If Joe Walsh wants to leave the job of debauching young minds to bands like AC/DC, it's okay with me. Walsh has been a powerchording guitar hero since the late Sixties, and that's long enough to hold any job. The only other guys in his league, Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend, are also apparently abdicating to conquer new musical territory. As the Bible and George Harrison say, all things must pass.

Hence, I'm not arguing that Walsh ought to be doing "Funk # 387" at this point in his career. "Funk # 49" was sufficient. The problem with There Goes the Neighborhood is that Joe Walsh hasn't found much to replace those killer riffs. The lyrics aren't nearly as funny or poignant as one would expect from the author of "Life's Been Good." The melodies aren't memorable. The sound is short of distinctive. Maybe one song is danceable. Too bad, but even the greatest guitar heroes get knocked down once in a while. I'm waiting for the next round. (RS 351)

CHARLES M. YOUNG