Published on Apr 26, 2006
This was Elton John’s first album recorded after he
beat his addictions to alcohol and drugs, as well as his eating
disorders. For the first time in a long time, Elton came to the
record-making process with a clear head and a clean outlook on
life. Most of The One plays out like the work of a man
finally satisfied with his personal life. But while this was great
for Elton John, his newfound sobriety did not necessarily translate
into great music.
Elton rarely records an album that lacks a few pop
gems. The One is no different; there are moments that harken
back to John’s glory days. “Whitewash Country” falls in line with
the countrified material he recorded in the 80s, like “Slow Down
Georgie” and “The Fox.” I would not be surprised if a modern-day
country artist had success with the song. “The One” was the big hit
off the record, a straight-up power ballad with a hard-hitting
chorus and Bernie Taupin’s best lyrics in years. Elton compared
this song to John Lennon’s material, and I can definitely the
similarity.
“The Last Song” ranks up there with Elton’s most
touching material. His first song revolving around AIDS, the song
deals with a father and son resolving their differences after the
son is stricken with the disease. I’ll take a track like this over
“Candle In The Wind 1997” any day; despite its subject material, it
never becomes cloying. It is sentimental and emotional in the best
way.
Unfortunately, this is the best The One has to
offer. “Runaway Train,” a “duet” between John and Eric Clapton, is
uninspired despite the nods to Clapton’s styles, such as the
gospel-tinged vocals and keyboards thrown in. “Sweat It Out” is
probably the closest thing to rap as John has gotten, proving it is
not a good mix. The problem that plagues this material is its
length; the first six tracks hit at least five minutes. This is not
a problem when the songs are good; here, it kills The One‘s
momentum.
I was also disappointed with the sound of the record.
Sleeping With The Past was relatively stripped down and
bare-bones, but The One is not, sounding like a mid 80s
record or his 1997 work The Big Picture. With Elton, he
doesn’t necessarily need to have all the fancy arrangements and
flourishes — he has enough skill on his own. His next album,
Made In England, would get closer to that general idea.
Again, all the power to Elton getting clean and
sober. But that does not mean The One is a great work of
art, closer to The Fox or Reg Strikes Back. However,
things would get better within the next few years, partly in thanks
to a certain animated film about lions, meerkats and warthogs.