This new Elton John/Brandi Carlile record is kind of a mess.
What's good- "Never Too Late," "A Little Light," "Someone To Belong To"--works as solid pop reminiscent of, well, I guess any era of Elton given the hot treatment by hot producer the hot Andrew Watt. But some songs, like the cringeworthy 1-2 punch of "The Rose Of Laura Nyro" and "Little Richard's Bible," the first and second songs on the album, absolutely fail. Singing "Eli's Coming" and dropping Nyro titles over an off-off-Broadway musical arrangement just doesn't work for me. But then they do it again on the very next song! This time shouting "Long Tall Sally" and "Tutti Frutti" on the Little Richard track. Is Brandi or Bernie to blame for this? These songs belong in "Waiting For Guffman."
The Carlile led tracks would be fine on a Brandi Carlile record. But here, they are glaringly out of place and don't sound like collaborations at all. The record ends on a powerful note. The closer, "When This Old World Is Done With Me" is an emotional finale by Sir Elton, who had been very public about his deteriorating health.
I'm not giving up just yet on "Who Believes In Angels." I wanted to like this record despite my aversion to Carlile. But my first pass left me twitchy. It's loud and busy and as garish as the album cover. I am not against some bombastic pop occasionally. I am actually loving Gaga's latest "Mayhem." But this kitchen sink approach with mostly mediocre material did nothing for me on the first go around. Maybe now that I've gotten that off my chest, I'll appreciate the second spin with different ears, though I have low hopes.
25 comments:
Gotta listen to the album first before I read your comments! That is one crazy ugly album cover, though!
I brought this up to Sal yesterday. I think its over-the-top, but in a great way. I've enjoyed (mostly) Elton's latter-day albums and I think this is a highlight.
I concur with your assessment that it sounds like the cover looks. My favorite cut was "When This Old World...". I wish the rest of the album was in the same vein. Brandi Carlisle doesn't work for me.
thnx. 4 the warning
I just listened to the whole thing again this morning -- and I don't see why this won't make my best albums of 2025. It's a lot of fun!
These songs belong in "Waiting For Guffman." Ha ha!
- Paul in DK
I forgot this was happening. Did she and Joni have a tiff?
I put it in the queue. Elton is not typically better with his joint ventures than he is by himself (and Bernie). Though I'm a little surprised that you'd write about something you've only listened to once (I know, it's a first impression). I agree with Shriner that Elton's recent work (this century) has been a very real return to form.
https://kleaveburg.blogspot.com/2024/10/elton-john-in-2000s.html
I guess I'm not feeling the fun. If it was really over the top camp, maybe I'd feel differently, like "Plan 9 From Outer Space" being so bad it's good. I'm not saying this record is bad like "Plan 9." I'm just saying, I doubt very much Bernie Taupin or Brandi were laughing while writing the lyrics.
I was writing while I was listening, and yes, it usually takes two or three passes to get a real feel of a record. But I was really put off as I was listening and I can't imagine a second or third spin will change that.
And I too really like a lot of Elton's later work. The Leon Russell collab, not so much. But I think "Peachtree Road" ranks as high as any of his 70's work. (and that's already 20 plus years old.)
I'm trying to imagine wanting to hear this.
Hahaha!
I feel like her voice overpowers his - not so much in the second song, but definitely in the first song, and there is no universe in which this should happen. But what do I know? ;)
I haven't listened to that Elton John stuff yet but a bit off topic, I heard about the release of Bruce Springsteen's Tracks II The (seven) Lost Albums including 83 songs out of which 74 are officially unissued. These were recorded from 1983 to 2018. This is supposed to be released on 27 June. The Tracks I collection was issued in 1998 including B-sides, outtakes and demos. Any hints on this ?
J from Europe.
It's all here, J.
https://brucespringsteen.net/
I listened from start to end in the car and I liked it better. I know that you were irked by the song references in the first 2 tracks. I get it. It's gimmicky especially on 2 songs in a row, but I liked them musically. I also thought "Who Believes in Angels?" and "Someone to Belong To" were stellar.
I don't dislike Brandi Carlise. She's a fine singer but I keep wishing she wasn't;t on the album every time she sang. I would have preferred to listen to Elton, even in the lower register he sings in these days.
The cuts that end each side seem like they don't belong. The Brandi Carlisle song itself is nice on its own and "When This Old World Is Done With Me" stands among his best.
I'm going to stick with it.
I have every intention to listen a second and maybe a third time. And I will have no problem changing my tune if I hear something new, different or better.
I happened to see them play together at the Palladium in London last week. Elton needed help to walk across the stage but when he sat down at the piano he was on fantastic form. I found Carlile's stage demeanor annoying, almost as annoying as Andrew Watt hogging attention on guitar and the fact that the gig started out with an hour long interview of Elton and Brandi by Dan Levy from Schitt's Creek. Have to admit the new songs, which I had not heard yet, sounded great though. Weird night.
Jeez….thats like the worst album cover of all time.😎
Guffman is a perfect analogy for this mess. And to take it a step further, I think Buck Laughlin produced it.
I'm officially on board. Once I got over the whole Brandi Carlisle thing I was able to really appreciate this album. I still think Andrew Watt overcooked it on a couple of the cuts but all in all a really good effort.
For the record, I didn't trash this album. I trashed the first two songs. After a second spin, I still think it's a mess, with the over-production and the sore thumb Carlile tracks. "Swing For The Fences" really grated the second time around, like a bad Shania Twain track. (I really don't like Brandi Carlile.) So that's the opening three cuts that I think are terrible. But I've come around to the title cut and "The River Man." So that makes five out of ten solid tracks. That's still a disappointment to me.
Carlile is incredibly full of herself. First with the whole Joni thing and now with Elton. Her demeanor screams smug. It's hard to get beyond that when listening to her sing.
Hm... I kind of like it! The two songs you posted here anyway, and I checked out the Laura Nyro and Little Richard songs on Youtube.
I'm a huge Elton fan, but I have never 'gotten' Brandi. There's something about her that has never drawn me in.
Most importantly, I've never heard a song of hers that pulled me right in - I always need that before I'm a fan of anyone.
Great headline by the way!
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