Billy Joel "Storm Front"

On episode 20 of Past Prime, Steve and Matty hoist a nautical
distress signal and recount every headline of the second half of
the twentieth century, including "Belgians in the Congo," as they
try to figure out who, exactly, started that fire. They bravely
confront the middle-aged storm that was Billy Joel's eleventh
studio album, a song cycle about supermodels, Long Island
fisherman, Russian clowns and being "totally cool." In the
process, they manage to unmask the most complicated, commercially
beloved, critically reviled singer-songwriter of his generation.


"Storm Front" (1989) was the second to last Pop album the Piano
Man recorded. Though massively popular in its day, "Storm Front"
is ultimately a strange, shrill record that grunts a lot without
ever really saying all that much. And so, our co-hosts have to
dig deep to figure out the enigma that is Billy Joel. Is he a
misunderstood genius? An overqualified Paul Shaffer? Why was he
so upset all the time? What was that fire and was Billy really
trying to fight it?


To read more about Billy Joel's "Storm Front" check out the full
essay at Past Prime.