Word: soundness
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...Just the Way You Are," but neither is as sincere. "Honesty" is innocent enough, a sweet, simple melody which allows Joel to experiment with a soft vocal. But the song smacks of Elton John's "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word," and falls flat into a canned, pop sound...
...current single, "Half a Mile Away," has a Chicago-like big brass sound and a steady rock beat, but again the lyrics about a delinquent night life are as commercial and inane as the sound itself--a departure from Joel's earlier music. "My Life" and "Zanzibar" also set shallow words to fine music. The former mixes bold, upbeat instrumentals with creative back-up vocals from Chicago's Peter Cetera and Donnie Decus. The latter experiments with some faint Latin rhythm and a few typical Steely Dan cliches, mixing in a fine jazz trumpet solo by Freddie Hubbard...
...SPUNK of the quick parting shot, "52nd Street," confirms that Billy Joel is still full of life; but it is an unsatisfying end to an unsatisfying album. Joel said he wouldn't stagnate with the sound of The Stranger, and this latest album certainly represents a departure. But there is a loss of verve and expression here which disturbs the long-time Billy Joel fan. It's good music, but not up to Billy Joel quality. His success lies in the character that has pervaded his music, and on 52nd Street, we get it only in fleeting moments...
William Shockley, author of a controversial theory that correlates IQ with race, said yesterday "the American intellectual community" has demonstrated "profound intellectual irresponsibility" on this issue. He added that while "Dorfman has done a sound piece of work," his conclusion is "not entirely warranted...
...king is gone but he's not forgotten/ This is a song about Johnny Rotten") and a long, spooky tune called Powderfinger - are among the best things he has done. But Young is not immune to the coyness and irresolution that plague Dylan. Roadies from Star Wars and sound mixers in wizard regalia can get as tiresome as Dylan's mocking show-biz turns. The difference is that Young continues to write well and grow, while Dylan seems stalled right now. Times have not gone past him so much as Dylan has put himself into a kind...