Japanese reissue packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve. Album Description
If you're a Don Henley fan (and I am) this is THE CD for you! Don really lays it down on The End of the Innocence but when he gets down to The Heart of the Matter, all of his feelings REALLY come out and you can almost hear his heart bleeding. And you know, If Dirt Were Dollars, I'd still spend it, ALL of it, on this CD. Mr. Henley is my pick for Classic Rock Artist of the Year. You can't go wrong on this one!!!
June 15, 2008 |  | Some songs superb, others a little generic |  |
Forty percent of this CD is really top-notch stuff. "The End of the Innocence," "The Last Worthless Evening," "New York Minute" and "The Heart of the Matter" are as good and poignant as pop rock music gets; no wonder they were released as singles. Don Henley is one heck of a lyricist, and he knows how to write a catchy tune. The title track leads off the album, piano laden, sentimental and beautiful. Like all the aforementioned songs, there's a sadness to the lyrics, in this case the loss of childhood and teenage innocence. "The Last Worthless Evening" is an easygoing Eagles-like ditty that, through its lyrics, perfectly captures the hardships of romance and remaining alone as one grows older. "New York Minute" is even more woeful. It begins with a starry-eyed string section and keyboards, which lead to Henley's grizzled voice singing about suicide, street violence and the precarious shortness of life. The somewhat haunting chorus of "New York Minute" is as beautifully harmonic as it gets, and ultimately, the song ends on a positive note, lyrically. Truly, it's one of the best songs Henley has ever been associated with, and that includes his work with The Eagles.
Henley is also defiant and angry in spots. "How Bad do You Want it?," despite a cheesy sax, overly loud drums, hymnallike background vocals and a dark lingering synth, possesses genuine spirit that is commendable. Meanwhile, it's priceless to hear the thin voice of Axl Rose performing backing vocals on the somewhat forced "I Will Not Go Quietly," a song in which the pseudo-sounding metal bite is less than its valiantly attempted bark.
Besides the gritty "If Dirt Were Dollars," the forced tunes leading up to the album's last track, "The Heart of the Matter," don't do a lot for me. But that's OK -- "Heart of the Matter" contains some of the best breakup lyrics ever written. Henley couldn't have written a better, more astute song, or chosen a more perfect tune to close out the CD.
"The End of the Innocence" may have a touch of radio-ready, late-1980s AOR gloss to it, but the songs are admittedly immediate and memorable. And, as mentioned, the four good songs on this album are better than just good; they're excellent.
August 31, 2007I bought this album when it came out, a friend of mine recommanded this one to me. I have to say that I still enjoy listening to it, every song a pleasure to listen to, no filler. Great from the beginning till the end. My favorite tracks are "The end of Innocence", "The last worthless evening", "New York minute" and "The heart of the matter". A very good addition to any cd collection.
June 23, 2007 | | Don Henley - His Best Solo Album | |
For me this album was Henley's high water mark as a solo artist. The album was another huge hit that spawned several big singles and propelled the album well beyond platinum status. This is one disc that deserved the sales in my opinion as every song on it is a winner. Henley's social, religious and political commentary has never been more prevalent, and whether you agree with his points of view or not, the subject matter is always thought provoking. Highlights of the disc include the opening title track which was co-written with Bruce Hornsby. Bruce's signature piano is the main instrument of this tale of lost innocence in the Regan years of the U.S. "I Will Not Go Quietly" is a rocking duet with Axle Rose from Guns And Roses. "The Last Worthless Evening" is a cool ballad that was a big hit. "New York Minute" was another big hit with great lyrics. "Little Tin God" is Henley's reggae-ish take on religion. "If Dirt Were Dollars" is another great lyric and one of the heavier rocking tunes on the disc. The last track "The Heart Of The Matter" is one of those relationship songs that came along at just the right time in my life. This song always brings me back to my turbulent 20's, and relationships gone badly. The lyrics pretty much reflected exactly what I was going through at the time, and it was like Henley got in my head and ripped this right out of my brain. He does this type of song as well as anybody in my opinion. Henley is once again supported by an all star cast of players. The music is never overly adventurous, but fits exactly what Henley was trying to get across in most cases. There are a few weak tracks here "How Bad Do You Want It?", "Shangri-LA", and "Gimmie What You Got" are all ok, but not up to the rest of the disc. Overall though this is a very enjoyable album and the best of Henley's solo career.
May 9, 2007There is always a day of reckoning. As the 1980's drew to a close, Don Henley's conscience cracked wide open, leaving no alternative but exorcizing the demons that dominiated from the mid-70's forward. This was the end of the innocence.
The title track is an accomplishment in musicianship, but also a fine look at society's descent into shattered myths coupled with dreams destroyed. Great song for lying under a tree on a lazy summer day, wondering where it all went wrong.
" I Won't Go Quietly" is a fabulous duet with none other than Axl Rose. It seriously rocks. " If Dirt Were Dollars" is so direct the metaphors get lost. " The Heart of the Matter", the closing track, finds Henley melancholy, accepting equal parts sorrow and blame. It's an open invitation to put self aside in order to return some dignity.
A little philosphical, a lot melodic, this continues to stay fresh, almost twenty years later.
March 8, 2007More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(42 reviews)