I call shenanigans on this. From the comments on the link, apparently so does Warren.
I almost completely agree with Jesse Walker's comment; the Eagles do have exactly one listenable song, though it isn't "Hotel California" either.
Matt Welch's background comment on "Hotel California" is fascinating (and plausible), though he's gripe about their non-novel harmony isn't entirely true: "Desperado" does have a II (A major chord in G major song) for good measure.
Hmm, wait: Two listenable songs ("Desperado" and "Tequila Sunrise").
Posted by Matt Bruce at March 30, 2005 01:12 PMI've seen this mentioned in the past; I remember an Entertainment Weekly article a few years back that had this album on top, for example. I assume that there are a lot of repeat sales from stoners who misplace their copy.
Posted by: Mark at March 30, 2005 01:16 PMAmazingly I own no albums in the top 15 of this list.
It's not stoners, though. People listening to The Eagles while getting high probably spent $20 on a burn bag of oregano. There is something to the country connection; the Eagles seem to be one of the only bands able to cross over as radio gets further balkanized. Overall, I chalk it up to boomers being lame as f#¢k.
Aside from HC, which is utter crap the way American Pie is utter crap, I don't find much in the Eagles catalog un listenable, which is not to say I want to listen to it. It's just inoffensive (enough to be offensive, perhaps.) pop.
Posted by: Greg at March 30, 2005 02:01 PMFour of the top 30, all as cassette tapes. Which four is an exercise for the reader.
Posted by: me at March 30, 2005 03:29 PMAlright, I'll bite. I'll guess:
Boston - Boston
Metallica - Metallica
Appetite for Destruction -- Guns N' Roses
and because I don't have anything better, I'll guess Born in the U.S.A., either that or Backstreet Boys.
I ended up having 21/30 and pretty happy that I don't have the others.
Posted by: Miguel at March 30, 2005 04:58 PMI like the Eagles but not with any passion. Seven Bridges Road is a great song, they have other good pop songs but overall there isn't enough to get me excited.
I have 6 of that top 30, Floyd (2), Zepp (2), the White Alubm and Boston (the last on cassette.)
And I too have no desire to own the others. I heard Appetite enough back in the day and Metallica (the black album) is when they started being unlistenable. There's a few decent songs but not enough to get me to buy anything.)
Posted by: John at March 30, 2005 07:51 PMMiguel is correct on Metallica (self-titled) and Appetite for Destruction.
My other two are Back in Black and Jagged Little Pill.
Posted by: me at March 30, 2005 08:07 PMOut of the top 30 on that list, I've only owned 3: Thriller in vinyl and Cracked Rear View and Jagged Little Pill as cds.
Posted by: David at March 30, 2005 11:53 PM