Similarly, he always sounds like he’s singing up a storm, but his voice glosses over the material, reducing most things to an uninteresting sameness. The arrangements make it seem like there are substantial melodies underneath the tracks - but almost nothing demands repeated listenings. And for all his productivity and enthusiasm, he remains a largely passive figure, the creator of music that one can get comfortable with but which is never challenging or threatening.Įlton John can be a master of the sleight of hand. After so many albums and tours, few people have any sense of him at all. For one thing, despite his ability to sound profound, he seldom projects a tangible personality. Unlike his American counterparts (many of them neither as talented nor as popular), he hasn’t soured on success.īut the question remains - is Elton John something more than a great entertainer? I’m not sure. And in his relationship to his audience, Elton not only gives of himself in terms of output and energy but he does it graciously and generously. Few people who have achieved his popularity have succeeded in maintaining his standards for performance and professionalism. It is by now beyond question that Elton John is a competent and classy entertainer.
But that only helps make him sound more personal and intimate than in the past. His voice sounds rough, hoarse, almost weary. It sounds freer and more relaxed than Caribou. It isn’t weighted down with the overarranging and overproduction that marred so much of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. The record is devoid of the gimmicky rock numbers from the Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player phase. And he’s succeeded, even taking a few chances in the process. He hasn’t tried to top past successes, only to continue the good work he’s been doing.