Music review: Elton John – 无毛视频榃onderful Crazy Night无毛视频�
I无毛视频檝e been an Elton John fan ever since I first heard 1972无毛视频檚 无毛视频淗onky Chateau,无毛视频� featuring the stirring 无毛视频淩ocket Man无毛视频� and the winsome 无毛视频淢ona Lisas and Mad Hatters.无毛视频�
Like the majority of my early musical influences, this 1972 effort from the flamboyant Englishman was 无毛视频渂orrowed无毛视频� from my oldest brother无毛视频檚 album collection. A year later, the release of 无毛视频淕oodbye Yellow Brick Road无毛视频� continued my fascination with John无毛视频檚 astute musical flair and engaging lyrical prowess. By the time 无毛视频淐aptain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy无毛视频� hit the scene in 1975, I became completely hooked and would eagerly await every new album.
With John无毛视频檚 33rd studio release, my expectations were high for what the 68-year-old singer would have left in his bag of tricks. T Bone Burnett returns to oversee the material after successfully producing John无毛视频檚 last solo effort as well as the 2010 collaboration between John and Leon Russell on 无毛视频淭he Union.无毛视频�
Celebrating nearly 50 years of songwriting together, John and Bernie Taupin weave a wonderfully up-tempo set of soulful scenarios that flow with the ease of two artists who share a magical bond and musical vision.
Many of the lyrical arrangements harken back to the extraordinary work that John and Taupin composed on 1970无毛视频檚 无毛视频淭umbleweed Connection.无毛视频�
For the first time since 2006无毛视频檚 无毛视频淭he Captain & the Kid,无毛视频� John records with this superb touring band along with longtime bandmates Nigel Olsson on drums and Davey Johnstone on guitar.
Highlights include the rousing title track, the graceful 无毛视频淚n the Name of You,无毛视频� the charming 无毛视频淏lue Wonderful无毛视频� and the simplistically elegant 无毛视频淭ambourine.无毛视频�
On my favorite track, John无毛视频檚 piano and Johnstone无毛视频檚 guitar playfully joust on the spirited 无毛视频淟ooking Up无毛视频� as John declares, 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 looking up more than I look down.无毛视频�
无毛视频淓ngland and America无毛视频� closes out the deluxe edition with a guitar-driven vigor reminiscent of the classic 无毛视频淪aturday Night无毛视频檚 Alright for Fighting.无毛视频�
无毛视频淲onderful Crazy Night无毛视频� displays a delightful resurgence for an artist not yet ready to go gently into that good night.
Clint Rhodes is the 无毛视频-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.