Madman Across the Water

Elton sweetly singing about a guy called Razor Face over the top of someone playing a bitchin' accordion solo? Yes thank you very much, sign me up.

I love piano-based songs and I love Elton John's voice. I listened to this album once, then immediately listened to it again, all the way through. It made me not hate a sitar (which I believe to be a first). Given Wikipedia says this is Prog Rock, it also made me not hate Prog Rock, which is at least a rarity.

My only negatives are:
- I'd prefer snappier running times (which is entirely a personal preference for sub 6 minute songs);
- the lyrics to Indian Sunset have not aged particularly well (who'd have thought a white English bloke in the 70s writing about the lives of Native Americans might not be the best?!); and
- when the choral ladies appeared at 37 seconds on All The Nasties I had to stifle a laugh (tone it down ladies).

Parts of this really reminded me of the Symphony Orchestra version of Tommy (which I bang on about all the time) sort of crossed with Tim Minchin when he's feeling particularly dramatic.

I think this is going to be controversial, but I loved this and even with my quibbles, it's getting:

5/5

Not really my thing.

There are some very high quality cuts across this track list, with songs which lean towards dramatic, unspooling musical theatre. I particularly like the famous Tiny Dancer and epic Indian Sunset.

There are also songs which miss the mark considerably with a head scratching disconnect between vocals and lyrics, such as the weak Levon, which is home to some of the worst and least compelling storytelling I’ve ever heard.

I do think this album is a tad overrated and that Elton John has better.

Pretty solid offering here. Quite a few "hits" I recognized and enjoy. Even the deeper cuts are all really good. I've never been a big Elton John fan, but certainly understand why others are. This one definitely makes me feel like I should explore more of his catalog.

Man, young Elton John had a great voice! I like that raw timbre far more than the bling bling version of his established in the 80s and 90s. The songs in contrast are far too repetitive for me and none of them really caught my ear. All together a solid listen

"Tiny Dancer" and some other songs. Obviously Reg is a total ledge but beyond the lead track, there's not much here beyond the standard Elton template. Which is fine.

Rollicking. Like any Elton John album... sometimes a lil too rollicking...

In the present day, Elton John kind of suffers from being one of those musicians who is really thought of as a celebrity before a musician. Sure, everyone knows songs like Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer, and Candle In The Wind, but it kind of feels like he is a little under-listened as far as full albums go. Going into this, I too mostly just knew some of the singles, but I am pleased to report that this has some real highlights on it. The first thing that stuck out to me here is that this is the one with Tiny Dancer, a fantastic song. You've probably heard it: grand and patient and tender. It's worth noting at this point that this phase of Elton John's career can be most helpfully thought of a collaborative effort between himself and lyricist Bernie Taupin. Elton John's songwriting ear, and Taupin's talent for lyrics is a pretty formidible one here. Tiny Dancer is a great example of the fruits of this creative partnership. Miraculously, the rest of side one more or less keeps up with Tiny Dancer's quality. Levon has anpther fantastic chorus, some great piano and some really amazing lyrics. Razor face brings some really cool alternative instrumentation to the mix. And Madman Across The Water (the title track) takes Elton John's glam sound into a darker, proggier space, and the result is really compelling. Unfortunately Side 2 can't quite keep up. Holiday Inn is just fine, and I can take or leave Rotten Peaches and All The Nasties, but the remaining two tracks are worth discussing. Firstly, let us discuss Indian Sunset, and the mess it makes me navigate. Firstly, the *sound* of this song is really good, it is another in a proggier pocket like the title track, and the string arrangements work really well, but none of that is the big thing with this song, let's talk lyrics. So, listening to this, it is clear that it is being written from a well meaning place, and as far as the poetic devices, pacing, and tension goes, it is actually pretty well executed, as in, this is *theoretically* well written. **However** the core narrative concept of this song is such a *fantastically* bad idea that these positives barely matter. Upon seeing this on the tracklist I figured we were in for another 70's and 80's "well meaning but ill advised song about the wrongs leveled against Native Americans (a weirdly common song type for this era). And on some level, it is this, but it is also so much more jaw-dropping. I would honestly urge you to read the lyrics yourself. All I will say is that I'm glad that Bernie Taupin is free from whatever force in his life convinced him that he *needed* to write a song in which Elton John theatrically portrays a young Native American warrior. The last song I would like to discuss here is Goodbye, which is a truly fantastic closer. However it commits the cardinal sin of being unconscionably short. As a whole, I thought this was a little uneven, but it has some really amazing highs and I enjoyed the experience in general.

I always forget just how impressive of an artist Elton John is. The album starts off with Tiny Dancer, a song I didn't really like until I listened to it again yesterday. The entire album sounds massive, yet Elton Johns voice makes it sound intimate as well. The string arrangement backing many of the songs is very pleasant to listen to. Very enjoyable album, although some parts like the choir at the end sounded a bit campy.

Is one of the secrets behind Elton John and Bernie Taupin's decades-long songwriting partnership that were both equally keen to pretend they weren't English? Between writing songs from the perspective of a Native American warrior and whatever is going on with Elton's already transatlantic accent on Holiday Inn, there were some real choices made on this album. Luckily, there are some incredible tunes too - Levon in particular is up there with Tiny Dancer.

This is probably only a 4 star album. It's really really good.

But Tiny Dancer might be the best sing along song of all time. And to follow that with Levon? Hard to not round up.

The first half of this album is really great. The second half is fine. Tiny Dancer is a great opener. The emotions he puts into the title track are great. The ideas in Indian Sunset are interesting but the lyrics somewhat drag it down. Not quite on the same level as the behemoth that was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but still good in its own way. Favorites were Tiny Dancer, Levon, and Madman Across The Water.

Wow, this was not good. Definitely sang like a number of B sides after the songs Tony Dancer and Levon. A weird country twang, inconsistent and forgettable songs and a weird reflection on folks who are Native American from an englishman? Really disappointing album put here for the singles. 1/5

Great songwriting, great piano playing, a few major standout tracks. Overall, a pretty great album, but by the end I was getting a little tired of the whole Elton John piano ballad thing.

Favourite tracks: Tiny Dancer, Madman Across Water

Loved it.

It's alright! But I'm missing some of the passion and energy that Elton John is known for. It's like he's keeping his power under control.

Bunch of gems in addition to the classics. Might have to up rating to a 5 after a few more spins.

I feel like if I made this list I wouldn't be going this deep into Elton johns catalogue. But that being said, I heard levon on the radio a day after I listened to this so I guess people like this album? Just seems too country to be olhos self titled and too orchestrated to be honkey tonk chateau. Seems like a drug induced mess to me.

It's an Elton John Doing Elton John Stuff piece of business. A Sometimes food for me, but he's got his place.

She just died? Wow. I didn't know that. You're telling me now for the first time. She led an amazing life. What else can you say? She was an amazing woman. Whether you agreed or not, she was an amazing woman who led an amazing life. I'm actually saddened to hear that. I am sadden to hear that. Thank you very much.