Published on Apr 24, 2006
If I didn’t know any better; I would assume Ice On
Fire to be Elton John’s worst effort of the 1980s. Between the
unimaginative songwriting and the processed, cheesy sound, you
would think it would be hard to get worse. So while the follow-up
album Leather Jackets somehow managed to outstrip Ice On
Fire in its utter futility, Ice On Fire came dangerously
close.
Originally, the only reason I gave Ice On Fire
a listen was that some Elton fans proclaimed it as one of those
unsung albums. Paint me as clueless as how to this album got that
reputation. Usually, Elton’s albums are at the very least
entertaining, but there is nothing on Ice On Fire that
continues the streak.
As an aspiring educator, you’re told to discuss the
positives first. This should be easy, as there aren’t that many.
“Wrap Her Up” is a semi R&B number that benefits the most from
its duet between John and George Michael. At times it almost seems
Elton is singing with his former, 70s self. The two would become
good friends and the chemistry is apparent. The opening track “This
Town,” easily is the best rocker of the disc, with its lively
keyboard and horn tracks and gospel-style backing vocals.
After the aforementioned two songs, it’s slim
pickings. “Too Young” is one of the huge melodramatic ballads Elton
is usually so good at; but the subject matter bugs me. It’s the
Mick Jagger syndrome, with a 40-some rock star singing about a
buxom young lass. “Shoot Down The Moon” gets points simply for not
sounding like it came from a toddler messing around on a CASIO
keyboard. If only the rest of Ice On Fire had taken this
approach.
“Nikita” was the huge hit off Ice On Fire, and
for the life of me I have never understood why. There is not a
strong hook or melody to grab hold of and Elton sounds bored. Don’t
even mention to me the ridiculous electronic beeps and flourishes
that texture the song.
The rest of the material ranges from mediocre to
horrible. In part, it is because this album just doesn’t sound
real. As a fan of brass in rock/pop (think Chicago), I was
horrified by Ice On Fire. Even though the horns are real,
they don’t sound like it. “Soul Glove” and “Tell Me What The Papers
Say” are the worst offenders, forever pegged as a product of the
mid 80s. With the decade came an onslaught of new technologies
artists like to screw around with, and while I’m sure when Ice
On Fire was released it was state of the art, today it sounds
childish.
Despite his best attempts, Elton would not hit rock
bottom musically until the following album with Leather
Jackets. Ice On Fire merely serves as the warning. This
is easily an album any fan could skip.