Masherbrum
Riding the Steel Breeze
So why is everyone so dismissive over his later work if they do favor pop music? All I'm hearing is that his early 70's work is best because he 'rocked harder' then and his later work got too 'poppy,' whatever the hell that means.
What I really like is Elton post 1975, which I guess there isn't a thread about and would be pointless to make one since no one wants to talk about it. I guess poor Elton must be wasting his time if after forty years of work, only five of those years are apparently worth listen to. At least he's still making his way through live shows with these earlier songs, which are great shows for the likes of people here, but they are not meant for the rest of us die-hards.
It's simple at points, but other points it is complicated. Elton John is a fickle artist, when it comes to music. In all honesty ANYTHING after "The Elton John Band" disbanded, cannot be compared to that era, except "Jump Up".
Why? You cannot replace the talents that Olsson and Murray brought to the landscape of the works. They are one of Rock & Roll's most underrated Rhythm Sections, but also brought more layering of harmonies than the post-EJB ever could.
Blue Moves? Nah, I've given it too many chances over the last 20+ years and it does nothing for me. His cocaine use at the time of RotW was so rampant that he stopped Taupin writing all of the lyrics on Blue Moves. I know EJ thought he could pull it off, but it was cocaine talking. Taupin is possibly the only songwriter that can come close to Lennon/McCartney and in some cases is superior (his details in Ticking are phenomenal). IMO, one of the few things he got right, was bringing Buckmaster back into the fold (although Gus probably had more to do with it than EJ). But the "luster is gone", until "Hey, Hey Johnny" with me.
But "Curtains" is probably of the most Epic Closing tracks of All-Time, as is Ticking. But Curtains, is so Beatlesque that it sticks out more. The increased drug use affected his better judgment and to this day he regrets "disbanding", as he's been quoted many times of being: "Burned out from touring".