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To keep this review simple, this album is just as well-written with equally good vocals as anything Elton has done before. All of the songs on this album are good and are of exceptionally high quality - you'll listen to them again and again.

The best songs on this allbum are 'Postcards form Richard Nixon', 'The Bridge', 'Tinderbox' 'Blues Never Fade Away' and the brilliant tribute to himself and Bernie, 'Captain & The Kid'.

Even if you've not really got into Elton before, you'll appreciate the quality of the music on this album and regard it as an instant classic.

Rating: 5 out of 5

If you are reading this review,first let me direct you to the Deluxe edition of this album that comes with a bonus DVD doco and a web-link on the CD to download exclusive tracks online that are not on the album but one of which appears in the lyric book.I highly recommend the Deluxe edition to the standard edition for those two reasons.One of the download tracks "Across The River Thames" is awesome,and part of the Captain and the Kid Story!
Elton toured Australia in late 2006 on the back of this album and had a good deal to say about it getting no airplay or promotion.Indeed he performed a block of the album's songs(5 or 6 of them if my memory serves me),right in the middle of the show preceded by "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" from the original Captain Fantastic.He spoke of the fondness he and Bernie share for that album(as do a lot of his fans)and the reasons for doing a follow up to that autobiographical masterpiece.If you buy the Deluxe edition of the album,it's all explained on the bonus DVD interview.

After the show I could hear a number of disgruntled patrons complaining about too much new music and the volume of all things(and I thought I was getting old!).But as Elton said in his monologue before the "Captain and the Kid" block of songs,and I quote,"If we don't play them,how else are you gonna hear them."So he must have known there would be a few out there who only want to hear Candle..,Your Song and Crocodile Rock etc.Indeed!

But,I digress,just to point out that I think this album really did go over every-one's heads or slipped under their radar.And for the life of me,I don't know why.It is probably the best thing he's done for quite some time.It leaves Peach-tree Road and Songs From The West Coast for dead.

I dare anyone to listen to some of these tracks("The Bridge,"Blues Never Fade Away") and once you know the story behind the song,be genuinely moved!The lines in "Blues..." that refer to Gianni Versace had me in tears!And the obvious reference in "The Bridge" to the demons in all our lives is some of the best words Taupin has EVER written!

If you are an Elton fan and have not bought this album(shame on you,add it to your cart this instant)you won't be disappointed.

Breathtakingly Beautiful!

Rating: 5 out of 5

In all honesty it must be said that this is an excellent album. If a new artist would have come up with this album it would be the sensation of the year. But the trouble is "It isn't a new artist. It's Elton John!". He has done all of this and better the first time around. So all the rave reviews are just an indication of how much we miss the "classic" Elton and how lightweight some of his later albums have become.

It is certainly a return to form and nobody buying this album will be disappointed. Whereas most of his more recent albums rely on a few strong tracks this is a consistent effort with good to fine songwriting, inventive musicianship and a clean "Elton John" sound. In comparison with his classic albums however it falls short. At the time the great songs came easy to him. Now he has to work hard to approach that level and he doesn't succeed all the time. Then he was a great vocalist. Now he sings in a lower register and the range isn't anymore what it used to be. Then he had a innovative producer with Gus Dudgeon, but now we have heard it all before.

So yes, it is a great album, compared with anybody's standards, but no, it doesn't rank with the best of Elton John.



Rating: 4 out of 5

Billed as a sequel to 1975's 'Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy', I viewed this album with slight trepidation because of some (whilst generally favourable) mixed reviews and an underlying fear that it would be very difficult for Elton to make another album as good as his last two excellent efforts, 'Songs From The West Coast' and 'Peachtree Road'. Well, I'm sure that it was very difficult, but I'm pleased to say that he's managed it.

The album kicks off with a snappy, bluesy piano riff which introduces 'Postcards From Richard Nixon', a lyrically excellent and musically decent opener which name checks Brian Wilson and Steve McQueen and is written from an US immigrant's point of view, wide-eyed and optimistic yet tinted with the cynicism of living under Nixon's government. The second track, 'Just Like Noah's Ark', is a straight forward easy-going rock `n' roller with fantastic lyrics (For every tiny dancer there`s a god that`s had its day/The truth is never quite the same as what the papers say), a great beat, an economical but effective guitar solo and is altogether very pleasing to the ears.

'Wouldn't Have You Any Other Way (NYC)' is a laid-back love song dedicated to New York City featuring a very pretty melody and sincere, likeable lyrics. Quite often songs about cities can be mawkish and over-sentimental, but this finds the right balance between sentiment and saccharine - there's a nice 1970s synth sound in the middle of this song alluding to this album's conceptual inspiration as well, which was a good touch. 'Tinderbox', a song about the delicate balance of society and how precarious harmony is, comes next and is a decent enough track without really lighting any fires.

'...And The House Fell Down', a song about a life of excess disintegrating right in front of the author's eyes, is a jumpy, minor-key groove with some deft piano fills which, after the verse, storms right into a very catchy, foot-tapping Elton John chorus - this is up there with some of his best work and also features an excellent bluesy piano solo. The next song keeps the high standard set by '...And The House Fell Down' and is a heartfelt ballad about the people, such as John Lennon, who have departed from our lives but in essence and our memories live forever. 'Blues Never Fade Away' is, once again, a song which could easily have been a track on 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', 'Madman Across The Water' or any of Elton's early 70s albums which are largely considered as career highlights.

Following a ballad with another ballad on an album is often a risky tactic as comparing songs like-for-like can make one suffer by comparison, but not track seven, - 'The Bridge' - a fairly simple song, lyrically, about having the courage to take the decisions which may be scary but ultimately forge the path to making our lives better and it is backed by a tender melody, the sentiments perfectly expressed by Elton's vocals. 'I Must Have Lost It On The Wind' is a soft country-influenced song which reminisces about the impact that all of the singer's previous lovers have had on his life. It's a nice track but doesn't have the magic of the previous songs.

The penultimate song, 'Old `67' is a song about two friends getting together and discussing the old days, most likely even Bernie and Elton themselves as the last line of the song is "It's a little bit funny this feeling inside", from 'Your Song', one of the first songs Elton and Bernie wrote together. It's genuinely touching and a rather lovely, gentle track. The last song, 'The Captain And The Kid', is another gentle country-tinged semi-autobiographical song and finishes the album with a pleasant whimper rather than a bang, but you're left feeling rather fulfilled by this latest offering from Elton.

Granted, there is nothing quite as spectacular as 'I Want Love' on this album, nothing that really leaps out of the stereo and screams greatness at you, but there's nothing as trite and insipid as 'The Cat' on here either. This album compares well with his last two critically acclaimed releases and in '...And The House Fell Down' and 'Blues Never Fade Away', as well as a half-dozen other songs, he has songs which will delight long-term fans and has made an album which can be considered amongst his very best. This is an extremely impressive run of form from Elton and long may it continue!

Rating: 4 out of 5

It's absolutely the best recent Elton studio album. All tracks are great to listening to. And on July 8, 2008, the man himself gave me his autograph on my Special Edition-Captain & The Kid-Cover during his concert in Konstanz. Couldn't get better - it was also definitively the best Elton & Band-Show of 13 I've seen so far in 10 years. And the fever's gonna catch you .. !

Rating: 5 out of 5