Elton John
The Captain And The Kid

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a beautiful album.

Let's say it right away and clear the air of any misconceptions, because some might read Elton John and think of the somewhat outdated figure who churned out Disney songs, grandiose arrangements, and kitsch heavyweights en travesti that made many forget what a great, great songwriter he was.

And yet, just play this album, listen to the introduction of the first track, played only on the piano and Elton's voice, to which other (few) instruments are discreetly added little by little, to understand that we're on another planet and that this album continues and takes to the extremes the artistic discourse started in 2001 with "Songs From The West Coast," an album that is a return to simplicity of inspiration, to no-frills arrangements, a convinced reliance on words and music, and that's all that's needed. And indeed, that's enough, because Elton John and Bernie Taupin, also known as "The Captain and The Kid" from the title, prove that they are still one of the greatest songwriting duos in the history of pop music and churn out a handful of beautiful songs, played and recorded almost live in a theater in Atlanta, that cast a glance at the past and attempt to trace a story, a narrative of sorts through small frames of thirty years of artistic collaboration, all seasoned with small self-references and more or less explicit nods to glorious episodes of the past discography.

The title actually harks back to their first great American success, that "Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy," which remains one of their best works overall, and it is indeed the captain and the cowboy, now simply "kid," who return to be the protagonists of these new songs. Lyrically, it is a sort of photo album, starting from their arrival in the USA ("Postcards From Richard Nixon"), moving through the memory of lost friends, the difficulties of the music business, the excesses, the life choices, reaching the present with the beautiful title track that closes the album.

The tracks are all truly beautiful and varied, and it's hard to single out any that stand out above the rest, although "And The House Fell Down" is loved for the contrast between the overwhelming music and the rather bitter lyrics; or in how "The Captain And The Kid" subtly insists on being hummed. Worth highlighting once again is the sobriety of the arrangements, dominated by the unmistakable piano, which gives everything a freshness of yesteryear. Sure, there are a couple of passages where you get the vague sensation of déjà vu, it's inevitable, but honestly, they cost no more than a shrug.

Four stars, but if you're a loyal fan of Sir Elton, you might even give it a bit more.