After experimenting with synthesizers and a pop sound on his solo debut,
Don Henley
hits the mark on his sophomore release,
Building the Perfect Beast
. This album established
Henley
as an artist in his own right after many successful years with
the Eagles
, as it spawned numerous hits. While the songs seem crafted for pop radio, it's hard to fault him for choosing arrangements that would get his messages to the masses. Unlike most pop in the 1980s, however,
had deep intellectual themes layered beneath the synthesizer sounds and crisp production. In the opening song
"Boys of Summer,"
he talks about trying to recapture the past while knowing that things will never be the same.
has a gift for writing about the heart and soul of America and for mixing his love for the country and small-town life (
"Sunset Grill"
) with cynicism about government (
"All She Wants to Do Is Dance"
) and modernization (
"Month of Sundays"
). Although the politics and the sound of the album make the decade of release easy to place,
's earnest delivery and universal messages give many of the tracks a timeless feel, which is no small feat. This is
's most consistent album, and it is the place to start for those wanting to sample his solo work. ~ Vik Iyengar