Breaking Hearts

[BiteUrLip]

This album is considered one of the bests of the eighties, and it is that for me too.

The opener of the album, "Restless", has great energy. It is too slow though, and this problem was fixed onstage, which can be heard from a live version from the next remastered album. "Slow Down Georgie" is a bit worse, although it's quite nice song. "Who Wears These Shoes" is an uptempo pop number, and this song has been one of my favorites from the album for very long, though now some other songs beat it. But I like it because I feel it's catchy, and I like the mood in the song. Then comes the title track, which is now one of my top favorites from the album. It is really beautiful, and has great backing vocals. It also succeeds quite well without drums. Then "Lil' Frigerator" ends the side one, which is a similar soft rocker compared to track number two. The side two opens up with "Passengers", which frankly has been one of my least favorite songs from the album, because I felt it's quite silly. "In Neon" comes next, and it's the return back to high quality songs. But "Burning Buildings" is my no. 1 from this album. It reaches great heights as a song, it is also beautiful, and very interesting as a song. "Did He Shoot Her" is musically and lyrically a very exciting song, but not superb. The album closes with the lead single, and I've always liked it, but always also felt it's one of Elton's least great big hits.

1. Restless *****
2. Slow Down Georgie (She's Poison) ****½
3. Who Wears These Shoes? *****
4. Breaking Hearts (Ain't What It Used To Be) *****+
5. Lil' Frigerator ****
6. Passengers ****
7. In Neon *****
8. Burning Buildings *****+
9. Did He Shoot Her? *****
10. Sad Songs (Say So Much) *****+

[rocketman]

1. Restless 4
2. Slow Down Georgie (She's Poison) 3.75
3. Who Wears These Shoes? 5
4. Breaking Hearts (Ain't What It Used To Be) 4.25
5. Lil' Frigerator 1.0
6. Passengers 4
7. In Neon 5
8. Burning Buildings 5
9. Did He Shoot Her? 3.75
10. Sad Songs (Say So Much) 3.75

More consistent and, to my ears, better than Too Low For Zero, this album features better production, some very up-front vocals by Elton, and solid, tight playing by the re-formed 1970's crew of Davey, Dee, and Nigel who were all welcomed back full-time for Too Low.

There are three songs on this album that hit the 5-star plateau, two of them minor hits and one, Burning Buildings, that is among Elton's best of the decade of the 1980's.

There are some songs that hold this album back, though, from being truly great. Lil' Refrigerator, another Taupin anti-woman screed, is as poor as anything Elton and Bernie have ever done. Bernie has written many such songs, but at least the music was good. This song just totally bombs. The biggest hit, Sad Songs, is OK, but not among Elton's better hits, even from the decade - both hits from Too Low are significantly better.

There's a lot to like on this album, but not quite enough to put it on the level of his best from the decade, which wouldn't come until four years later.

[kissybissy]

3 stars. Good album.

[nix]

Album rating: ****


1. Restless ***
2. Slow Down Georgie (She's Poison) ****
3. Who Wears These Shoes? ***
4. Breaking Hearts (Ain't What It Used To Be) ****1/2
5. Lil' Frigerator ***1/2
6. Passengers ****
7. In Neon ****
8. Burning Buildings ****
9. Did He Shoot Her? ****1/2
10. Sad Songs (Say So Much) *****