Songs From The West Coast - Elton John > Reviews > Great 21st Century album

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Great lyrics, great music, quality production
Disadvantages:	Takes time to grow on you

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

It's 2001 & aside from a few songs written for Aida & The Road to El Dorado, Elton John hadn't released a 'new material' album since 1997. Prior to the release of the new album he released a single called 'I want love', it was a pleasant little song, not one of his best but good all the same, a song that soon grew on you.
The music critics reviewed the new album which was to be called 'Songs from the West Coast' & it received some decent reviews both in the UK & USA. One reviewer even stated that it was the best material from Elton John since 'Goodbye Yellowbrick Road' in 1973 which is often regarded his best ever album. So with all these decent reviews & a half decent single I went out & purchased it.
The songs featured on the original album were:

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 a boy in the red shoes
10, Love her like me
11, Mansfield
12, This train don't stop there anymore

On my first hearing I just couldn't see what the critics were raving about, but Elton's songs can take time to grow on you. Once they do, you're hooked but this album took ages to grow on me. Now I've heard quite a few times & it is very good although the songs that make the biggest impact are the last seven tracks.
Highlights are 'Birds' which as an infectious beat, 'Wasteland' is a great raunchy number which he does a great live version of on stage, 'Train does stop there anymore' is typical John & Taupin ballad with great lyrics & melody. The best track for me, which at first I didn't understand is 'Ballad of a boy in the red shoes', its apparently about a young boy dying of Aids & the ignorant man mentioned in the song is ex President Ronald Regan who wouldn't accept Aids as being the problem it was. The song had dramatic lyrics & a very infectious melody.

If you are thinking about buying this album, don't play it just once & give up on it, it will grow on you & I would rate it among the best ten albums out of the nearly 50 that he has done in the last 38 years.