"New Kid in Town," quite a bit slower, continues the nostalgic feel. It is of the same high standard of "Hotel California" with both songs worthy of the number one position. Not so "Life in the Fast Lane" which, although containing a few nice guitar riffs, is on the whole quite mindless. "He had a nasty reputation as a cruel dude" pales in comparison to lines like "Her mind is Tiffany-twisted/she got the Mercedes bends" from the title track.
"Life in the Fast Lane" is very much the exception of the album - much weaker melodically and lyrically. Thankfully it gives way to "Wasted Time," a slow piano ballad and every bit as brilliant as the first two tracks. This in turn is followed by "Wasted Time (reprise)" which is a very beautiful instrumental but would probably have sounded better as a close to the actual song.
"Victim of Love" is similar in style to "Life in the Fast Lane." It has its own guitar moments but is also much, much better. The final three songs, despite some clear differences, blend together very nicely and have a very grand feel to them. "Pretty Maids All in a Row," "Try and Love Again" and "The Last Resort" really sound like seventies songs, even more so than the rest of Hotel California, which is obviously from that decade. The drum beat, the harmonies and the guitar are all giveaways.
Some people hate seventies music like others hate rats - if that's the case, stay away from this album. Others, knowing the timeless title track, will be wondering if the Eagles are one hit wonders and if the rest of Hotel California is of the same standard. Well, they're definitely not, and yes, it certainly is.
RATING: 8/10
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