Main menu
Fretplay home Submit tabs

Elton John
Elton John tabs Elton John discography

Channels
Guitar channel Bass channel Guitar videos Reviews

Message Forum
Guitar forum Bass forum Bands and artists Promote your band Recent discussions All categories

Fretplay.com

Elton John guitar tabs

CD reviews

Songs from the West Coast

Elton John - Songs from the West Coast Audio CD

A fair review of the Elton John "Songs from the West Coast" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Elton John reviews here, or go back to the Elton John tabs.

Band: Elton John
Title: Songs from the West Coast
Rating:

Release Date: 2001-10-02
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: The Emperor's New Clothes 2: Dark Diamond 3: Look Ma No Hands 4: American Triangle 5: Original Sin 6: Birds 7: I Want Love 8: The Wasteland 9: Ballad Of The Boy In The Red Shoes 10: Love Her Like Me 11: Mansfield 12: This Train Don't Stop There Anymore

Songs from the West Coast
The booklet is quite nice and they have shot some really nice photos. Songs from the West Coast being Elton John's 2001 release and his 27th studio album contained such hits as "I Want Love", "Original Sin" and "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore". The lyrics are all included and for each track we get a listing of whom and what they play on each track. 4/5.

Elton's Best Album
Apparently it has not gotten much notice but give it a listen. I have heard many Elton John albums and in my opinion, this is his best.
.

Welcome back Sir Elton John

Songs From The West Coast represents the return of a legend, having a set of consistent, piano ballads all over the album, its his comeback to a strong, formidable musicianship. Luis Mejia (son) - Songs From The West Coast came up in 2001, selling more than 4 million copies, its the best album Elton John had released in decades. It assembles emotional, classic style, story telling, good natured, serious and potent moods within all of its beautiful compositions. After nearly two decades of hearing Elton John getting weaker and weaker, this stunning new millenium debut claims that Elton didn't loose the spark, he just needed the perfect moment for releasing another brilliant work. Elton John came up with the strongest components for making a smashing album, including his classic band and a new producer, Patrick Leonard, certainly one of the most important aspects of the critical success of Songs From The West Coast, 'cause Chris Thomas poisoning production was obviously one of the main causes of Elton's decadent career. Songs From The West Coast skips a lot of mistakes seen in his 90's albums; for example, it doesn't stay unfocused, unmemorable or uninspired, it doesn't has a poisoning production, or unmellodic, dull tunes, it doesn't possess any foolish genre experimentation, among other weak characteristics among his previous albums. Still, the excessive piano ballad style in every song, and the lack of other genre features, like his classic piano rock for example, keeps the album a little bit boring and with the aspect of nothing new, but still those aspects are nothing compared to all the fantastic aspects in this marvelous work.

The album's classic, potent, undertaking and focused sounds make up a collection of valueable songs. Almost every song comes piano crafted, with a mellodic and memorable style, the album comes as a wonderful and enjoyable work: The Emperor's New Clothes is the first song that gives the first sign of beauty and mellody, not marking any dissapointment. Dark Diamond is one of the most original songs present, with its unechoing instruments performance, its piano based composition and with a fresh, light style, its one of the best in this album, and it also has the feature of one of my idols, Stevie Wonder, playing the harmonica. Look Ma, No Hands is an emotional balladry with a very comprehensible mood, although a little bit of a common song. American Triangle is certainly the most inspiring, personal and emotional song Elton and Taupin has written for a long time, it tells the story of Mathew Shepard, an adolescent who was brutaly killed because of his homosexuality. Original Sin is the most romantic and delightful ballad in the album, keeping a strong piano ballad basis. Birds, although is maybe the only song I didn't like in the album, it keeps a nice, recognizable, country-like style. I Want Love is another romantic ballad like Original Sin, although it stays as the most famous song in the album. The Wasteland is the most original mellody in the album, keeping an enjoyable, well crafted mood even covering the all time classic Muddy Waters' instrumental section. Love Her Like Me is a romantic balladry with its moments, although is kind of rutine and common. Finally, Ballad Of The Boy In The Red Shoes, Mansfield and the famous This Train Don't Stop There Anymore are three of the most beautiful, orchestrated songs, the three are full of emotions and possessing sensitive mellodies. Track pick: Dark Diamond, American Triangle, Original Sin, The Wasteland, Mansfield, This Train Don't Stop There Anymore.

Among the artists' performance, Elton John returns with an explosive, mellow piano performance, stay away from the synthesizers, and his vocal hability is now fully developed and as enjoyable as always. Bernie Taupin lyrics keep an unexpected, emotional touch, being also the return of his unique hability to write memorable, poetic lyrics.

In conclussion, Elton John strikes back with this marvelous album, keeping in touch with his piano ballads' roots, and proyecting a fierceful image, reminding every one who is and who was the greatest star in the world.
.

This Train Don't Stop
Primarily Voice, Piano and Band. On this 'record' Elton finally returns to the sound that made him a superstar in the first place. Hints of Tumbleweed Connection, great songs, and most of important of all the production. Oh what a relief to hear an Elton John album that isn't completely ruined by being over-produced, like so many were in the 80's and 90's.

The only weak track for me is 'The Wasteland' which just sounds like a bit of a filler. However, one track sums this album up for me, and its "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore". This is the best single track Elton has recorded since the 70's in my opinion, and certainly in my top 10. This track would be worthy of a place on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, or Honky Chateau.

From what I have read recently 'The Captain and The Kid' may also be a return to 70's form for Elton. If it matches this one I'll be buying it.
.

The personal album
" Even parts of "Made in England" came across as autobiographical. Elton John and Bernie Taupin have never been shy about baring themselves on record, even doing (now) two variations on their success with "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" and "The Captain and the Kid. But on "Songs From The West Coast," it really felt that Elton moved from singing about his life to singing from his life. Parts of this album moved from the personal to the depths of the soul.

This may also be the "gayest" Elton John album. The striking "American Triangle" tribute to Matthew Shepard seethes with anger and heartbreak (catch the withering blast aimed at the Phelps idiots), with the added weight of Rufus Wainwright's backing vocal. "Ballad of The Boy In The Red Shoes" is brutal in its assessment of the Reagan years and his criminally negligent ignorning of AIDS. Coming off as the hostile extension of "The Last Song" (from "The One"), Elton lashes out:

"They pushed aside our presence,
they refused to go the distance.
Back then I was Sigmund,
but that old man wouldn't listen.
Back then I was handsome.
Back then he was ignorant. "

Elton has rarely been this forceful, and it makes "Songs From The West Coast" his best album of the century so far. The sound was pure Elton, mainly him and his piano backed by tasteful playing. The always valuable Paul Buckmaster, Davey Johnston and Nigel Olsson bring back echoes of the classic years (Johnstone and Olsson's backing vocals have been years underrated). There are plenty of other musical reasons to enjoy this CD. There is the usual stellar guest list; in addition to Wainwright, Stevie Wonder and the late Billy Preston make appearances. The Beatlesque "I Want Love" should have been a hit, and "This Train Don't Stop Here Anymore" is possessed of the old Elton/Bernie magic. There's even a decent blues workout with "The Wasteland. "

As we move through the first decade of the 21'st Century, "Songs From The West Coast" remains the Elton CD I keep coming back to. I have enjoyed the songs on it since its release, even more so than "The Captain and The Kid" (with the exception of that album's "The Bridge," those songs are not as good as the ones here) and I have already ditched the lifeless "Peachtree Road. " If there were half-stars available, I would notch this up a bit. But alas there aren't, and while good, "Songs From The West Coast" is not classic. So if the latter day Elton of "The One" and "Too Low for Zero" appealed to you, then by all means, get "Songs From The West Coast. ".

You can see a complete list of all Elton John discography, or go back to the Elton John tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.