{"id":39710,"date":"2006-04-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2006-04-10T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/reviews\/empty-sky\/"},"modified":"2006-04-10T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2006-04-10T00:00:00","slug":"empty-sky","status":"publish","type":"review","link":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/reviews\/empty-sky\/","title":{"rendered":"Empty Sky"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Hard to believe that a short pianist from a failed
\nband would go on to have one of the most successful careers in
\nrock. Today, Elton John is one of the most recognizable faces and
\nnames on the music scene, whether you like his music or not. Plays
\non Broadway, musical scores, a soon-to-be TV show based on his life
\nand of course his albums all define Elton in 2006. However, back in
\n1969, all John had was his first album, Empty Sky<\/i>.<\/p>\n

A few months ago, we had a retrospective promoting
\nthe best debut albums in rock. I thought about writing up a review
\nfor Empty Sky<\/i> back then, but truth be told, it wouldn’t have
\nbeen right, because despite a few interesting moments, Empty
\nSky<\/i> resembles a normal debut record in the sense that it isn’t
\nvery good.<\/p>\n

Things get off to a promising start with the title
\ntrack, a mature, semi prog-rock number. John demonstrates the range
\nof his early vocals, shifting from a snarling, Mick Jagger\/Leon
\nRussell inflection to a lighter, gentle phrase or two. Actually,
\nsome of “Empty Sky” reminded me of Tommy<\/i>, with the guitar
\nswirls almost distant from the rest of the track. A bluesy jam
\ncloses things up — listen to Elton attack the keys and you can see
\nthe immense talent he had.<\/p>\n

Then things start to get a tad rough. The main
\nproblem behind most of the songs on Empty Sky<\/i> is their lack
\nof strong, Elton John-esque melody. This is understandable,
\nconsidering this was the kid’s first album, but that doesn’t change
\nthe reality of how the album sounds. Some tracks get close to
\ndelivering an all around package; “Western Ford Gateway” spots one
\nof the stronger refrains, and the music flows naturally, as opposed
\nto “Val-Hala,” which aimlessly seeks to find the right note. Not to
\nimply it’s out of tune, but the musicians don’t sounds as tight. Of
\ncourse, session musicians populate most of Empty Sky<\/i>.<\/p>\n

The song most Elton fans would recognize from
\nEmpty Sky<\/i> would be “Skyline Pigeon.” On a scattershot album
\nlyrically from Bernie Taupin, “Pigeon” stands head and shoulders
\nabove the rest. Ruminating about leaving everything behind and
\n“flying away,” it’s one of Taupin’s best lyrics to come out of the
\nearly Elton John albums. While I prefer the version later recorded
\naround the time of Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano
\nPlayer<\/i>, the version here has its own charm, sounding more like
\na hymn you would sing at church then a rock song.<\/p>\n

The closing track, “Gulliver\/It’s Hay
\nChewed\/Reprise,” is an oddity, and a horrible way to close out
\nEmpty Sky<\/i>. The first third is par for the course in terms of
\nthe rest of the album, so it’s weak at the core. “It’s Hay Chewed,”
\non the other hand, is the second most shining moment on Empty
\nSky<\/i>, as Elton and the boys goes jazz on the listener. John
\nwould rarely go down this route; it’s a shame he didn’t more often.
\nAfter that brief treat, “Reprise” plays just like it sounds; the
\nlistener is treated to brief clips of every song on the album. If
\nan album isn’t that good, reminding the listener of that fact is
\nnot the best choice of action.<\/p>\n

These days, most of Elton’s early albums come with an
\nassortment of bonus tracks. Empty Sky<\/i> actually benefits from
\ntheir inclusion. The acid rock of “Lady Samantha,” the folksy “All
\nAcross The Havens,” and the gorgeous ballad “It’s Me That You Need”
\nall are stronger than most of the material on the actual album.
\n“Just Like Strange Rain” plays much like a song from Empty
\nSky<\/i> but has a catchy, strong refrain. Had these four songs been
\non Empty Sky<\/i>, things might have been a little different.<\/p>\n

Empty Sky<\/i> is not Elton John’s strongest work;
\nin fact, it ranks pretty low on the list. However, the album does
\nprovide the listener with glimpses of the future. Thankfully,
\nElton’s growing pains would disappear very quickly with his
\neponymous breakthrough album.<\/p>\n

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