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Go back to the main ELTON john page across the water! The 'Madman Across the Water' Made a Pass At Me
Overall Album Score: 8.9 out of 10 Ahhhhh! As I was reviewed the previous Elton John albums, there was SOMETHING missing in them. And, when I listen to Madman Across the Water, I know exactly what it was: rubber grips. Yes, indeed, it's only a little bit of rubber, but it does make for a safer and more enjoyable listening experience. And ... while we're on the subject of 'listening experiences,' you'll find that this album is almost tremendously engaging throughout and beautiful in an almost sinister way! Yes. And, I like it! Elton's previous two albums (particularly Tumbleweed) are darn good pieces of art, but I had an extremely hard time getting into both of them. Now, it's by Elton's fourth effort that I don't have to try so hard. It's still a heavy album, but with the rubber grips, I can hold it and I can appreciate this album for the art while also enjoying the poodie out of it! Hooray! Needless to say, I find this album more easily digestible than anything Elton released to this point. This album was released in 1971 when bunches of artists were trying to turn good-time rock-and-roll into a pretentious crap-ride. (And, only a few select artists were ever to make it any good.) And, Elton John is no exception. (Except his pretentious crap-ride was good.) The main difference between this album and Elton's previous album is the length of these songs. Most of them are quite lengthy and piddle about in nonsense. Yes, it's true, children ... for a brief time, Elton jumped on the Prog-rock bandwagon and created something for all these other bands to drool over! However, he jumped off it just as quick as he jumped on it and made an unforgettable pop masterpiece, Honky Chateau. When I first listened to Madman, I wasn't so eager to label it with "prog-rock." Really, this is just an Elton John album that shows remnants of Prog. Pure prog-rock is much more boring than this! I should also probably mention something else about the lyrics. While they're still good, they turn more cryptic here. I have nothing against cryptic lyrics ... in fact, I like cryptic lyrics, 'cause when I want to take the time fer it, I have fun coming up with my own meanings for the songs. But that also means we can't get into the songs lyrically as much as we did on the previous album. I don't mind, particularly. It's not an easy thing to admit, but lyrics don't really matter to me. They're simply not an integral part of my listening-experience! The album starts up with four excellent songs ... a group of songs whose equivalents were definitely lacking on any of Elton's previous albums. "Tiny Dancer" opens the album, which is a beautiful little ditty that has me at all-attention mode (which is something Elton only did once previously with "Your Song"). It's a still-popular radio classic, too. Next, there's "Levon," which is a more pompous, loud rock song that is utterly memorable and engaging. Next, "Razor Face" is more of a rocker (though, it's the lesser of the four). And, finally, there's "Madman Across the Water," which if it's not particularly beautiful, it is interesting. The rest of the album isn't as great as these four songs, but there's nothing bad at all about them. Overall, this is one of Elton John's best albums! ...even though I haven't heard all of 'em yet! Overall Album Score: 8.9 out of 10 (Alright! Even though this score isn't too much higher than the previous album, I do enjoy listening to this album quite a bit more. The only thing holding this score back from receiving a higher score are some weak songs toward the end. But this IS a pretty high score, after all!) Average Song Score: 8.8 (Yes! This is a strong collection of songs! However, there are some weaker ones toward the back of this album.) Album Tilt: 9.0 (Well ... this is the first Elton John album that I enjoy, and it didn't take that many listens to get there. That's worth something at least.) Artist Tilt: 9.0 (Elton John is an artistic musician! And this is one of his more artistic albums! Heck ... he tried Prog-rock for size on this album after making a concept album about the old west. How artistical is that?) Track Reviews Tiny Dancer 10/10 In a way, with the slide-guitar, this almost sounds like it was originally conceived for Tumbleweed Connection, but I'm glad this 'big' song made it in here with the other 'big boys!' This is a perfectly listenable, catchy, engaging, classic song that is tons better than Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Baked Beans Spam. And when I say that, you know that it's got to be good. It's a rather pompous song equipped with orchestras, a choir, it's multi-part, and every part is luverly. I enjoy it. It's better than finding an empty, quiet public restroom, even. Yep. Now you know it's got to be good. Certainly. Levon 10/10 You know, when I first listened to this song on the radio, I just happened to be speeding the normal 10 mph over the speed limit (which is actually legal in our city ... especially if you're a stay-at-home mom in a blue minivan with five children and a driver's license that's currently revoked eight times). Well, apparently the cop didn't buy my blonde wig, fake boobs, and fake children, nor did he believe that my white compact car was a blue minivan. So, -- yadda, yadda, yadda - I ended up going to MacDonalds with the mayor. ... Oh wait ... What was I doing? Oh yes. Levon is a very good song! Like my fake boobs, it is dynamic, soulful, and catchy! The tune here was nicely written by Mr. John and it's easily digestible for his audience, thankfully. More immaculate, classic Elton that, by the way, I find entirely engaging. Like I did with the cop. (Our weeding date is set for the fourth of next month. First, we're going to weed her uncle's garden, and then we're going to move on to greater things: her great uncle's garden.) Wow ... I really got out of explaining this song in great detail. The people who just scrolled past this paragraph probably thought I had a lot to say about this song, and therefore concluded that I am extremely intelligent. How cool is that? Of course, I bet you're thinking that I am quite the idiot. Thanks. Razor Face 8.5/10 Oh man! I went to high school with a girl who had a razor face! Though, she was really smart. So smart that I'd say she was quite sharp. (Yukyukyukyuk ... yuk ...... um .......... yuk?) This is not quite as cinematic (or as long) as the previous two songs, but it's quite nice. It's a bit of a more "regular" Elton John rock song. Though unfortunately, the melody isn't as memorable or engaging. Madman Across the Water 10/10 I'm MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD and I'M ACROSS THE WAAAAAATER! I'm also a MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN! And I'm MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD! This is another surefire 10-earner. It piddles on like any good prog/art rock song would with instrumental passages and whatnot. The melody is extremely good and everything else about the song (including the sometimes-conflicted symphonic backing and everything) was perfectly conceived! Oh yes. This is one madman we can all enjoy, even if he is across the water. Indian Sunset 8/10 And the sun set for this album? Naaaaah! This is still an excellent song, but now that we're out of this fondly regarded block of Elton John excellence, I'm like not quite as impressed. But ... you know ... this Indian Sunset here is quite beautiful and stuff. Though, it does get a bit lengthy and trying! Holiday Inn 8.5/10 Elton seems to take a special liking to the mandolin here (or something). Not only is this song more engaging than "Indian Sunset," but it's also much shorter. It's cinematic and dynamic ... and PIEnamic. (Pie? MmMmMmMmMmMmmmmm!) I wanna stay at a Holiday Inn, too! Rotten Peaches 9/10 Don't you just hate those? When you bite into a Peach, and you're anticipating its sweet, sweet taste and then it comes out all rotten with little worms and stuff wiggling around in it? Yuck! Though this song is NOT yuck! This is the second half of the album's major ditty. It's even more dynamic than "Holiday Inn" and it has a more enjoyable melody. What else could you possibly want? ... that is, except for peaches that are not rotten? Hmmmmm? All the Nasties 7.5/10 Can I trash one track? Just one track? If it wasn't for that very good bit in the middle of the track, I would trash it! This song is mostly just boring but something I can't do anything to but respect. The only really engaging part in this song is that bit in the middle, which is what's keeping me from saying real nasty stuff about the 'Nasties.' But still ... Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn. I ate your soul, dude. Goodbye 8/10 It's a very dark, under-two minute conclusion to the album. I like it. It's cool. It just doesn't do a whole heck of a lot for me except give me a darker perception of the album than I would have gotten otherwise. Other than giving me that general feeling, the song isn't memorable. But it sounds nice when you're listening to it. Would you say that I am quite sane, or would you say that I am that guy across the water? What do you think of George W. Bush? Leave your comments here. slb23@shaw.ca (Simon B.) received Oct. 5, 2004 Think of TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION. Think about its string
arrangements. Then multiply it by about 2 (or even 3). The end result is, in
my opinion, this album. That isn't necessarily bad, by the way. While I
don't like it as much as the aforementioned album, it still has two
classic singles, and a handful of great songs. Mind you there are one
mediocre songs, but hey, Elton and Bernie had to write and put out 2 albums
a year for the first half of the seventies, so you gotta cut them some
slack.
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All reviews are copyrighted by Michael Lawrence. He copyrighted it because he thinks you're going to steal it and turn it into your biology professor.
