Billy's 1980 opus was such a huge hit that it's easy to forget how enduring his songs really are. "Glass Houses" was Billy's "rock" album, and while some weak production (an ongoing problem for Billy) cuts the edge, he focused on a simplicity in the songwriting that really served his voice well. "You May Be Right" is a calculated, if irresistable, first single, but the real standouts are the dark "All for Leyna" (in which he sort of warms up for "Laura" on "Nylon Curtain"), the wonderful "Sleeping With the Television On," and the delicate, gorgeously-structured "Through the Long Night."

Even the misfires are thoroughly entertaining. "Close to the Borderline" lacks the punch to fulfill its post-punk ambitions, and the lyrics are awfully dated, but it's still a delightful anguished-yuppie number, and a nice preview of the more powerful, if equally unsubtle, "Pressure." "C'Etait Toi" meanders a bit, and Billy gets bogged down in bad French, but it's a pop charmer.

Then there are the hits..."Sometimes a Fantasy," "Don't Ask Me Why," the almost novelty-hit "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me." They were all hits for a damn good reason...they have great hooks, Billy sings 'em like he means 'em, and they get better with every listen. Billy would hit his Beatlesque stride with "Nylon Curtain" and find a stronger rock sound with "Storm Front," but it's great to hear him playing with both format on "Glass Houses."

Sure, I am but a mere one year older than this album, and while people in my generation groove to the likes of all the Christinas, Britneys, NSyncs and Backstreets, I take a trip back 20 years to when singers actually wrote their songs and sang about what mattered most -- not what about would make a great video. Billy is a Rock and Roll genius, and of his 15 albums, this is the ONE I could not live without!

It has just enough of his hits on it ("You May Be Right," "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me," and "Don't Ask Me Why") for those who aren't fanatics. But, the core of the album (as with most of Billy's work) is the unreleased songs: "Sometimes a Fantasy," "All for Leyna," and "Sleeping with the Television On," plus the others. These are the songs that you fall in love with and listen to on repeat (or, at least I do.) They are "Glass Houses," and each is its own masterpiece written by the single best singer/songwriter of 3 consecutive decades.

Go ahead... Listen and fall in love. Nostalgia it isn't. Great music it is. The 80s feel to the music only adds to its meaning and makes you appreciate that an album 21 years old can become your favorite for the next 21 years.

This was my first album ever. I was in third grade. It was this, and Disco Duck, so, you can guess which one stood the test of time. The other album, Glass Houses, was great too! I was too young to understand why being a straight A student meant you thought too much, but, I knew that if you got bad grades, you were cool, and some day, I might have a white boy's afro, wear a leather member's only jacket, and throw a rock through my rich girlfriend's glass house. What do you want from me...I was eight years old when I first heard this album. Thanks to this album I conned my Grandparents into buying me a sax, and then a key board, and then a leather jacket, and, eventually, drums. So, thanks to Billy Joel's Glass Houses, my life would never, ever follow a linear path on the road most travelled. One thing that does stand out, other than the fact that this album still blows away every album I have bought since...the whole star spangled banner playing with the bars and tone sound leading into the song. No one these days will understand what that sound means, which makes it even better. When ever I listen to this album, it always reminds me of a simpler time when every house had one phone, no answering machine, no internet, and a TV with 3 channels on a dial that played the national anthem or star spangled banner as we all fell asleep in the living room....you know...when families all actually hung out with each other. Thank you Billy.

Back in the December of 1980, this album was given to me as a holiday gift. Strangely enough, it wasn't until a prolonged illness in Fall 1982 that I actually listened to the album (guess I got bored of Simon & Garfunkel, the Beatles, and the few selections of Bach and Vivaldi I was listening to back then...) - and realized that there was, in fact, other music out there - and in the case of this album, there was other really, really great music out there...In fact, within 12 months I was listening to the radio, digging through my dad's (and even my sister's) record collection for new and varied music.

But, as usual, I digress. "Glass Houses" is one of Billy Joel's two masterpiece albums. Even now, on listening to this album after having been almost complete jaded on Billy Joel's albums, there are really no songs here that I don't like. Almost every song on this album is a classic.

Highlights? As with any album which I deem to be a masterpiece (and there aren't a whole lot of those around), every song here is a highlight, just about. Favorites include the funny and cynical "You May Be Right", the concise and catchy hit "It's Still Rock 'N Roll To Me", and the urgent lyrics and rocking piano of "All For Leyna". Maybe my favorite song on the album is "I Don't Want To Be Alone" which I love for its nice story of an underdog's efforts in love and for its nice back-up harmonies. "Close To The Borderline" is the closest Billy Joel ever comes to hard rock - and while it's not exactly heavy metal or anything, it is melodic and satisfying. I also love the last song on the album with its Beatlesque harmonies, "Through The Long Night" - the first time I heard it, I thought it actually was a Beatles song - pretty stuff, indeed!

In sum, this album has six or seven songs which I just love - absolutely classic. The rest of the songs are also very good. This is as good as Billy Joel has ever done - a great album! A MASTERPIECE - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND ESSENTIAL!!!

I would consider this album to be some of Billy Joel's best work. I believe this was when Billy started focusing on harder and truer rock after the "folky" period (Cold Spring Harbor) and also the more "jazzy", lighter period- he had just released the very jazz-oriented 52nd Street the year before which won him a Best Album of the Year Grammy.

With Glass Houses he breaks into new territory- literally, it's the first thing you hear. The #1 "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me", "Sometimes a Fantasy" and "Close to the Borderline" display his more frequent use of electric guitars and heavier drums- great songs to play loud when you're stuck in traffic. Pay particular attention to the lyrics on "Rock and Roll"- I think those were the overwhelming reason why this song was #1. (Note also his use of "West Side!" on "Borderline".) "All For Leyna", a pathetically poignant song, (everyone has had a Leyna) employs a lot of extremely '80's synthesizer sounds- new wave, perhaps. "You May Be Right"- a favorite of mine and one of the biggest hits (next to "Rock and Roll") has fabulous lyrics, a catchy tune and this strangely familiar opening riff like something off of the Beatles' "Day Tripper". Like Mr. Joel says, "You might enjoy some madness for awhile"...

The mid-tempo songs and ballads don't fall short either. "Don't Ask Me Why"- I can guarantee that you will recognize the song the moment you hear it (but, uh, don't ask me why). It wasn't that big of a hit for its time (so I've heard) but the melody is absolutely contagious. "I Don't Want to Be Alone" and "Through the Long Night"- good stuff, great lyrics and both sound *completely* different from each other with syncopated beats versus a Paul McCartney flavor respectively- a very welcome change from some of today's monotonous slow songs. "C'était Toi"- you be your own judge on that one. It's my least favorite here but it is an interesting song, complete with French lyrics, and definitely has musical merit to it.

However, I think the most underrated Billy Joel song of all time has to "Sleeping with the Television On". This song is so well-written with perfect metaphors, biting lyrics and snappy sounds- even the intro sound clip. It is incredible- it has it all. I am frantically trying to track down the video for this song. It is my favorite on the album- but the decision was not easy. Decide for yourself and get some good mileage from your speakers- buy this album.