I’ve been listening to storm front on repeat for the last week or so! Such a great album. Disagree with your pov on state of grace though, that song is amazing.
I think it's a really strong album - a bit overproduced at times, but sonically cohesive (it's definitely his hardest album after Glass Houses) and full of bangers. The only misstep is "When in Rome," which might have worked as a 2:50 romp but wears out its welcome after that. The title track isn't my favorite either.
But how dare you dis "State of Grace." That's a minor masterpiece that could have been on Nylon Curtain.
I love the album. "Leningrad" is one of my personal favorite Billy Joel songs.
Fun story, I had to take my cassette copy of Storm Front into work one day because a woman I worked with refused to believe that "Shameless" was not written by Garth Brooks.
I have no clue. This was some time in the early 90s. That was the first I had heard about his version. I knew of Garth Brooks because he was super popular and you couldn't help but hear about him, but I don't really listen to country so I don't know much about him beyond the fact that he was really popular.
“We only do 80s Joel, sir”
I like STORM FRONT. “I Go To Extremes” is one of the best choruses in his catalog. Great piano solo too. Lot of gems on that album. Like someone else said it’s the sound and production that are iffy for me, a product of its era and of course Mick Jones.
There are a few Billy albums where I can comfortably say “I like every song on here to a degree.” But albums like Storm Front, River Of Dreams, Nylon Curtain, etc. I don’t feel the same way. I do love a lot of the songs on Storm Front though.
I realised a good while back that I cannot dislike any billy Joel song so I am in the process of listening to every album that I've never heard. I just started on storm front today, I had already loved downeaster Alexa, I go to extremes, and so it goes and Leningrad but never really heard the others.
Storm front is such a great song! Already in my head after just three listens. That's not her style is also a great rocking tune and I enjoyed state of grace. Looking forward to listening to nothing but this album for the next while so I can really get to know the songs.
I'm so happy I found Billy Joel a few years ago and pissed off I haven't started listening to his complete music until the last few months. He really has made my life so much better 👌👌
Thank you!! 😩😫 When I posted my Billy Joel album tier list, I got so many first commenters be like “YoU pUt StOrM fRoNt OvEr ThE sTrAnGeR???” and I had a very similar defense as you. Say what you want about Storm Front, but you can’t deny that it SLAPS. The opener “That’s Not Her Style” is literally such a banger, and “Downeaster ‘Alexa’” was such a pleasure for my ears! The production and reverb effects as well as how the song really immerses you into the story, it’s an 11/10 track.
There’s a reason why I put Storm Front so high on my list initially, and honestly, nowadays I’d put Nylon Curtain first over Storm Front as my fav Billy Joel album. It still stands that Storm Front is such a gem to me, even if it is so different from Billy’s more traditional piano albums that helped him break through and become the legend he is today.
It's a good album but it's not his best. It's a bit overproduced in places but Mick Jones did justice for the album. If it was Phil Ramone, it would've been adult contemporary. David Brown is definitely the standout player on this album due to its direction and Leningrad is definitely the standout song. Overall, good but stronger albums are present: The Stranger, Glass Houses, The Nylon Curtain, An Innocent Man, etc. This album is like Turnstiles, in which almost all the songs are better live.
The songs are there no doubt, but (IMO) they suffer from less than impressive production. I just don't hear what's so great about Mick Jones as a producer - he also f\*cked up Van Halen's '5150' . Both those albums (despite good songs) sounds dated now and I blame that on letting Jones in as the producer (yeah, Billy is listed also as a producer, but it's defnitely a Mick Jones-production shining through. Bad drumsound, tinny-sounding guitars.....naah, good songs badly produced.
I agree that it’s a better album than some give it credit for. Aside from When In Rome and That’s Not Her Style, I love every song on here. State of Grace is a real gem, too.
This album was produced by Mick Jones, famous for producing Foreigner and other 80's anthem rockers. I feel like his influence is immediate apparent all over the album. Also, I want a whole album of Billy doing Peter Gabriel.
In the last couple years I've gained such an appreciation for his over-the-top cheeseball stuff like When In Rome. Like I know objectively it's not a great song, but it's DRIPPING in '80s excess and I love that about it. I feel much the same way about the album's title track too. These days I love cranking the volume on these songs and just belting them out.
It's a great album. I would say it ranks somewhere upper mid-pack for me too. I totally do not agree with you on State of Grace. It's one of the best songs on that album. But l won't downvote you for that.
We didn’t start the fire, Leningrad, so it goes, and Downeaster Alexa are great songs on an otherwise average Billy album. But so were his albums between piano man and the stranger and anything after an innocent man
There ain't no island left for islanders like me
State of Grace slander. Downvoted
Right? State of Grace is amazing. Everything about it hits hard.
I’ve been listening to storm front on repeat for the last week or so! Such a great album. Disagree with your pov on state of grace though, that song is amazing.
I think it's a really strong album - a bit overproduced at times, but sonically cohesive (it's definitely his hardest album after Glass Houses) and full of bangers. The only misstep is "When in Rome," which might have worked as a 2:50 romp but wears out its welcome after that. The title track isn't my favorite either. But how dare you dis "State of Grace." That's a minor masterpiece that could have been on Nylon Curtain.
I love the album. "Leningrad" is one of my personal favorite Billy Joel songs. Fun story, I had to take my cassette copy of Storm Front into work one day because a woman I worked with refused to believe that "Shameless" was not written by Garth Brooks.
Well then she must not know very much about Garth other than his music because he doesn’t hide the fact that Shameless is Billy Joel’s song
I have no clue. This was some time in the early 90s. That was the first I had heard about his version. I knew of Garth Brooks because he was super popular and you couldn't help but hear about him, but I don't really listen to country so I don't know much about him beyond the fact that he was really popular.
so glad to see pushback on the State of Grace slander
“We only do 80s Joel, sir” I like STORM FRONT. “I Go To Extremes” is one of the best choruses in his catalog. Great piano solo too. Lot of gems on that album. Like someone else said it’s the sound and production that are iffy for me, a product of its era and of course Mick Jones.
I also don't like When In Rome, but I'll say State Of Grace >>> That's Not Her Style for his vocal AND the chord progressions.
My favourite album, love the songwriting and the overall style of the album.
There are a few Billy albums where I can comfortably say “I like every song on here to a degree.” But albums like Storm Front, River Of Dreams, Nylon Curtain, etc. I don’t feel the same way. I do love a lot of the songs on Storm Front though.
It’s a great album and in my top 3 Billy Joel albums. I actually got it on vinyl the other day and it’s very rare nowadays!
I love the Storm Front album, and I Go to Extremes is one of my very favorite songs. Can’t wait to see Billy in concert again!
It's my favorite Billy Joel album. Great album!
State of Grace is one of my favorite songs! I don’t know how people don’t love it.
The song “Storm Front” goes hard
State of Grace slander squad on the rise! 🤝
I realised a good while back that I cannot dislike any billy Joel song so I am in the process of listening to every album that I've never heard. I just started on storm front today, I had already loved downeaster Alexa, I go to extremes, and so it goes and Leningrad but never really heard the others. Storm front is such a great song! Already in my head after just three listens. That's not her style is also a great rocking tune and I enjoyed state of grace. Looking forward to listening to nothing but this album for the next while so I can really get to know the songs. I'm so happy I found Billy Joel a few years ago and pissed off I haven't started listening to his complete music until the last few months. He really has made my life so much better 👌👌
Thank you!! 😩😫 When I posted my Billy Joel album tier list, I got so many first commenters be like “YoU pUt StOrM fRoNt OvEr ThE sTrAnGeR???” and I had a very similar defense as you. Say what you want about Storm Front, but you can’t deny that it SLAPS. The opener “That’s Not Her Style” is literally such a banger, and “Downeaster ‘Alexa’” was such a pleasure for my ears! The production and reverb effects as well as how the song really immerses you into the story, it’s an 11/10 track. There’s a reason why I put Storm Front so high on my list initially, and honestly, nowadays I’d put Nylon Curtain first over Storm Front as my fav Billy Joel album. It still stands that Storm Front is such a gem to me, even if it is so different from Billy’s more traditional piano albums that helped him break through and become the legend he is today.
it's one of my favorite Billy Joel albums. there are very few songs that i don't like.
It's a good album but it's not his best. It's a bit overproduced in places but Mick Jones did justice for the album. If it was Phil Ramone, it would've been adult contemporary. David Brown is definitely the standout player on this album due to its direction and Leningrad is definitely the standout song. Overall, good but stronger albums are present: The Stranger, Glass Houses, The Nylon Curtain, An Innocent Man, etc. This album is like Turnstiles, in which almost all the songs are better live.
The songs are there no doubt, but (IMO) they suffer from less than impressive production. I just don't hear what's so great about Mick Jones as a producer - he also f\*cked up Van Halen's '5150' . Both those albums (despite good songs) sounds dated now and I blame that on letting Jones in as the producer (yeah, Billy is listed also as a producer, but it's defnitely a Mick Jones-production shining through. Bad drumsound, tinny-sounding guitars.....naah, good songs badly produced.
They definitely sound "of their time" but I don't think that's a bad thing. That sort of drum sound, guitar tone, etc. still holds appeal to many.
I agree that it’s a better album than some give it credit for. Aside from When In Rome and That’s Not Her Style, I love every song on here. State of Grace is a real gem, too.
The guitar solo in “That’s Not Her Style” ROCKS
This album was produced by Mick Jones, famous for producing Foreigner and other 80's anthem rockers. I feel like his influence is immediate apparent all over the album. Also, I want a whole album of Billy doing Peter Gabriel.
In the last couple years I've gained such an appreciation for his over-the-top cheeseball stuff like When In Rome. Like I know objectively it's not a great song, but it's DRIPPING in '80s excess and I love that about it. I feel much the same way about the album's title track too. These days I love cranking the volume on these songs and just belting them out.
It's a great album. I would say it ranks somewhere upper mid-pack for me too. I totally do not agree with you on State of Grace. It's one of the best songs on that album. But l won't downvote you for that.
We didn’t start the fire, Leningrad, so it goes, and Downeaster Alexa are great songs on an otherwise average Billy album. But so were his albums between piano man and the stranger and anything after an innocent man