|
|
Post by BiteUrLip on Oct 23, 2021 18:13:10 GMT
1. Cold Heart 57 - ***½
2. Always Love You 63 - ***½
3. Learn To Fly 82 - ****½
4. After All 83 - ****½
5. Chosen Family 95 - *****+
6. The Pink Panthom 79 - ****½
7. It's A Sin 82 - ****½
8. Nothing Else Matters 88 - *****
9. Orbit 72 - ****
10. Simple Things 89 - *****
11. Beauty In The Bones 78 - ****½
12. One Of Me 79 - ****½
13. E-Ticket 73 - ****
14. Finish Line 84 - ****½
15. Stolen Car 92 - *****
16. I'm Not Gonna Miss You 88 - *****
"Cold Heart" - the part from "Rocket Man" doesn't really fit into it and decreases the overall score. KTB part is okay. Do Elton's kids like this btw? Anyway, I'm very surprised it turned out to be my least favorite song from the album. In "Always Love You" I don't like the autotune effect on the vocals, would be much better without it. Rappers are a worse problem on the song. "Learn To Fly" is first great song from the album, it is funky in a cool way. "Chosen Family" sounds brilliant and is the best song on the album, though it would be even better if the beat came in earlier. The piano intro on "It's A Sin" is really beautiful, but the actual song doesn't start again enough soon because the beat comes in too late, and when it comes in, the song starts to sound cheap. So the original is better. "Nothing Else Matters" is another cover which was done well, minus the singing, Hetfield sounded much better. "Simple Things" has brilliant verses but the choruses disappoint. The solo guitar sounds very close to Chris Rea though. "E-Ticket" is the closest to a rocker in this album, although the Metallica cover also got those sounds, in a heavier format. "Finish Line" has an awesome choir in the background! And of course, I love Wonder's input, especially the harmonica. "Stolen Car" has probably some of the strangest love song lyrics ever. Musically I love it, not sure of the lyrics, but this is one of the tracks that has most "new" to me. It has also typical piano playing from Elton, the intros and outros could have been from one of his previous albums. The final track was a weird surprise, as according to me it's about Glen's illness and I don't understand why Elton wanted to redo it.
So this is after the first listen, I will do individual polls later.
Album overall rating: 4½ stars.
|
|
|
|
Post by dougs on Oct 23, 2021 19:25:03 GMT
BiteUrLip:
Great detailed review!
I bought THE LOCKDOWN SESSIONS on vinyl today and, after 2 or 3 listens tonight & tomorrow, will add a review in a couple of days.
Doug
|
|
|
|
Post by nix on Oct 24, 2021 8:32:55 GMT
BiteUrLip, your ratings are way too high for something like this. I would rate this album 3 out of 5. I didn't expect much, but I also didn't expect disaster. Also, I'm listening to this on playlist on Youtube and not the actual album yet. This is my rating after only a few listens. 1. Cold Heart - ok, it's listenable, but I don't see the point of this while we have original versions of those songs... nothing special. ** 2. Always Love You - strange melody with some rap... I don't care much about it ** 3. Learn To Fly - Nice song with a nice message, but still nothing special. And they didn't use an extended version with Elton's part on the album? What a shame. **½ 4. After All - This sounds like some 90's boy band song, but better. Nice melody, but I don't like what they have done to Elton's vocals ***½ 5. Chosen Family - this is probably the best song on the album... really nice message, nice melody... very good **** 6. The Pink Phantom - Elton's part is really interesting, but that rap part is horrible and ruins the song. ***½ 7. It's A Sin - And what happened to the sound in this song and vocals of that young guy? Horrible sound and his vocals are high pitched: I hope this is only some glitch on youtube, but I'm afraid it's not: youtu.be/JHCweof6fs8 I like the production, but for this version only *** 8. Nothing Else Matters - I never cared about Metallica, but this is a nice version with great vocals by Miley Cyrus and some great instrumental parts. ***½ 9. Orbit - Some type of musical nursery rhyme. Not bad, but nothing much there. ** 10. Simple Things - BiteUrLip, you don't like the chorus, but you still rate it 5 stars? Yes, the chorus went in a strange direction. I guess that Elton tried something different. The song needs more listening to comprehend what is going on there musically. I still like it. I think it's kinda interesting, but I hoped it would be better. The more I listen to this, the more I like that chorus. ***½ or even **** 11. Beauty In The Bones - Pretty much trashy pop song. Listenable, but not very interesting to me. ** or **½ 12. One Of Me - kinda interesting, but the vocals part is really not for me. Not even that bad. ** 13. E-Ticket - Melody in the chorus sounded familiar to me and I realized that it's almost identical to the much superior 'England and America' song. That's minus for the song that already isn't very good or interesting. ** 14. Finish Line - 2nd best song on the album. I noticed that the melody of the chorus is kinda similar to the melody of the chorus in 'Ballad of a Well Known Gun', but it's still different enough. Powerful song and good lyrics. **** 15. Stolen Car - The thing I don't like is how they mix Elton's vocals here (and on most of other songs). They are way too upfront and since this is Elton's first album that his studio vocals don't sound as good as they used to, his vocals should have been put more in the middle plus some echo, especially in this song. That could have sounded more 'modern' and better. Also, Stevie's vocals really don't fit here. Elton screaming directly in my ears with his geriatric vocals in a heavily produced song is not what I wanted to hear. I know that people cheer 'upfront vocals' dogma that started in 2000 with El Dorado album, but that's only a dogma and a stupid and useless one just like many other horrible dogmas out there. Song is the most important and not vocals for the sake of vocals. A decent song that could have been produced and mixed better. ***½ 16. I'm Not Gonna Miss You - It's an ok ballad, but not very interesting to me. **½ |
|
|
|
Post by newloneranger on Oct 24, 2021 18:52:59 GMT
I heard this once, I agree with alot of what Nix review and my review may be similar on some of the songs. But i'm not gonna post my review until after I hear it a couple more times.
|
|
|
|
Post by dougs on Oct 25, 2021 4:55:40 GMT
THE LOCKDOWN SESSIONS - Review:
Here is my review after 2 days of listening...
THE LOCKDOWN SESSIONS is a colourful, diverse collection of songs. Elton includes many genres (country, rap, rock, pop, soul, etc.) of music and musicians of great diversity in many ways. It is an album of inclusivity which is a lesson for radio stations (which have such narrowly defined playlists) and for society at large. It is a better world when we embrace variety / diversity. Somehow, the album holds together with this eclectic collection of songs.
There are songs written by many artists here, including 9 co-written by Elton. There are no Bernie lyrics and there is no Elton John Band. On some songs, Elton guests as only a vocalist or vocalist & keyboardist. It is a collection of songs brand new, relatively new, and a couple of years of age plus a couple of older songs.
My favourites include "Chosen Family" with Rina Sawayama and "One of Me" with Lil Nas X and the cover the Pet Shop Boys song "Its a Sin" with Years & Years and the excellent "The Finish Line" with Stevie Wonder. The Miley Cyrus cover of the Metallica song "Nothing Else Matters" sounds good. "E-Ticket" with Eddie Vedder is the one song that rocks on THE LOCKDOWN SESSIONS. There are moments that I sense a touch of "England and America" from the WONDERFUL CRAZY NIGHT sessions in "E-Ticket." I like the interplay and tempo changes on "Stolen Car" with Stevie Nicks - shades of THE DIVING BOARD songs emerge here. The album ends with the touching "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" by Glen Campbell. This was the last song recorded (2013) by Campbell - he was living & struggling with Alzheimer's at the time.
The hit single "Cold Heart" with Dua Lipa is a good mash-up by Pnau. The song works. Elton's 2012 release GOOD MORNING TO THE NIGHT is a collection of 8 EJ songs mashed-up and remixed by Pnau which has songs as strong or stronger than and more exciting than "Cold Heart." That album did go #1 in the UK and #9 in France while most of the world never heard it...
There are a few songs that offer pleasant listening like "After All" with Charlie Puth and "Orbit" by SG Lewis but are not my favourites - good, nonetheless. "Beauty in the Bones" with Jimmie Allen is a nice song.
The test of an album is time; I am curious to see what I think of the songs in 6 months time or 1 year from now. It is clear that Elton seems to have enjoyed making this project. It is good to see so many artists of so many backgrounds be brought together into one place. Yes, inclusivity! Elton is a music junkie and will always be. This album isn't a collection of unforgettable songs but it is a nice and an interesting, challenging (in a good way), fresh, and worthwhile collection of songs from artists, both veteran and young who have much to say and to offer.
Being a long-time EJ fan...there are several short moments on this album when songs from throughout his career emerge within these new songs that he has written. My favourite "side" of music is probably side 2 of album 1; also credited as "Side B" or as songs 5 to 8!
Vinyl specs: If you are buying the album on vinyl, here is what to expect; The album opens as a double-gatefold album. Inside features include photos with Elton and each musical collaborator with a brief Elton summary of the song and/or collaborator. Each inner sleeve has info on who wrote the song, who plays which instruments, and so on. Nicely packaged.
Overall rating: B or 7.5 stars out of 10 or almost 4 stars out of 5
Doug
|
|
|
|
Post by BiteUrLip on Oct 25, 2021 14:05:04 GMT
We have a different kind of rating scale. To me, four stars is an ok song. In my scale, those ratings of yours would mean 1½ stars for the album, just because of so many two star songs.
|
|
|
|
Post by dougs on Oct 27, 2021 14:47:14 GMT
BiteUrLip & Nix:
Based on our reviews, it looks like "Chosen Family" with Rina Sawayama is our agreed upon favourite song from THE LOCKDOWN SESSIONS.
It will be interesting to see which song(s) will grow on us over several months time...
Doug
|
|
|
|
Post by rocketman on Nov 3, 2021 15:13:40 GMT
4.5 stars...I have the CD and have played it through twice. In situations like this, a few songs usually jump out at me and then as I listen more, other songs sometimes come to the fore as well.
It really makes a big difference(for me, anyway) when I listen on my stereo system as opposed to streaming to a wireless speaker, which I was doing a few days before obtaining the disc. I'm a believer in song quality foremost but also in production quality. Plus, the impact of any song is greater when played through a full-range system.
Here are the songs that I'm most impressed with early on:
Orbit
Chosen Family
Nothing Else Matters (Yo Yo Ma adds very nicely to the instrumentation)
Finish Line
Stolen Car (goes on longer than it needs to though)
I'm Not Gonna Miss You
Simple Things
One Of Me
That said, there's not a clunker on the album. Even Cold Heart sounds better - Dua Lipa sounds better than I had originally thought. Even Thug (I'm not a fan of rap) sounds good, especially once I got past the foul language, which I'm just not used to hearing on an Elton John album.
Overall, I am quite impressed and I think it's a worthy addition to Elton's catalog. What I like most is that this album is, to my ears, finally something truly different from Elton, and expands his musical landscape. Maybe he needed, as he did with Leon Russell, to collaborate with other artists to bring out the best in himself. And if he is to be believed by what he writes in the liner notes, this album could inspire some interesting new pathways for he and Bernie.
|
|
|
|
Post by nix on Nov 4, 2021 10:03:38 GMT
I bought it yesterday - bass is waaaay too heavy to the extent that I can't listen with bass put to max that I usually do. Really horrible trend just like shaky camera is horrible trend for movies. Also, there is no extended version of 'Learn to Fly' on the album with awesome Elton's outro. Also, why that horrible mix with high pitched vocals of that other guy in 'It's a Sin'. I just don't understand such choices.
|
|
|
|
Post by newloneranger on Nov 6, 2021 9:31:56 GMT
1. Cold Heart - Not bad, Its beginning to grow on me, Kind of cool linking Rocket man with Kiss the Bride. Like PNau, looking foreward to here a 2nd album by them. I'm changing my vote to.
4 stars
2. Always Love You - Don't care too much for rap. The transfer between Elton and the rappers made the song work. I like the lyrics on Eltons part. He sang it very well. One of my favorites on this album.
4 1/2 stars
3. Learn To Fly - Not my style of music ,Eltons part is only about 20 to 25 seconds long. When I buy an Elton album I want to hear Elton, not some soul rap band. At least make it 50-50. I'm rating this as a song with Elton in it not a real Elton song. As a soul rap song its ok, Don't really like the singers voice. Seems like all of todays bands sound the same. Eltons 20 seconds was nice.
3 stars
4. After All - Pretty good, now this is 50-50 duet. The kid has a ok voice. kind of annoying at the end. Nice lyrics and vocals
4 stars
5. Chosen Family - First one I heard, One of my favorites from the album. The song gets stuck in my head once in a while. Nice looking girl with a prety good voice.
5 stars
6. The Pink Panthom - Not my style of music but Elton is in it a little more than that other one, band sounds the same as the other. A little deeper voice. Eltons part was different. Lyrics a little strange.
3 1/2 stars
7. It's A Sin. The title pretty much sums it up. Big Dipper has got some competition. Kid sounds like Michael Jackson on steroids, dont like the lyrics or the message. Scary.
2 stars
8. Nothing Else Matters - Interesting song, Mileys vocals fit in well with Metallicas band. My new favorite Mettalica song. Eltons piano at the end was nice.
4 1/2 stars
9. Orbit - What planet is he from? He's in orbit. Hope he doesn't get shot down.
3 stars
10. Simple Things - Its pretty good, upbeat duet. Don't know what they are singing about.
4 stars
11. Beauty In The Bones - Strange title. Eltons part is ok.
3 stars
12. One Of Me Not my type of music. Not much of Elton in it. Can't wait til its over.
2 1/2 stars
13. E-Ticket - OK attempt of a rocker. Been there done that.
3 1/2 stars
14. Finish Line - First time I heard anything new by Stevie Wonder in a long while, Nice to hear him again. They did a good job, Stevies harmonica is back. (sounds the same)
5 stars
15. Stolen Car - Never was a big fan of Nicks, she did a good job on this. One of the better ones on here, at least I can relate to it a bit.
5 stars
16. I'm Not Gonna Miss You. Sounds like No Monsters . Strange way to end the album, duet with a dead guy..
4 1/2 stars.
I'm changing the name of the album to The Lockup Sessions.
Overall
3 1/2 stars
Don't shoot me i'm only the piano player.
|
|
|
|
Post by nix on Nov 6, 2021 21:28:49 GMT
newloneranger, you never heard 'It's a Sin' before? It's one of the most popular pop songs ever and IMO, one of the best.
|
|
|
|
Post by BiteUrLip on Nov 7, 2021 21:43:42 GMT
newloneranger, you never heard 'It's a Sin' before? It's one of the most popular pop songs ever and IMO, one of the best. Yes, that was a Pet Shop Boys song. I have listened to all of their albums. |
|
|
|
Post by newloneranger on Nov 12, 2021 23:31:25 GMT
newloneranger, you never heard 'It's a Sin' before? It's one of the most popular pop songs ever and IMO, one of the best. Pet Shop Boys version is better. |
|
|
|
Post by nix on Nov 13, 2021 16:04:32 GMT
newloneranger, you never heard 'It's a Sin' before? It's one of the most popular pop songs ever and IMO, one of the best. Pet Shop Boys version is better. Yes, it is better. It's still the same song and Elton and Years&Years didn't manage to destroy it and it's still a decent cover. |
|
