Post by BiteUrLip on Jan 15, 2018 18:00:39 GMT
Elton's debut album - what do you think of it?
It is common that people say that the songwriting and production weren't very good on this one, and I agree with that. The album was also recorded in a demo studio, which of course affected to the end result.
Now to the track overview: There are 11 recordings in this album, and about half of them are great and half of them are weak. The title track is a long progressive rock track, which basically has the chance to please me a lot, but it fails in it. I think it's too long and it has parts that I don't like. After that we get to "Val-Hala". That's a favorite of mine - it has a wonderful melody, and I love the harpsichord in it. "Western Ford Gateway" is very good as well, but the melody doesn't make enough nice emotions as the previous track. I also don't like how the guitars sound in the intro. Then "Hymn 2000" is one of the weakest tracks. It could have been a good or even a great song without the irritating intro. "Lady What's Tomorrow" sounds great, it's a tender, cool song. "Sails" sounds like the title track but it's much shorter. However, the second weakest track here is "The Scaffold". It irritates a lot because it sounds so lightweight and shy. Thankfully after that comes "Skyline Pigeon", which was according to Elton their first great song. The production irritates slightly as the sound of vocals change in the middle of the song. But I love the way Elton sings it and the harpsichord is really nice. "Gulliver", a part of the three song medley, is a sleeper song on the album. It sounds really interesting. Unfortunately "Hay-Chewed" isn't great, although it's well played. And finally we have "Reprise", which is a total waste of time. I think Elton should have ended the album to Gulliver, which could have been a good decision.
Bonus tracks are a great collection of additional material. "Lady Samantha" sound predictable, but it's great. "All Across The Havens" is nice, but lacks more seriousness. "It's Me That You Need" is the best of the bonus material, it's really wonderful. "Just Like Strange Rain" has a very interesting melody.
1. Empty Sky ****
2. Val-Hala *****
3. Western Ford Gateway ****½
4. Hymn 2000 **
5. Lady What's Tomorrow? *****
6. Sails ****
7. The Scaffold *½
8. Skyline Pigeon *****+
9. Gulliver *****
10. Hay-Chewed **½
11. Reprise *
Bonus tracks:
12. Lady Samantha ****½
13. All Across The Havens ****
14. It's Me That You Need *****+
15. Just Like Strange Rain ****½
It is common that people say that the songwriting and production weren't very good on this one, and I agree with that. The album was also recorded in a demo studio, which of course affected to the end result.
Now to the track overview: There are 11 recordings in this album, and about half of them are great and half of them are weak. The title track is a long progressive rock track, which basically has the chance to please me a lot, but it fails in it. I think it's too long and it has parts that I don't like. After that we get to "Val-Hala". That's a favorite of mine - it has a wonderful melody, and I love the harpsichord in it. "Western Ford Gateway" is very good as well, but the melody doesn't make enough nice emotions as the previous track. I also don't like how the guitars sound in the intro. Then "Hymn 2000" is one of the weakest tracks. It could have been a good or even a great song without the irritating intro. "Lady What's Tomorrow" sounds great, it's a tender, cool song. "Sails" sounds like the title track but it's much shorter. However, the second weakest track here is "The Scaffold". It irritates a lot because it sounds so lightweight and shy. Thankfully after that comes "Skyline Pigeon", which was according to Elton their first great song. The production irritates slightly as the sound of vocals change in the middle of the song. But I love the way Elton sings it and the harpsichord is really nice. "Gulliver", a part of the three song medley, is a sleeper song on the album. It sounds really interesting. Unfortunately "Hay-Chewed" isn't great, although it's well played. And finally we have "Reprise", which is a total waste of time. I think Elton should have ended the album to Gulliver, which could have been a good decision.
Bonus tracks are a great collection of additional material. "Lady Samantha" sound predictable, but it's great. "All Across The Havens" is nice, but lacks more seriousness. "It's Me That You Need" is the best of the bonus material, it's really wonderful. "Just Like Strange Rain" has a very interesting melody.
1. Empty Sky ****
2. Val-Hala *****
3. Western Ford Gateway ****½
4. Hymn 2000 **
5. Lady What's Tomorrow? *****
6. Sails ****
7. The Scaffold *½
8. Skyline Pigeon *****+
9. Gulliver *****
10. Hay-Chewed **½
11. Reprise *
Bonus tracks:
12. Lady Samantha ****½
13. All Across The Havens ****
14. It's Me That You Need *****+
15. Just Like Strange Rain ****½