Elton John's pop leanings have been getting more and more prominent, but they really burst out here. This album has a sorta fifty's feel with its lyrics, 50's rockers (Midnight Creeper, Crocodile Rock), and riffs you'd expect out of one of those classic movies (I'm Gonna be a Teenage Idol, Elderberry Wine.) Honestly, DSM isn't entirely one of my favorite EJ albums, however between it's polished production and memorable songs, it is pretty good. Something notable is the lack of slow ballads that seem to pop up everywhere on Elton's other albums. This isn't a bad thing, it's a nice little change. However, the thing this album lacks is replay value. Some of the songs get old after playing them a couple times (most noticeably Crocodile Rock.) However, let's just get this through and review the actual tracks, shall we?
1. Daniel 10/10
Daniel is EJ's famous ballad, and a wonderful one. It is about a soldier (one of his most misunderstood songs,) and it has a very memorable melody. It is not one of his piano songs, instead an electric piano is used. It has a much heavier instrumentation than some of his earlier songs. The cold air of the synthesizers, flute, and keyboards is balanced by the warmness of the acoustic guitar, percussion and orchestra. The percusion lasts through the entire song. Daniel is a great song, a highlight on the album.
2. Teacher, I Need You 9/10
This is a soaring, pop-piano song typical of Elton. Its fast paced-playing, sweeping memorable chorus, and schoolhouse feel bring it to a top. Sure it is a little cheesy, but nonetheless, it's still a great song. The chorus is absolutely fantastic.
3. Elderberry Wine 7.5/10
Elderberry Wine is a fun little rock song with a catchy instrumental. It is one of the songs when the regular verses are better than the chorus. It is fast paced and the piano has a cool honky tonk sound. However, it lacks a good chorus and ending melody. The brass was good and so were the verses, but the chorus and outro were repetitive and not very melodic.
4. Blues for Baby and Me 9/10
This song was never a hit, but it could have easily been. It is a semi-power ballad with lyrics about running away. It is notably one of the two songs with strings on the album, which is not very surprising when considering its emotional mood. It is pretty quiet at first, but it is to get louder. The best part of the song in my opinion is the chorus. It is memorable, beautiful, and has a powerful, soaring quality to it. There is a sitar solo, which is a little different, but not bad. There is a small melody issue around the sitar solo and verse area.
5. Midnight Creeper 8/10
Ah, so we're returning to those 50's rockers, are we Elton? And that is indeed what Midnight Creeper is. A fun little rocker with jazzy brass instruments. Elton's voice control is amazing, especially at the chorus. He controls it extremely well. The song has electric piano- no piano. This was a good idea as the song might get too centered around the piano if it was. It is not a piano song. And the jazzy outro is incredible. It's just not my favorite type of song.
6. Have Mercy on the Criminal 10/10
I love this song. Not only does it have a fantastic intro, its lyrics are superb and haunting. They really capture the mood of a criminal on the run. The song is pretty rocky with its dynamic use of guitar, and is kinda slow. This isn't a bad thing. The intro keeps it from seeming too slow, as the intro is a fast, amazing use of instrumental. The chorus is memorable, the whole thing is pretty powerful and dramatic. It also contains an awesome guitar solo about 3/4 the way through.
7. I'm Gonna Be Teenage Idol 8/10
This song is pretty cool. The brass intro is memorable and catchy, and the song is pretty moody. The instrumental choice is great, and there is definite groove. Besides the brass intro, there is no really memorable melody which is all the song really lacks.
8. Texan Love Song 8/10
This song stands out a lot. It sounds NOTHING like the other songs on the album..... and it's awesome. It's a western fried number based mainly on acoustic guitar, and Elton's singing. It's a good song, it just doesn't really..... work. The lyrics are all fired up and angry, but the melody is peaceful and pleasant. That's not really a bad thing, but it is at the verses. Usually Bernie and Elton fit together so well, but the first couple of verses have lyrics and melody not really working well. The verse parts aren't really that good in my opinion. However, the chorus really KICKS. It has a ballad-bittersweet feel, and there's that accordion-sounding thingy (which probably is an accordion, but I'm too lazy to look at the credits.) And the progression there is great too.
9. Crododile Rock 9/10
Everyone knows this song. What's the use reviewing it? Well I don't care if there is a use, I'm gonna review it anyway.
This famous song is the 50's nonlagastia rocker of the album. It's a fun, upbeat number with depressing lyrics (but this actually works unlike in, say, Texan Love Song.) Although it's based upon the fifties, it doesn't stray too far from the 70's feel with it's organ-synthesizer thing. And who can resist singing along to that la la la la la part? However, this song, as great as it is, lacks replay value. Listen to it a few times, it gets pretty old.
10. High Flying Bird 10/10
This is one of the most underrated balladic masterpieces Elton ever made. It's a soaring, piano/ acoustic guitar power ballad. It's pleasant, powerful, and awesome. The lyrics are great, the melody is great, the instrumentation is great, the song is just great. (Ignore my overuse of great) This is a fantastic way to end the album.
Favorite tracks:
1. High Flying Bird
2. Have Mercy on the Criminal
3. Daniel
Overview
So Elton started his pop movement with 1973's Don't Shoot Me. Well he didn't start it here, it just re-established itself a lot more strongly.
88.5/10 (9/10)
If you liked this album, also try Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Captin Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.
Review copyright Joshua Curtis
7. I'm Gonna Be Teenage Idol 8/10
This song is pretty cool. The brass intro is memorable and catchy, and the song is pretty moody. The instrumental choice is great, and there is definite groove. Besides the brass intro, there is no really memorable melody which is all the song really lacks.
8. Texan Love Song 8/10
This song stands out a lot. It sounds NOTHING like the other songs on the album..... and it's awesome. It's a western fried number based mainly on acoustic guitar, and Elton's singing. It's a good song, it just doesn't really..... work. The lyrics are all fired up and angry, but the melody is peaceful and pleasant. That's not really a bad thing, but it is at the verses. Usually Bernie and Elton fit together so well, but the first couple of verses have lyrics and melody not really working well. The verse parts aren't really that good in my opinion. However, the chorus really KICKS. It has a ballad-bittersweet feel, and there's that accordion-sounding thingy (which probably is an accordion, but I'm too lazy to look at the credits.) And the progression there is great too.
9. Crododile Rock 9/10
Everyone knows this song. What's the use reviewing it? Well I don't care if there is a use, I'm gonna review it anyway.
This famous song is the 50's nonlagastia rocker of the album. It's a fun, upbeat number with depressing lyrics (but this actually works unlike in, say, Texan Love Song.) Although it's based upon the fifties, it doesn't stray too far from the 70's feel with it's organ-synthesizer thing. And who can resist singing along to that la la la la la part? However, this song, as great as it is, lacks replay value. Listen to it a few times, it gets pretty old.
10. High Flying Bird 10/10
This is one of the most underrated balladic masterpieces Elton ever made. It's a soaring, piano/ acoustic guitar power ballad. It's pleasant, powerful, and awesome. The lyrics are great, the melody is great, the instrumentation is great, the song is just great. (Ignore my overuse of great) This is a fantastic way to end the album.
Favorite tracks:
1. High Flying Bird
2. Have Mercy on the Criminal
3. Daniel
Overview
So Elton started his pop movement with 1973's Don't Shoot Me. Well he didn't start it here, it just re-established itself a lot more strongly.
88.5/10 (9/10)
If you liked this album, also try Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Captin Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.
Review copyright Joshua Curtis
