It is true that this album was a surprise for everyone so the topics discussed in the texts were subversive for pure pop artist like Billy Joel. ALLENTOWN (1st single) handles unemployment, LAURA human realtions - woman, PRESSURE urban stress, GOODNIGHT SAIGON Vietnam SACNDINAVIAN SKIES Cold War.
Billy Joel began a little everyone back for its bias and never re-tried experience of the social or political criticism.
More than 20 years later, this album is a superb example of its era and the Reagan years.
Regarding the music, Billy Joel's compositions are among his best: the twilight atmosphere GOODNIGHT SAIGON, the theatrics of SCANDINAVIAN SKIES or the very Beatlesque LAURA demonstrate the talent of composer and arranger Billy Joel.
THE NYLON CURTAIN represents its peak, all he could do before or after will ever match this album. However, I do not advise people do not know very well the Billy Joel directory. Better to start with classic albums like 52nd STREET and THE STRANGER before listening to it to properly assess the evolution of speech and compositions by Billy Joel.
