Post by Phil Seaman on Jul 29, 2005 18:12:57 GMT
15 / 21 at 30 /1980
A continuation of the averageness of 'A Single Man', there is at least a sign of improvement amongst the total pop averageness. The first time Elton is defiently pop and not anything else. Give Me The Love is the first excellent Elton song for a while, a superb disco-like orchestrated up-tempo pop song, Little Jeanie and Sartorical Elequence are ok but slightly cheesy pop ballads. Everything else is generic pop, something that Elton is definitely struggling with at this period of time. And Take Me Back is terrible country music.
Best Songs: Sartorical Elequence, Give Me The Love
Avoid: Take Me Back
5.5/10
16 / The Fox / 1981
After 5 years, Elton finally decided to release a half good album. Whilst still very poppy, and supposedly most of the songs taken from outtakes of the last album, Elton has original, and memorable songs for this album. Just Like Belgium is Elton's best pop-rock song for a long, long time, and Fascist Faces is much darker than most things on previous albums, with great piano work. Carla Etude is a piece of Romantic-era instrumental music, and is great, as are the super ballads Chloe and Elton's Song, which are simplistic yet beautiful. Only Heart In The Right Place struggles, and there are no real classic songs. Still a great album.
Best Songs: Elton's Song, Chloe, Carla Etude, Just Like Belgium, Fascist Faces
Avoid: Heart In The Right Place
8/10
17 / Jump Up! / 1982
Elton continues his poppy style here, and whilst not as good as The Fox, its still good. Dear John is a catchy pop-rock song, and the piano playing is top stuff. Legal Boys is a stirring orchestral ballad, in the style of early Elton, and feels totally out of place. Empty Garden is a nice, yet not classic tribute to John Lennon, and Where Have All The Good Times Gone? is possibly the best song Elton had released since 1976, a top class Disco-style track. All Quiet On The Western Front is a nice ballad closer. A good album on the whole, with hints that the Elton of around 1973 was retuning. However Blue Eyes is dross, and I Am Your Robot (synth based uptempo song) and Princess (synth based ballad) are just embarrassing.
Best Songs: Where Have All The Good Times Gone, Dear John, Legal Boys
Avoid: I Am Your Robot, Blue Eyes, Princess
7/10
18 / Too Low For Zero / 1983
Suprisingly for some, Elton John managed to release a massively successful album both commercially and critically. I'm Still Standing is Elton's first classic rocker for a while, as is Kiss The Bride. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues recalls Eltons 70's melodic peak, and One More Arrow is a cute ballad. The use of synths is actually an advantage here, unlike on later albums especially on the title track, and Crystal. This album was the best Elton would do for a long, long time, and features no real bad songs - in fact most of them are pretty great. The Retreat, a bonus song, is also great. How far he would fall.
Best Songs: I'm Still Standing, Kiss The Bride, I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues, Retreat
Avoid: None
9/10
A continuation of the averageness of 'A Single Man', there is at least a sign of improvement amongst the total pop averageness. The first time Elton is defiently pop and not anything else. Give Me The Love is the first excellent Elton song for a while, a superb disco-like orchestrated up-tempo pop song, Little Jeanie and Sartorical Elequence are ok but slightly cheesy pop ballads. Everything else is generic pop, something that Elton is definitely struggling with at this period of time. And Take Me Back is terrible country music.
Best Songs: Sartorical Elequence, Give Me The Love
Avoid: Take Me Back
5.5/10
16 / The Fox / 1981
After 5 years, Elton finally decided to release a half good album. Whilst still very poppy, and supposedly most of the songs taken from outtakes of the last album, Elton has original, and memorable songs for this album. Just Like Belgium is Elton's best pop-rock song for a long, long time, and Fascist Faces is much darker than most things on previous albums, with great piano work. Carla Etude is a piece of Romantic-era instrumental music, and is great, as are the super ballads Chloe and Elton's Song, which are simplistic yet beautiful. Only Heart In The Right Place struggles, and there are no real classic songs. Still a great album.
Best Songs: Elton's Song, Chloe, Carla Etude, Just Like Belgium, Fascist Faces
Avoid: Heart In The Right Place
8/10
17 / Jump Up! / 1982
Elton continues his poppy style here, and whilst not as good as The Fox, its still good. Dear John is a catchy pop-rock song, and the piano playing is top stuff. Legal Boys is a stirring orchestral ballad, in the style of early Elton, and feels totally out of place. Empty Garden is a nice, yet not classic tribute to John Lennon, and Where Have All The Good Times Gone? is possibly the best song Elton had released since 1976, a top class Disco-style track. All Quiet On The Western Front is a nice ballad closer. A good album on the whole, with hints that the Elton of around 1973 was retuning. However Blue Eyes is dross, and I Am Your Robot (synth based uptempo song) and Princess (synth based ballad) are just embarrassing.
Best Songs: Where Have All The Good Times Gone, Dear John, Legal Boys
Avoid: I Am Your Robot, Blue Eyes, Princess
7/10
18 / Too Low For Zero / 1983
Suprisingly for some, Elton John managed to release a massively successful album both commercially and critically. I'm Still Standing is Elton's first classic rocker for a while, as is Kiss The Bride. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues recalls Eltons 70's melodic peak, and One More Arrow is a cute ballad. The use of synths is actually an advantage here, unlike on later albums especially on the title track, and Crystal. This album was the best Elton would do for a long, long time, and features no real bad songs - in fact most of them are pretty great. The Retreat, a bonus song, is also great. How far he would fall.
Best Songs: I'm Still Standing, Kiss The Bride, I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues, Retreat
Avoid: None
9/10
