May 2000 CD Reviews
Don Henley - Inside Job
It's been 11 years since Don Henley's last solo album. He put that time to good use, because Inside Job is a great album. Henley is 52 years old, married, and has three kids. Several songs on Inside Job talk about love, marriage and happiness. But this is not a completely happy album. Henley's political views are represented, and there are a couple of darker songs including the beautiful ballad "Damn It Rose", which mourns a friend's suicide.
Inside Job is masterfully produced by Henley and Stan Lynch. Every song has a different mood and ambience, and they are all tied together by Henley's distinctive and extraordinary voice. After over 30 years of making great music, Henley is still at the top of his game.
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem is obscene, misogynistic, homophobic, vulgar and crude. But he is still extremely likeable, and The Marshall Mathers LP is one of the best rap CDs I've heard in a long time. The secret behind Eminem's likeability is his willingness to take shots at himself. He makes fun and says some nasty things about Christina Aguilera, Will Smith, N-Sync, Britney Spears and even his own mother, but also makes fun of himself. His unique rap style, along with sarcastic and often hilarious lyrics on top of producer Dr. Dre's thumping and ringing beats make for a very compelling listen.
Eminem is no Vanilla Ice or Snow. He spent years in the trenches of rap, and has the respect of the hip-hop community. The Marshall Mathers LP is not for the faint of heart, or easily offended, but it is an excellent gangsta rap CD from the rapper who is the heir apparent to Tupac and Notorius B.I.G.
Go-Go's - VH1 Behind The Music Collection
"Behind the Music" is the best show on VH-1. If you haven't seen it, it describes a group or artist's rise and fall, with behind the scenes info and interviews. It's very compelling. Now the network is teaming up with Universal Music to release music from artists featured on the show. The first release will spotlight the recently reformed Go-Go's, whose "Behind the Music" episode premieres on June 4th.
VH1 Behind The Music Go-Go's Collection is a unique retrospective of the lives and music of the group. It features 17 tracks spanning their entire career, from the hits "We Got
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