The Eagles – The Complete Greatest Hits

When I was first listening to music in the late 70′s, I had heard a lot about the Eagles earlier stuff but only really knew about them from “Heartache Tonight” (****) and The Long Run album.  What else I had heard of theirs did not really interest me.  I grew up in the Disco era so “Those Shoes”  and “In The City”  were good enough for me as they were at least electronic sounding.  This collection has two CD’s and a total of 33 hits from one of the most popular bands of all time.  I still have just a mild interest in this band but I have come to appreciate such classics as “Hotel California” (*****)  and “Take It Easy” (****).  My favorite song of theirs has always been “I Can’t Tell You Why” (*****)  which they covered on their reunion record “Hell Freezes Over” in 1994, much to my delight.

I know their earlier Greatest Hits collection highlights their career from 1971-1975 but this is the one to get.  They sound like a completely different band with their later 70′s hits and the inclusion of  two 1994 tracks “Get Over It” (****) and “Love Will Keep Us Alive”.  These are on the second CD while the first CD is dominated by their early hits.  This collection is a must have for any music fan because their is bound to be something on here everyone can enjoy.

The Outfield – Any Time Now

It’s been a long time since The Outfield’s “Your Love” in 1985, one of my favorite songs from that decade.  I always thought this band had potential for more, they had one of the sounds I like the most, pop with some strong guitar solos and rhythm.  However, it took them over 20 years to finally get a song that had a little bit of an edge again as “No Fear” (****) does on this album.  I don’t know where I heard it, but I think it was a curiosity play somewhere on the internet and it surprised me.  There are a couple of other good tracks on here, “Rainbow’s End” (****), and “There She Goes” and “Long Walk Back (From Nowhere).  These songs sound similar to their 80′s stuff so it’s OK to still be a fan of The Outfield!

Lupe Fiasco – The Cool

The 2007 album “The Cool” has 17 full-length tracks that are all good.  The beats and the lyrics are fantastic and it is a good listen throughout.  There are not really any hit songs here, maybe “Superstar”(****) and “The Coolest” (****)have the most memorable rhymes but I would rate these around 3.0.  There are a few slightly weaker but this is a strong rap album by one of the most talented rap newcomers in a long time.  I like his style, ever since hearing “Kick, Push” several years ago, this guy has a smooth flow and is intelligent.   I look forward to hearing his new album, which should be out sometime this year.