Album Reviews of the 80s

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Billy Joel, "Storm Front" / 1989 Review by: Cameron D Skirving
By the time this album was released, Billy Joel had turned 40. The album has an even more mature, adult contemporary sound to it, in comparison to his last two, but there is much to like about the "Storm Front" album From the pure rock opener "That's Not Her Style" through to the beautiful "And So It Goes" Joel shows us, once again, his incredible songwriting and general musicality. Highlights include the wonderful folk like "Downeaster 'Alexa'" where he cleverly captures the "feel of the boat" in a song dedicated to the hardworking fishermen, in his home land of Long Island, who don't know if they'll have a job, tomorrow. There's the typical Joel Rockers "I Go To Extremes" and the title song. There's the true story ballad "Leningrad" and of course the big hit "We Didn't Start the Fire," where Joel gives us a history lessons of events during his life time. Joel has some new musicians on this album, only retaining his long time drummer Liberty Divitto and guitarist David Brown (although Sax player Mark Revera would join them on tour) which again gives the album a real , up to date sound . The album is co- produced by Mick Jones of Foreigner who brings some fresh ideas to the Joel sound. Obviously, this is a much more serious set of songs, not a fun album like "Innocent Man" or "52nd Street" but I don't think it's intended to be and that's what I like most about Billy Joel, his ability to come up with different concepts on each album.

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