Don Henley - Sunset GrillSomewhere out in, I don't know, western Nebraska or southern Idaho, there is a radio station staff preparing for the upcoming holiday weekend by going through their entire music library and discussing what they're going to do. Maybe a countdown? Maybe a seeded tournament? Maybe some double, triple, or even--fuck it--quadruple shots? Independence Day Weekend calls for some outside-the-box thinking, in the tradition of Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, et al., but those sweet Nebraskan or Idahoan DJs are going to turn to their old reliable workhorse artists at a time like this: Springsteen, Thorogood, Stones, Zeppelin, the Brothers Allman and Doobie, CCR, Hendrix, the Eagles and all evil that erupted therefrom, including Don Henley. I guarantee that this song will be played at least 30-50 times--or more, who knows?--over the course of the July 4th weekend, on radio stations that have the look, feel, and philosophy, not by accident either, of WKRP in Cincinnati."Sunset Grill" is particularly loathsome, not just for the lyrics which are, par for Don, pretty gross, but also for the electro-bass that makes up a huge part of this song's personality, and which has got to be one of the ugliest sounds ever put to tape, no joke, comparable only to something as ancient and sad as the dying moan of an obese moa. In terms of narrative, I think this is Henley's stab at a Donald Fagen-esque black comedy, with the narrator telling his companion to come with him down to the titular shithole and watch homeless people, old dudes, and prostitutes cavort while they (the narrator and companion) sip on their beers and take succor from everyone else's misery. Hey Don, no one wants to hear this tale of wretchedness, sunscreen, parochial alcoholism, and xenophobia, with the possible exception of other leathery assholes like yourself. I don't know what could have possibly moved anyone to write this song. A Fever? Drugs? Voodoo? "Sunset Grill" is on the wrong side of the tracks of Margaritaville, very much like the fun, sun, burgers & booze philosophy of Buffett, but here in Henley's world everything is sick, ashen, poisoned, dying, perverted. Like "Boys of Summer," this song too makes me think of nothing but a day-glo Hadean realm peopled with abominations.[Buy "The Very Best of" Don Henley]P.S. This untitled new song by Joker, feat. Buggsy, is beyond wonderful. Looking forward to Joker's album.