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Post by BiteUrLip on Jan 16, 2018 9:20:01 GMT
Madman Across The Water was the last Elton album to feature the non-commercial FM radio style. The album includes lots of various stuff but the true rocking tracks were missing unlike usually, when there's at least one rock attempt.
"Tiny Dancer", the starter of the album, is over six minutes and would have been single material if it was shorter. Lovely song. "Levon" tells a weird story, which took long to appreciate. "Razor Face" is the weakest here, a really strange, unambitious song. The title track is a strong, weird but great song with powerful vocals. "Indian Sunset" is an exceptional song because it's very versatile in instrumentation but has no drums - still it's amazingly strong song. It has three parts that are equally important. "Holiday Inn" is a tender and relaxed song. "Rotten Peaches" has a weird title and could be a bad track, but it isn't. The chorus of it is wonderful. My favorite on the album is however "All The Nasties". Love the choir in it and especially in the outro! "Goodbye" - shouldn't be there because it's too melancholic.
No bonus tracks in this one.
1. Tiny Dancer *****
2. Levon *****+
3. Razor Face ****
4. Madman Across The Water *****
5. Indian Sunset *****+
6. Holiday Inn *****+
7. Rotten Peaches *****
8. All The Nasties *****+
9. Goodbye ****½
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Post by kissybissy on Jan 16, 2018 12:11:07 GMT
Another masterpiece. 4.5 stars. I just don't give it five, because there are other albums that I consider slightly better than this one.
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Post by rocketman on Mar 8, 2018 22:20:35 GMT
1. Tiny Dancer 5
2. Levon 5
3. Razor Face 4.25
4. Madman Across The Water 5
5. Indian Sunset 5
6. Holiday Inn 5
7. Rotten Peaches 4
8. All The Nasties 5
9. Goodbye 4
When an album has six 5-star rated songs out of nine songs, when fully two-thirds of an album is excellent, then it likely qualifies as one of the best albums of all-time, and in my opinion, this album is Elton John's best album, or at the very least in the Top Three.
This was the last album of an era, the "Early" Elton John era, when his albums where characterized by a certain sound, in large measure due to the use of a wide array of studio talent. The early albums also featured more 'story-telling' in the songs, and less of a push toward a 'pop' or pop/rock sound.
The album did not fare well in the UK, but was a solid chart performer in the US, topping out at #8. It spawned two notable hits, perhaps more in terms of lasting impression than in chart performance, Tiny Dancer and Levon. Tiny Dancer peaked at #41 in the US, and yet is as enduring a classic FM song as Elton has ever had. Some view it as the best song he's ever written. Levon reached #24 US, better but still not a 'big' hit, and yet again, it is a signature song the popularity of which has grown greatly over time.
The rest of the album spawned other classics, such as the title cut, and Holiday Inn. Indian Sunset is another near-classic, revived somewhat by being sampled on Tupac's song Ghetto Gospel.
In terms of production, with Gus Dudgeon at the helm and Paul Buckmaster's signature arrangements, which in themselves are classic, Madman is the quintessential Elton John album in terms of sound and instrumentation.
Davey Johnstone made his album debut, contributing guitar as well as sitar and mandolin, and it was due at least in part to his being brought on full-time as a member of Elton John's studio and touring band subsequently on Honky Chateau. Ray Cooper also lends some percussion, and Nigel and Dee appear on All The Nasties, a good example of the type of sound they would bring on later releases, with its pronounced bass lines and drum fills.
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Post by nix on Aug 10, 2019 12:52:48 GMT
Album rating: ****1/2
1. Tiny Dancer ***** 2. Levon ***** 3. Razor Face *** 4. Madman Across The Water ***** 5. Indian Sunset ***** 6. Holiday Inn ***½ 7. Rotten Peaches **** 8. All The Nasties **** 9. Goodbye ***
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