Published on Jan 1, 1998
Containing a few standout tracks, some anonymous filler, and a
couple of cheesy failures,
River Of Dreams was a popular album that ranks in the middle
of the pack of Joel’s albums. “No Man’s Land” and “Blonde Over
Blue” feature thumping beats and catchy vocals, but “The Great Wall
Of China,” “A Minor Variation,” and “Shades Of Grey” alternate from
annoying to boring to annoying again.
The best songs here are the ones you’re probably the most
familiar with. “All About Soul” is a keeper, and since it became
the Knicks theme song late in ’94 it always reminds me of the
Knicks – Rockets Finals, Olajuwon versus Ewing (TKO by Olajuwon,
outclassing his counterpart, with the real haymaker being landed by
John Starks, whose unconscionable 2-17 from downtown in Game 7 cost
the Knicks the game and the championship). As for the song itself,
lines like “she gives me all the tenderness and takes away my pain”
don’t carry quite the same weight these days since he divorced the
person those words lovingly spoke about soon afterwards (Christine
Brinkley, obviously). It’s still a catchy tune with a great chorus,
and the aptly titled ballad “Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel),” and
“Two Thousand Years” are pretty evocations of love. The title track
is a fun doo wop number whose similarity to “The Lion Sleeps
Tonight” (famous post
The Lion King) can be overlooked, again proving that Joel
always was more successful at harking back to past musical styles
than trying (too hard) to stay current.
Another theme that hangs heavily over this album is Joel’s legal
battles with his former brother-in-law, who stole money from him.
This caused Joel considerable financial hardship, at least as far
as millionaire rockers are concerned (luckily, Joel’s subsequent
tour with fellow piano king Elton John was a huge success, easing
his burden). Lines like “these days its harder to say I know what
I’m fighting for” tellingly show the loss of faith the whole ordeal
has wrought upon him. Unfortunately, the too often pedestrian songs
on this album show that Joel’s personal troubles took their toll on
his musical inspiration.