Turnstiles [Enhanced Version]
On this 1976 classic, Billy Joel tempers his anger a bit, adding dashes of hope and even sentimentality. In fact, he seems to address this fresh outlook on the scathing "Angry Young Man" and defiant "Say Goodbye to Hollywood." Still, his ballads here mark some of his finest work, from theRay Charles-influenced "New York State of Mind" to the introspective "Summer, Highland Falls" to the celebratory "I've Loved These Days." Lyrically, "Miami 2017" owes as much to folk as it does to rock. These eight songs seem as if they're therapeutic for Joel: they display a new comfort and satisfaction as he digs deeper within himself to find lyrical themes.--Marc Greilsamer