Eagles: Farewell I Tour

The Eagles are still huge, a big-time concert attraction and commercial force (their greatest hits album is said to be the bestselling album in the history of the universe). But honestly, how many times do you want to see/hear these guys play "Desperado" and "Hotel California" in the exact same way, duplicating the original recorded performances note-for-note? Apparently, the answer for some folks is “a lot.” Recorded in 2004 in Melbourne, Australia, Farewell I Tour contains no less than 30 songs, spread out over two discs (and well over two and a half hours) covering their whole career, from “Take it Easy” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling” through "Love Will Keep Us Alive" (from Hell Freezes Over, their most recent recording with new material on it). There's some interesting sideline material this time, too, including Joe Walsh's "One Day at a Time" (an earnest, almost painfully on-the-nose ode to his newfound sobriety) and "Hole in the World," Glenn Frey and Don Henley's moving, slightly gospel-tinged reaction to the events of 9/11. Guitarist Don Felder, who split acrimoniously with the band in 2001, isn't much missed, as his replacement plays the parts just as Felder did—i.e., just as they were recorded. Presented in DTS 5.1 and PCM stereo (DVD extras are limited to perfunctory interviews with the band), the sound is great, as are the visuals, and the crowd loves it: so what's the problem? Maybe it's that certain smugness about these dudes (witness the DVD title) and Frey's onstage admission that a Farewell II Tour is pretty much a given. Is this mere nitpicking? Eagles fans will say so, and they will certainly flock to this comprehensive live catalog. Recommended, overall. Aud: P. (S. Graham)