Elton John
Peachtree Road
(Rocket/Universal)
First Appeared in The Music Box, December 2004, Volume 11, #12
Written by John Metzger
Although he gradually drifted towards crafting formulaic, nondescript pop,
the songs from the early portion of Elton John’s career frequently were embalmed
with a myriad of Americana- and Southern-tinged embellishments. In the wake of
his move to Atlanta more than a decade ago, it was, perhaps, inevitable — or at
least hoped — that he would return one day to the gospel, soul, and country
flourishes that graced his self-titled sophomore effort as well as its equally
astounding follow-ups Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across the
Water. With the release of the critically heralded 2001 set Songs from
the West Coast, John began reconnecting with the finer aspects of his life’s work,
and the resurrection of his past continues on his latest endeavor Peachtree
Road. Indeed, there are bits of Madman-style orchestrations that
envelop Porch Swing in Tupelo; smatterings of Tumbleweed’s western
flair that encircle Turn the Lights out When You Leave (a touching ode to
his long-time friend, the late producer Gus Dudgeon); and blasts of
Philadelphia Freedom-style, disco-heavy strings that flash through Answer
in the Sky. Yet, the overriding ambience of Peachtree Road is one
which firmly entrenches John’s standard fare within the Southern-bred textures
of his new surroundings. Drenched in horns, They Call Her the Cat is an
update of Little Richard’s swinging R&B; Freaks in Love delves into Al
Green-inspired soul; and Weight of the World is colored with a chorus of
uplifting vocals and subtle shades of dobro. However, where Songs from the
West Coast was stuffed full of well-crafted gems, Peachtree Road scatters
only a handful of nuggets amidst a blur of tepid torch songs and confessionals.
True, the near perfection of the arrangements helps to lift a sizeable portion
of the collection’s contents far above the most egregious missteps from John’s
otherwise remarkable canon, lending to them an organic elegance that keeps the
tunes from drifting into the Disney-fied regimen that, for far too long, had
been his stock-in-trade. Yet, for all of his wistful reflection, much of the
album falters by either recycling his prior hits or becoming mired within the
meandering moments of the present, and while Peachtree Road is certainly
a must for John’s biggest fans, it’s not likely to excite more casual observers. 
Peachtree Road is available
from Barnes & Noble. To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2004 The Music Box