Analog Man

About

Having found himself back with The Eagles, guitarist Joe Walsh hasn't had as much time to pursue the louder end of his musical spectrum. Produced by Jeff Lynne, <i>Analog Man</i> features the dense harmonies and tight arrangements you'd expect from an encounter with the man who gave Electric Light Orchestra, Tom Petty's <i>Full Moon Fever</i>, and The Traveling Wilburys their sound. Yet the guitars are also plenty loud, and even on a tightly compressed and quick track like "Wrecking Ball," Walsh finds the space to crank out a few riffs. "Lucky That Way," cowritten by Tommy Lee James, sounds like the follow-up to Walsh's classic 1978 hit "Life's Been Good." "Funk 50" is an update of Walsh's James Gang's "Funk 49." It's tidied up like it's 1993, and Walsh's last solo album, <i>Songs for a Dying Planet</i>, has a timely follow-up. "Band Played On" adds a sitar. "Spanish Guitar" works through country, flamenco, and pop. "Family" brings in David Crosby and Graham Nash for harmony. "India" lets Walsh try out some very <i>digital</i>-sounding equipment. Could this merry prankster be kidding us with all this talk of being an <i>Analog Man</i>?

via Apple Music