{"id":39731,"date":"2006-04-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2006-04-24T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/reviews\/ice-on-fire\/"},"modified":"2006-04-24T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2006-04-24T00:00:00","slug":"ice-on-fire","status":"publish","type":"review","link":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/reviews\/ice-on-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"Ice On Fire"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

If I didn’t know any better; I would assume Ice On
\nFire<\/i> to be Elton John’s worst effort of the 1980s. Between the
\nunimaginative songwriting and the processed, cheesy sound, you
\nwould think it would be hard to get worse. So while the follow-up
\nalbum Leather Jackets<\/i> somehow managed to outstrip Ice On
\nFire<\/i> in its utter futility, Ice On Fire<\/i> came dangerously
\nclose.<\/p>\n

Originally, the only reason I gave Ice On Fire<\/i>
\na listen was that some Elton fans proclaimed it as one of those
\nunsung albums. Paint me as clueless as how to this album got that
\nreputation. Usually, Elton’s albums are at the very least
\nentertaining, but there is nothing on Ice On Fire<\/i> that
\ncontinues the streak.<\/p>\n

As an aspiring educator, you’re told to discuss the
\npositives first. This should be easy, as there aren’t that many.
\n“Wrap Her Up” is a semi R&B number that benefits the most from
\nits duet between John and George Michael. At times it almost seems
\nElton is singing with his former, 70s self. The two would become
\ngood friends and the chemistry is apparent. The opening track “This
\nTown,” easily is the best rocker of the disc, with its lively
\nkeyboard and horn tracks and gospel-style backing vocals.<\/p>\n

After the aforementioned two songs, it’s slim
\npickings. “Too Young” is one of the huge melodramatic ballads Elton
\nis usually so good at; but the subject matter bugs me. It’s the
\nMick Jagger syndrome, with a 40-some rock star singing about a
\nbuxom young lass. “Shoot Down The Moon” gets points simply for not
\nsounding like it came from a toddler messing around on a CASIO
\nkeyboard. If only the rest of Ice On Fire<\/i> had taken this
\napproach.<\/p>\n

“Nikita” was the huge hit off Ice On Fire<\/i>, and
\nfor the life of me I have never understood why. There is not a
\nstrong hook or melody to grab hold of and Elton sounds bored. Don’t
\neven mention to me the ridiculous electronic beeps and flourishes
\nthat texture the song.<\/p>\n

The rest of the material ranges from mediocre to
\nhorrible. In part, it is because this album just doesn’t sound
\nreal. As a fan of brass in rock\/pop (think Chicago), I was
\nhorrified by Ice On Fire<\/i>. Even though the horns are real,
\nthey don’t sound like it. “Soul Glove” and “Tell Me What The Papers
\nSay” are the worst offenders, forever pegged as a product of the
\nmid 80s. With the decade came an onslaught of new technologies
\nartists like to screw around with, and while I’m sure when Ice
\nOn Fire<\/i> was released it was state of the art, today it sounds
\nchildish.<\/p>\n

Despite his best attempts, Elton would not hit rock
\nbottom musically until the following album with Leather
\nJackets<\/i>. Ice On Fire<\/i> merely serves as the warning. This
\nis easily an album any fan could skip.<\/p>\n

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