With Breaking Hearts, Elton and Taupin achieved something not normally associated with their releases: for the first time in years, they made an album that doesn't capitalize on the success of the previous release (Too Low For Zero).
They've always tried to at least do something totally different while recording follow up releases or at least expand and make an even better pop album. For instance, will anybody ever confuse Caribou with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road? Of course not. But after making their classic, they delivered Caribou and basically told their audience, this one isn't going to be a great but hang in there because the next one is even better (which led to Captain Fantastic).
Which is why Breaking Hearts is a slight let down after Too Low For Zero. Breaking Hearts has some great songs on it but the whole effort seems forced. Perhaps a different producer would have taken these songs to the next level. Producer Chris Thomas lets a great song such as Restless, languish. Probably the best Rolling Stones effort Elton ever attempted just doesn't get off the ground despite the excellent rhythm section of Nigel Olsson and Dee Murray. The sing along chorus is also great but with no where to go. The second song, Slow Down Georgie, has a slight country feel but is so fragmented that by the time the band has found the groove it breaks into instrumental interludes that destroy the cohesiveness of the overall melody. The song starts and stops like a train ride. Lil Frigerator laments the story of a cold hearted woman but really, can you actually sing a song when the chorus has the word 'frigerator' in it? Taupin should know better. But the band tries hard to make a great rock song over this absurd lyric to no avail.
Meanwhile, Did He Shoot Her fires up a great old cowboy western lyric complete with shooting snythesizers that are a bit distracting. And the title track, Breaking Hearts, tells the story of a playboy whose best days are behind him. Elton and the band deliver a soothing vocal and beautiful harmonies but again, it takes itself very seriously with Elton's piano as the sole instrument.
But for all that is wrong with this release, the other songs more than make up for it. Who Wears These Shoes, with a Motown feel (and a little of Hall & Oates Maneater bass line), strolls along nicely and is a great little pop tune. In Neon, a wonderful story of a faded starlet, has haunting backing vocals and one of Elton's best ever vocals. Burning Buildings, is another lost classic ballad that should be heard from more often. Passengers, is completely different with its sing song chorus and tells the tale of the struggles in South Africa. And the big hit off the album, Sad Songs, may not be the strongest song Elton has written but you can'd deny it's endearing appeal. It's just too catchy to ignore!
Breaking Hearts seems like Elton was treading water. The overuse of synthesizers distracts from some of the songs here and a more organic sound would have been welcome. But some of the songs, had they been better produced, showed promise. This is a solid effort. It just doesn't really go anywhere. And after the fantastic Too Low For Zero, this one failed to build upon that success.
breaking hearts
Solid Effort
10 tracks
