a great album? No. Is it a terrible album? No. It is far from his best- but there are still things here to pick up on and enjoy. Think of it as an effort given to mimes - they are listening as an audience-but no one is saying a word.

You Can't Put the Eyepatch back on the Metamorpho -- Cheers
July 19, 2007

Yuck

Now I know why I never picked this up when it first came out...ah, the pitfalls of a completist. NOWHERE near his three 80's releases. Don should spend his time fighting for the environment instead of music. November 10, 2006

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