Customer Reviews

Mirror

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

For anyone who thought that it was Don Felder and Joe Walsh who provided the hard rock guitar sound in the Eagles, Bernie Leadon's new album will dispell that myth fast.

While it was Leadon's guitar spearheaded the Eagles' laid-back California Country sounds on "Take It Easy", "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and "Lyin' Eyes", remember - he was also the lead guitarist that swirled and stinged and solo'ed through songs like "James Dean", or sounding much more like Keith Richards than Clarence White on the Burritos' "Older Guys".In short, Bernie played guitar to the limit, not those chug-chunk-chug sounds emanating from the guitars of mrssrs. Frey, Felder and Walsh.

This "Mirror" ain't Country by a long shot, as the first chords of "Vile and A Profane Man" signify. It is straightforward Rock and Roll, with some edgy "New Wave" sounds thrown in for good measure on "God Ain't Done With Me Yet" (with interesting harmonies courtesy of Miss Emmylou Harris)

While Leadon doesn't entirely neglect his past on songs like "Backup Plan" (a beautiful song about life decisions which also features Miss Emmylou which could easily fit into either the Burritos or Eagles catalogue), the thoughtful "Rich Life", or the Scottsville Barker-like opening mandolin (courtesy of Tommy Burroughs)-guitar sounds on "What Do I Owe", the emphasis here is on those rock guitar-driven songs like "Vile and Profane Man", the rockabillyish "Everybody Want" and the autobiographical "Hey Now Now". The whimsical "Sears and Roebuck" catalog is much more fun performed live than on record.

Just don't expect something akin to "Train Leaves Here This Morning" or even "Corduroy Road" which he cut and sang for the Dirt Band back in '88. There's no banjo either, which is a strange omission from someone, who is, along with his friend and contemporary Herb Pedersen, the best banjo player in Rock and Country music.

What you can expect here, and should expect is a rollicking album full of life, the songs are strongly personal, humorous, fun, insightful, (listen to the lyrics carefully on "Backup Plan") with a touch of sardonic wit. Leadon is an outstanding guitarist (and multi-instrumentalist, though not here)and while he might not be a powerful vocalist, he is certainly a more than competent one - . This is a rich, colorful album by a man who has seen a lot, played a lot, and it is music much more authentic and much, much better than anything his former Eagle bandmates have churned out recently.

I like everyone else opened the CD put it in my car stereo in hopes of finding a new Eagles LP. After all if you listened to the Eagles his influence was a major part of the music!, and after all the pop cr@p from Don and Glen this was sure to be master piece of Eagles history. Well almost. The 70's are gone and so are the Eagles we grew up and partied to. The thing about this LP is that it take a few listens and the mind set that this is Bernie Leadon LP not an Eagles LP. Once you get by that the LP becomes a delight. Maybe someday Bernie, Randy, Don F., JD, and a few friends like Russ K, and Jackson will all get together and play some old favorites and maybe something new. Until then, get a copy of the Mirror sit back and enjoy!!!!!! Interesting that he uses profanity in many songs that would prohibit airplay, I wonder if this is a statement of some kind?

I've had this record for a few years and really dig it. I always love getting it out and listening to it again, significant songs like Volcano, Rich Life and God Ain't Done with Me Yet really stand out with the solo on the latter being my favorite part of the album, it gives me a shiver every time I play it.

Sears and Roebuck Catalog and Center of the Universe add a little bit of lightness to what is overall a really great record. It's not too long, each song deserves its spot and unlike much of what's out there the production is well done. I didn't know of Bernie's previous works until I did some research about him but I am thankful that this isn't some sort of an Eagles clone, it stands very well on it's own.

Check it out if you enjoy music with a fiddle and mandolin just as much as some great drums and an excellent vocal melody. There is enough country, bluegrass, singer-songwriter and "rock" to scratch the itch; the blend is like a well-brewed cup of coffee, perfectly satisfying.

Mirror is in my eyes and ears a wondeful deep harmonic CD. Showing how well Bernie moved on with his musical life. The Eagles is just a memory and this CD reflects an inner soul that has an amazing depth. The rocky style mixed with his very personal one is very attractive.
I am eagerly waiting for something new from this great musician. One terrific guitarist.
I am awed by this music. Give us more!!

I am a big fan of Bernie's work with the Eagles and his album with Michael Georgiades and like a lot of people, was excited to see this new release. I bought the CD without listening to it on the strength of the review from "At Last" from Wellington, New Zealand. You owe me $30 my friend ! I don't know whether the success of Lord of the Rings means that only fiction and fairy tales come out of New Zealand these days, or perhaps you're related to Bernie or work for his record company. The album is at best very ordinary, with average musicianship, weak material and flat production. It is very disappointing, but based on Mr Leadon's previous fantastic body of work, I guess he really doesn't have to prove anything to anyone.

As a fan of the Eagles, the original four, I had always liked Bernie. In fact he was my favorite. I am disspointed in this disc. The music is fine and very well done. Lyrics are always a peek into the soul of the artist. The first cut on the record really says it all: "I am a vile and profane man" and Bernie is quite profane in his lyrics. That is something I just don't care for. Others may not be bothered, but I find it a unneccessary distraction. I must confess I held him in high esteem, but now quite disillusioned.

I stumbled across Bernie as he was playing in a coffee shop in Nashville. He caught my eye and I walked over to check it out. He was playing a bunch of tracks off of this album. I was impressed with his musicianship and I thought that his songs were real, and written from the heart. Then I found out afterwards of his history with the Eagles and I ended up buying the album. I have not been disappointed and I am looking foward to seeing him again.

I PURCHASED THIS CD BECAUSE OF BERNIES MUSICAL PEDIGREE. NOT SO MUCH RE: HIS WORK AS A MEMBER OF THE EAGLES, BUT MORE TO DO WITH HIM BEING AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE BURRITOS, HIS WORK ON HIS ALBUM WITH MICHAEL GEORGIADES, WHICH I STILL RATE HIGHLY, AND IN THE 80s AS ANN ALL TOO BRIEF MEMBER OF THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND ( CHECK OUT HIS SONG CORDAROY ROAD FROM THE WORKING BAND ALBUM )"EAT YOU HEART OUT STEVE EARLE".

"MIRROR" DIDN'T LEAVE ME WANTING AT ALL!
FROM THE VERY GET GO, OF "I'M A VILE AND PROFANE MAN" THIS ALBUM WAS CLEARLY GOING TO BE A CLASSIC. THE PRODUCTION AND STRIPPED DOWN APPROACH ARE SPOT ON. THIS MUSIC IS REAL, AS OPPOSED TO ANYTHING THE EAGLES HAVE DONE FOR A LONG LONG TIME, IN FACT SINCE BERNIE DEPARTED.
THIS ALBUM SHOWS SO MUCH MUSICAL INTEGRITY THROUOUT AND GIVES BOTH A HEALTHY NOD TO HIS PAST AS WELL AS REAL AWARENESS AND FOCUS UPON WHAT'S GREAT IN PRESENT.
BUY THIS ALBUM WITH CONFIDENCE.

This was a long time coming and it has a few great songs, but for the most part I found it to be disappointing. I think its more the material than performance. Bernie's voice is great as is the guitar work, but to me, many of these tunes could be from a number of people working in contemporary folk music. When I want to hear his music, I'd be more inclined to go back to his cd with Michael Georgiades or his work with the Eagles.

After 27 years, Bernie has this new CD. I have bought it from the net, and i hadn`t heard the songs before.
But i was not dissapointet!!!
This is a very good CD. Check out What do I own, Volcano, and God ain`t done with me yet.
The lyrics are nice!!
I guess he is one of the best guitarplayer in the world.
I also have his CD with Michael Georgiades, and I can recommend them both!!