Inside Job

Love him or loathe him, (or more likely take-him-or-leave-him), Don Henley is one of the great voices of American rock.

While discussions on the merits of the Eagles have been known to end in fistfights in this parish, Henley, at least, established a respectable career as a solo artist, with numerous chart successes and a creditable album back-catalogue.

Inside Job is more of the same, and although the title track is one of the most uninspired of the offerings here, on songs like 'For My Wedding' and 'Goodbye To A River', he displays the melodic and lyrical talent that fans have come to expect.

The opening track 'Nobody Else In The World But You', features an excellent contribution by one Stevie Wonder, on backing vocals and keyboards, and Randy Newman supplies a gorgeously subtle string arrangement on the love ballad 'Annabel'.

Lyrically we're in the familiar territory, of the American preoccupation with love, mysticism and the road, and if Henley seems at times to be struggling for inspiration, he can always be relied on to produce at least a couple of gems; check out 'Everything Is Different Now', and the aforementioned 'Annabel'.

There may be no 'Long Run' or 'Wastin' Time' here, but this is still worth a listen.