Songs From The West Coast

Having admitted recently that he hadn’t made a good record since Rock Of The Westies, released back in 1975 Elton John also claimed that this, incredibly his 40th album, was his best in years. Aside from the similarity of the title, Songs From The West Coast does indeed hark back to a time, before the tiaras and tantrums when Elton John had an untouchable knack for turning out memorable, melodic songs in tune with the times.

Kicking off with that familiar pounding piano, the suitably titled, ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ could’ve been lifted from the sessions for Honky Chateau or Madman Across The Water, though the voice is a little deeper and more ragged than of yore

‘The Ballad Of The Boy In The Red Shoes’ a poignant elegy about a man dying of AIDS recalls ‘Tiny Dancer’ (a classic Elton ballad which was used to stunning effect in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous soundtrack).

‘Wasteland’ a bluesy workout and the most uptempo number on Songs From The West doesn’t quite match anything like ‘The Bitch Is Back’ or ‘Grow Some Funk Of Your Own’ but it proves he can still rock out when he wants to. Inevitably, there is some filler – ‘Love Her Like Me’ to name just one but this is more than made up for by strong songs such as ‘I Want Love’, a gorgeous ballad (surely a future hit single) and the album’s soulful closer, ‘This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore’, a gospel-fired epic with a soaring melody.

Welcome back Elton. Now, about that hair!