A pivotal Elton John album. The music sounds so good throughout- the high quality musicianship leaps out at you - and the production is excellent, sounding so grand. The four opening tracks are exemplary. For a double album you better be damn sure there’s enough material and unfortunately there are too many tracks without much to commend them (Jamaica Jerkoff being especially egregious). At times there’s a nastiness and misogyny to Taupin’s lyrics which jars today. So many stories here but very little emotional insight or poetry. But let’s be honest, we’re all here for Elton John’s performance and that shines across the record and the energy is infectious.