Elton John and Leon Russell, “The Union” (Decca)
It’s not the most natural collaboration, but the new Elton John/Leon Russell record makes for a fascinating listen. It has some uplifting songs, some clever lines, some lovely vocal interplay. And while the two pianists’ voices couldn’t be more dissimilar, they make these songs work.
The mutual admiration between John and Russell is obvious. John spends four pages in the liner notes telling their story — from their first meeting at the Troubadour in 1970 to the creation of this record, which spanned multiple continents and involved the talents of mega-Americana producer T Bone Burnett.
And it’s a treat to listen to these boys’ jams, especially since their songwriting voices are as distinctive as their physical voices. “If It Wasn’t For Bad” is a rollicking, fun-loving jaunt that benefits from Russell’s signature sense of humor. The song’s key, titular line brings on a smile: “If it wasn’t for you, I’d be happy / If it wasn’t for bad, you’d be good.”
John’s “The Best Part of the Day” is a memorable ballad that works off Bernie Taupin’s clever lyrics: “I hear you singing ‘I Shall Be Released’/Like a chainsaw runnin’ through a masterpiece/But that’s all right, that’s OK/Grab.K./Grab the bottle and slide my way.”
Some songs feature the gents backing each other up. Others have them dueting. Others yet involve the talents of guests Brian Wilson, Neil Young and Booker T. Jones.
Even if this “Union” looks strange on paper, John knew what he was talking about when he first called Russell. These legendary piano men needed to make a record together, and don’t be surprised if this CD spawns an expansion of their now-limited tour schedule. –Ricardo Baca
Read our review of Leon Russell’s 9/18 show at the Boulder Theater here.
Jimmy Eat World, “Invented” (Interscope)
Remember when “emo” was all the radio rage, with Jimmy Eat World and Dashboard Confessional? While that term was being misinterpreted/co-opted by FM radio and the music press, Jimmy Eat World was releasing some of the best music of its career, 2001′s “Bleed American.”
The band’s hit-or-miss output since hardly tarnishes its rep, especially since the group has released such a strong record in “Invented.” The new LP lacks the meaning of “Clarity” and the hits of “Bleed American,” but it often sounds like the band that broke via modern rock radio eight years ago — thanks in part to to the work of producer Mark Trombino, who worked with the band on its first three releases.
You can hear that chemistry in “Coffee and Cigarettes,” which lacks lyrical punch but sounds like, oddly, a great Death Cab jam. “Action Needs An Audience” is a substantive rock song that also recalls the band’s past, and it’s an aesthetic that works well for the Arizona group.
A couple of songs early in the record are clear signals that this latest record from Jimmy Eat World is one of its best. “Evidence” is a driving, quiet-loud-quiet track with epic live potential. And “My Best Theory” is a song that has already landed them back on modern rock radio — a fitting home for these pop heroes. –Ricardo Baca
Read our review of Jimmy Eat World’s 10/4 show at the Ogden Theatre here.
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Ricardo Baca is the founder and co-editor of Reverb and an award-winning critic and journalist at The Denver Post.
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