Madman Across the Water

I dunno, I've never really been a fan of Elton John and this album isn't doing much to help. I do like Rick Wakeman however, but you could barely hear him on the songs he was on. Maybe the next Elton John album will be better...

The angry guy who sang at Princess Di's Funeral made albums as well as singles it seems.

He's in serious mood here, trying to be Randy Newman or Neil Diamond, he mumbles his way through boring charachter sketches of uninteresting people.

Honestly outside of Tiny Dancer, most of this album just feels like filler. It's pretty damn good filler though, outside of Indian Sunset. 3.5/5

Mhh … ordentlich bis langweilig trifft es ziemlich gut. Das Album hat diese schwere, dramatische Elton‑John‑Theatralik, die manchmal funktioniert – vor allem in „Tiny Dancer“, das natürlich herausragt. Aber vieles wirkt hier eher wie solide Handwerkskunst ohne echten Funken. Die Arrangements sind üppig, die Songs sauber gebaut, doch der Mittelteil zieht sich und verliert Spannung.

𝘔𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 is one of the most interesting piano-pop albums I’ve heard. Elton John’s piano is at the centre of everything, but the album never feels limited by it. Rich orchestral arrangements and strong melodies give the songs a sense of scale while still allowing them to feel personal.

What I like most is the balance between intimacy and grandeur. One moment the album is quiet and reflective, the next it opens up into something much bigger, yet it never loses its emotional core. The songwriting is consistently strong, and the arrangements always serve the songs rather than overwhelm them.

It’s easy to see why this is regarded as one of Elton John’s finest early albums. Beautifully crafted and full of memorable melodies, 𝘔𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 is an album I’ll happily return to.

Not a fan of Glam in general, but this was a superb record, wow. Jaws open whole way through.
It is as good as Yellow Brick Road i think. Not long at all, just the right length. Very strong 4

This album was pretty uneventful. Tiny Dancer is fine. The rest are equally as fine. Nothing about about it, just not my kind of music.

A great album and was so close to being brilliant but Indian Summer is a stinker for obvious reasons.
But the composition and lyrics apart from the mentioned above, are extremely strong and has such a grand sound. Tiny Dancer is obviously a bop.
Honky Chateau is still his best album
Best tracks: Tiny Dancer, Levon, All the Nasties

Tiny Dancer is great but the rest did not impress.

If country was still a little douchey, but not as overwhelmingly douchey as it is, it would sound kind of like this.

Better than Coldplay

Got to be near the top for number of key changes per song. But that’s not typically how I review these.

Tiny dancer is great. The rest I’ve already forgotten.

Never really ‘got’ Elton John.
But I sure as shit ‘get’ Tiny Dancer.

Tiny Dancer deserves its mammoth reputation. I also liked Holiday Inn a lot, and in general there was enough variation here for this to be a strong four.

Never listened to this album

Two great tracks (Tiny Dancer and All the Nasties), rest is good but can't help feeling it is a little less than the sum of its parts.

“Tiny Dancer” and “Levon” are all-timers, but the most interesting track on this record to me was “All The Nasties”. To modern ears, it certainly sounds like a veiled song about coming out, but I could see how a 1971 crowd may not pick up on that. I know that EJ wouldn’t actually come out until 1976, and even then he came out first as bisexual, so it must not have caused too much of a stir at the time.
Beyond that, this record feels very much like Elton doing peak Elton things. If that’s your thing, I’m sure you already know this record well. I appreciate Mr. John’s contributions to rock & roll, but I’ve never fully connected with his music. I wouldn’t complain if you put one of his records on, but I don’t picture myself ever reaching for one myself.

This is one of those times where I feel like not being familiar with the album aside from the singles kind of hurts it, since Tiny Dancer and Levon are such amazing songs, while the rest of the tracklist is just solid. Had I been familiar with this album my whole life, I could honestly see myself rating it higher, but for now, it's just gonna get the four.

But yeah, aside from the big hits, the rest of the tracklist has similarly great piano work, just the lyrics are kinda throwing me. Not as immediate or punchy as the big Elton hits. Still good though.

Didn't engage strongly with this. I don't need great lyrics to enjoy music, but these lyrics baffle me, especially Indian Sunset. Some cool musical moments, like the guitar riff and strings on the title track.

5.5

Kinda surprised Tiny Dancer was the leadoff track. Seems more like a track 5 or 6. Indian Sunset is a real clunker. The whole album is a bit too grandiose and overwrought. If I wanted that, I would listen to Mickey Newbury's 'Frisco Mabel Joy from the same year.