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Joe Walsh - The Confessor Audio CD

A fair review of the Joe Walsh "The Confessor" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Joe Walsh reviews here, or go back to the Joe Walsh tabs.

Joe Walsh Band: Joe Walsh
Title: The Confessor
Rating:
Release Date: 1990-10-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Problems 2: I Broke My Leg 3: Bubbles 4: Slow Dancing 5: 15 Years 6: Confessor 7: Rosewood Bitters 8: Good Man Down 9: Dear John

Hard to Keep a Good Man Down
At the time, artists were still pressured by their labels to put out an album a year, forcing the artists to write (and often record) while touring to promote their previous release. Joe Walsh's 1985 release, The Confessor, suffers largely from the era in which it was released. Needless to say, this prompted more than one spotty album. Oh, and since it's from the 80's, a lot of the songs get the big ol' drum machine treatment, which I've long since learned to look past. It's the mullet of 80s recording, after all. It was there, so everyone did it, and it looked normal at the time. Now it just dates things a bit.

The Confessor is such an album. At the very least, some of the writing feels rushed and cookie-cutter Joe Walsh at best. It opens with the weak "Problems," meanders through the lame joke of "I Broke My Leg" and the pun-laden "Bubbles" before briefly coming to life with "Slow Dancing," a cascading bit of guitar pop balladry capped by Walsh's trademark sly vocals. Unfortunately, we go right back down into the rote rocker "15 Years. " No one could blame you if you stopped listening right there.

However, you'd also make a big mistake if you stopped there, because with the next song, the title track (which begins as mysterious folk and ends in an awesomely crunchy hard rock guitar workout), the album gets better and better. "Rosewood Bitters" is among the best pop songs Walsh ever sang, the rocker "Good Man Down" has none of the rote-ness that plagues "15 Years," and "Dear John" finishes the record with a wistful send-off to an ex.

So, in the end, we get 5 homeruns, a single, and three outs. Luckily, it's enough for The Confessor to win the game, but just barely. A little more time to write and he might have ended up with true greatness here. As it is, it's only half great. But it's still worth having.


Finally
Thanks for the prompt service. I finally bought it on CD wore out my tape.


Decent album, but not as good as his early stuff.
This album is good, but I prefer to listen to the earlier music. I have always liked Joe Walsh with the James Gang and the few solo albums after the JG. In all honesty though, I do like Joe's music in general and own all but "Songs For A Dying Planet", which I will be purchasing next. Anybody who could influence a song by one of my all time favorite song writers, Pete Townshend, has got to be good. As a matter of fact, two of the first four albums I ever bought, in 1973, were "James Gang Rides Again" & "Who's Next". These albums are still played at least once a year by this aging hippy.


First Off, you have to like Joe Walsh
you can't come here liking MTV's or American Idol's lastest flavor of the week,and expect to write an honest review of Joe Walsh. you have to like Joe and his type of humor. I love Joe's music allways have. Joe was in the trenches slugging it out,before most of your modern day guitar heroes were even born. I really like this album,the Confesser is another masterpiece by Joe,and yes, he has several. and no,it's not dance music. or bang your head music. but, it is very thought full,and makes you want to hear it again.


THE CONFESSOR, ONE OF JOE'S BEST !
The title track is the best song Joe Walsh has ever recorded as a solo artist and "Rosewood Bitters", "Slow Dancing", and "Dear John" are as good or better than anything he's done on his other solo albums. This album starts off a little slow, but picks up steam as it goes and the second half is very strong. "Good Man Down" and "15 Years" are also notable. Overall, the album has a more updated sound, but there is plenty of Joe's stellar guitar work throughout. His trademark sense of humor is here, as is his simple, unpretentious charm as a vocalist and lyricist. I only gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because "I Broke My Leg" and "Bubbles", although not bad, are lightweights. I still recommend this album, especially to Joe's fans.


You can see a complete list of all Joe Walsh discography, or go back to the Joe Walsh tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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