905. Billy Joel / Glass Houses. 1980. 3.5/5

Flowing on from the revitalisation of his music, which was now successfully finding its way all around the globe, Glass Houses found itself fighting its way in a new world of music genres, having been through a disco stage and a punk stage. Many have reviewed this album as Billy Joel's answer to a full rock album. Whether or not that was the intention or even the thought behind it, there are more songs on this album that fit into the upbeat variety than the reflective piano dominating songs that were a feature of his early albums.

Side One of this album is excellent, and is where I concentrated on when I first got this album. "You May Be Right" opens the album on that rock 'n' roll note that does come out more strongly on this release. Billy's attitude in the vocals help to make this song as good as it is, as well as the forefront guitar and sax which dominate the middle section. "Sometimes A Fantasy" was probably the more difficult of those five songs to get into and enjoy, but after many rotations of the album it began to feel as though it fit into the order.
"Don't Ask Me Why" has that touch of Beatles, or at least George Harrison, which lightens up the album a touch from the opening two songs. Even now when I hear this song I can almost see the Beatles playing it, it has that gentle easy going construction with Billy's vocals also going into that register that also proliferated that band's music. This is followed by "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me", one of my favourite Billy Joel songs. Singing back and forth to himself in conversation, and with another great sax spot in the middle of the song, this is some of the best he can deliver. "All For Leyna" completes the first half of the album, and is full of enthusiasm in both vocals and music.
Side Two on the other hand doesn't have bad songs, but it has nothing that jumps out at you, or grabs your attention to make it stand out from the pack, or for the most part even get you tapping your foot or singing along with the lyrics. OK, "Sleeping With the Television On" has its moments I guess, but really there's not a lot there that above the average. And as I tend to say too often, that doesn't make them bad songs, it just means that you don't have any love invested in them such that you do with the better songs on Side One.

While there is plenty of potential here, and the usual Billy Joel classics that crops up on every album, Glass Houses just falls short of the mark in the end. Overall it is a better than average release with plenty to like, however it is let down by the second half of the album that just doesn't measure up to the first half.

Rating:  "What's the matter with the crowd I'm seeing? Don't you know that they're out of touch?"   3.5/5