|
Pun for fun back to the main Smelly John page. I Carry Boo, Said the Mother Ghost to Her Infant Son
Overall Album Score: 8.4 out of 10 This Elton John album is the first that the critics and the public universally hated! And the reason for this is, unquestionably, due to the fact that it sounds like it consists of some discarded songs from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Although, I don't really think that these songs were actually discarded outtakes from that album. "The Bitch is Back," "I've Seen the Saucers," and particularly "Don't Let the Sun Shine Down on Me" are all near-masterpieces that I doubt that anybody would discard! Caribou was a legitimate Elton John album as any of his other ones were. Nevertheless it still suffers that problem. It sounds too much like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and it's not nearly as impressive. Another problem with it, that many other critics have also pointed out, is the album cover! Elton looks so utterly stupid in that photo ... with those dumb clothes ... that goofy grin ... Oh man! It must have been a joke! However, putting all that aside, the only thing people *truly* have against this album is that it doesn't compare with some of Elton's other albums and the cover is dorky. That's it! Such qualities don't make Caribou an awful album! The songs on here, while they do suffer in lesser melodies than what Elton exhibited on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, they are all very solid! There's not one bad egg among them. Really. Oh! I thought of another problem with this album. The album title! I know that a "caribou" is an animal, but I had to do a Google search on it to figure out what it looks like. ... I still have no idea why this album is entitled "Caribou." It must be a secret pun that only Elton John knows about. Or maybe it's referring to the gallon bucket of mousse that Elton smeared all over his hair for that picture. Overall Album Score: 8.4 out of 10 (If you are already an Elton John fan and your album collection lacks Caribou for any reason, then--dangit--what are you waiting for? There's absolutely no reason to evade this album. On the same note, those who were failed to be convinced with Elton by Goodbye Yellow Brick Road won't be convinced by Caribou ... unless your attention span can take it better.) Average Song Score: 8.6 (There are no stinkers here, apart from a song that's actually called "Stinker," but this isn't a breathtaking collection of tunes except of course for "Don't Let the Sun Shine Down On Me." ...now THAT'S a good one!) Album Tilt: 8.5 (As a package, this album isn't inspired, but it's not totally mediocre, either.) Artist Rating: 8.0 (Oh ... I'm not going to pretend that Elton John wasn't playing well above his par with Caribou. It's quite similar, but it pales oh-so-completely with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. On the same note, Caribou is far from being an artistic failure.) Track Reviews The Bitch is Back 9.5/10 Well, at least *this* is one major classic from this apparent lapse in the Elton John discography! This is one of Elton John's finest hard rock songs (which is kind of cool, because hard rock was never Elton's forte). For me, there is enough here to make the song completely memorable, but it just doesn't take off like the other critics would have me believe that it does! I guess, perhaps, the hooks aren't strong enough. But it does have alotta attitude, so therefore it's a very good song, though, and it does *kick*! Pinky 8.5/10 And we're already back to Elton John's more signature brand of piano pop! I really like that choir in the background ... they make this song soar more than it would have. I must, however, point out that the hooks here aren't very strong! But they're there ... and this track is quite solid, listenable, and I even find it rather enjoyable. Elton John's not washed-up yet, buddy. Grimsby 8/10 This is a really cool song at times! I really dig that bass-line! ... Okay, it's glitzy, but so what? Elton John's really good at it. The reason this song is getting a mere 8 is because I don't really like the melody. But it has enough spirit to carry it well. Dixie Lily 8.5/10 Up to this point, I'm pretty sure that Elton John named all of these songs after his dogs. "Pinky," "Grimsby," and "Dixie Lily" sound kinda like dog names. And, "The Bitch is Back," he's talking about one of his runaway dogs that came back after having vodka withdrawal symptoms. ...Um... I'm just making all this stuff up of course. Now on with the song... What's worse than ABBA-esque glammy showmanship? It's country-western-esque glammy showmanship! Oh heck ... But I don't think this song is awful whatsoever. The melody here is slightly more memorable than everything since "The Bitch is Back" and the arranging here brings us back to those wonderful days of "Honky Chateau." This is a good song! Solar Prestige a Gammon 8.5/10 I attacked a Thesaurus with this one and here's what I get: Sun Dignity a Ham. Mmmmmmmhmmmmmm... Elton sings this in a weird language or something! ... I guess he does it on purpose, because the song is an Italian-sounding glam song. It's quite interesting, and Elton's pretty much as solid as ever here. You're So Static 8/10 What's worse than ABBA-esque showmanship and country-western-esque showmanship? It's ... just ... regular showmanship with no particular goal in mind. The only reason I'm giving "You're So Static" a mere 8 is just because I find it utterly aimless. It's just a bunch of power-horns and loud, spirited instruments that don't support feeling ... or even a melody to speak of. This is this underrated album's most overrated track! I've Seen the Saucers 9.5/10 ... So have the KITTIES! ... Well, whereas "You're So Static" is an overrated track, "I've Seen the Saucers" is a bit of an underrated track. The melody, for starters, is stronger than any other song in the album so far, and it is presented so pleasantly and beautifully that I can't help but fall in love with it. That wonderful chord change in here simply puts a stamp on the deal. Great! Stinker 7.5/10 ...Well, I certainly wouldn't call this song a *stinker*, but it's certainly not *puddin'n'cakes*! It's just a song whose entire purpose on this green earth is to be trashy! ... Now, it's not bad at being trashy ... it just has little else to offer. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me 10/10 Whatever shortcomings Elton John exhibited in this album so far is hereby CANCELLED by one of John's most gorgeous and tuneful ballads of his entire career! It has this utterly enthralled and spirited aura to it that it'll probably lift your spirits with ease. The tune here is also extremely good! This is another masterpiece that'll easily fit right alongside all of Elton John's other masterpieces. Ticking 8/10 This song is just very looooooooooooooong. Yeah ... that's all I really have to say about this one. It's very long. BONUS TRACKS: Pinball Wizard Elton John covered this famous The Who song for the Tommy movie, I believe. (When I saw that movie four or five years ago, I kind of remember Elton John in that ... I even knew who he was back then, I think!) Well, Elton John does a smack-up excellent job of covering that song. Heck! If it wasn't a bonus track, I'd probably give it a 9.5! Sick City Hey! If Caribou was really just a bunch of discarded outtakes from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, then what must it say about the bonus tracks that were tacked onto the end of 'em? ... Nothing really. This one actually has one of the better melodies on the album. An 8.5 ... I really should count these bonus tracks in the overall song score but ... I don't know ... Cold Highway Here's another bonus track that wasn't included in the album (for any old reason) that I perfectly enjoy. I'm not sure what this song originally appeared on ... a B-side perhaps? It's has a good tune and a sort of raggae-inspired arranging. Although, it suffers from feebleness, like so much of the album also possessed. An 8.5. Step Into Christmas Jerks like Bing Crosby and Doris Day can't have the monopoly on all the Christmas songs, dang it! Christmas needs rock-and-roll like Easter needs purple plastic Easter grass. So, Elton John makes a Christmas song of his very own that some overblown singer will probably butcher in 50 years when rock-and-roll becomes just a memory. ...Hmmm... I'll be the first to admit that I have no idea what I'm talking about. I'm simply getting into the Christmas spirit with Elton John and all of my cronies. Cheers! Don't drink too much egg nog. This is a song that's good enough to get a 9 ... but what's with those strange video game sounds? I dunno. HELLLOOOOOO PEEEEEPPPL! Pay your respects to the fascist dictator nearest you, and then leave your comments about "Caribou" here. slb23@shaw.ca (Simon B.) received August 15, 2004 Well, I've had CARIBOU for about five years, and I must
admit, it isn't one of Elton's albums I listen to very often. Having said
that, I still think it isn't as bad as some people say, though it does
have one or two not very good songs. (BTW, the album is called CARIBOU
because it was recorded at Caribou Ranch, Colorado).
|
All reviews are copyrighted by Michael Lawrence. When he was given a fascist, they put cucumbers over his eyes.
