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List Price: $13.98 | | Label: Umvd Labels
Salesrank: 56027
Released: October 2, 2001 |
| Our Price: $1.59 |
| Used Price: $0.01 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Songs from the West Coast Track Listing:
1. The Emperor's New Clothes
2. Dark Diamond
3. Look Ma No Hands
4. American Triangle
5. Original Sin
6. Birds
7. I Want Love
8. The Wasteland
9. Ballad Of The Boy In The Red Shoes
10. Love Her Like Me
11. Mansfield
12. This Train Don't Stop There Anymore
Editorial Review:
The appearance of "Rocket Man"-era cohorts Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone as backing vocalists touches this CD with one of the trademark sounds of Elton John's 1969-75 LPs. John has acknowledged those records--his most typically singer-songwriterish--occasionally, if mostly to revisit audience favorites in concert (1987's Live in Australia, a late-'90s VH1 show). But on Songs from the West Coast, his admiration of Ryan Adams and Rufus Wainwright (a guest here) inspires him to recall the stripped-down, lyric-driven sensibility of his early days. The tone of the words Bernie Taupin feeds this notorious diva is elegiac, rooted in a wearier version of the romanticism that fueled oldies as diverse as "Your Song," "Love Lies Bleeding," and "Burn Down the Mission." West Coast sidesteps bombast with a couple of exceptions; only "The Wasteland," with its invocation of Robert Johnson, is enough to provoke a dismayed "oy." The standout track is "I Want Love," a Lennonesque rumination that's their most impressive writing, separately or together, in more than a decade. --Rickey Wright
Songs from the West Coast Reviews:
Songs from the West Coast 
2009-03-07 - Songs from the West Coast being Elton John's 2001 release and his 27th studio album contained such hits as "I Want Love", "Original Sin" and "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore". The booklet is quite nice and they have shot some really nice photos. The lyrics are all included and for each track we get a listing of whom and what they play on each track. 4/5.
Elton's Best Album 
2008-06-03 - I have heard many Elton John albums and in my opinion, this is his best. Apparently it has not gotten much notice but give it a listen.
Welcome back Sir Elton John
2007-08-20 - Luis Mejia (son) - Songs From The West Coast came up in 2001, selling more than 4 million copies, its the best album Elton John had released in decades.
Songs From The West Coast represents the return of a legend, having a set of consistent, piano ballads all over the album, its his comeback to a strong, formidable musicianship. It assembles emotional, classic style, story telling, good natured, serious and potent moods within all of its beautiful compositions. After nearly two decades of hearing Elton John getting weaker and weaker, this stunning new millenium debut claims that Elton didn't loose the spark, he just needed the perfect moment for releasing another brilliant work. Elton John came up with the strongest components for making a smashing album, including his classic band and a new producer, Patrick Leonard, certainly one of the most important aspects of the critical success of Songs From The West Coast, 'cause Chris Thomas poisoning production was obviously one of the main causes of Elton's decadent career. Songs From The West Coast skips a lot of mistakes seen in his 90's albums; for example, it doesn't stay unfocused, unmemorable or uninspired, it doesn't has a poisoning production, or unmellodic, dull tunes, it doesn't possess any foolish genre experimentation, among other weak characteristics among his previous albums. Still, the excessive piano ballad style in every song, and the lack of other genre features, like his classic piano rock for example, keeps the album a little bit boring and with the aspect of nothing new, but still those aspects are nothing compared to all the fantastic aspects in this marvelous work.
The album's classic, potent, undertaking and focused sounds make up a collection of valueable songs. Almost every song comes piano crafted, with a mellodic and memorable style, the album comes as a wonderful and enjoyable work: The Emperor's New Clothes is the first song that gives the first sign of beauty and mellody, not marking any dissapointment. Dark Diamond is one of the most original songs present, with its unechoing instruments performance, its piano based composition and with a fresh, light style, its one of the best in this album, and it also has the feature of one of my idols, Stevie Wonder, playing the harmonica. Look Ma, No Hands is an emotional balladry with a very comprehensible mood, although a little bit of a common song. American Triangle is certainly the most inspiring, personal and emotional song Elton and Taupin has written for a long time, it tells the story of Mathew Shepard, an adolescent who was brutaly killed because of his homosexuality. Original Sin is the most romantic and delightful ballad in the album, keeping a strong piano ballad basis. Birds, although is maybe the only song I didn't like in the album, it keeps a nice, recognizable, country-like style. I Want Love is another romantic ballad like Original Sin, although it stays as the most famous song in the album. The Wasteland is the most original mellody in the album, keeping an enjoyable, well crafted mood even covering the all time classic Muddy Waters' instrumental section. Love Her Like Me is a romantic balladry with its moments, although is kind of rutine and common. Finally, Ballad Of The Boy In The Red Shoes, Mansfield and the famous This Train Don't Stop There Anymore are three of the most beautiful, orchestrated songs, the three are full of emotions and possessing sensitive mellodies. Track pick: Dark Diamond, American Triangle, Original Sin, The Wasteland, Mansfield, This Train Don't Stop There Anymore.
Among the artists' performance, Elton John returns with an explosive, mellow piano performance, stay away from the synthesizers, and his vocal hability is now fully developed and as enjoyable as always. Bernie Taupin lyrics keep an unexpected, emotional touch, being also the return of his unique hability to write memorable, poetic lyrics.
In conclussion, Elton John strikes back with this marvelous album, keeping in touch with his piano ballads' roots, and proyecting a fierceful image, reminding every one who is and who was the greatest star in the world.
This Train Don't Stop
2007-07-09 - On this 'record' Elton finally returns to the sound that made him a superstar in the first place. Primarily Voice, Piano and Band. Hints of Tumbleweed Connection, great songs, and most of important of all the production. Oh what a relief to hear an Elton John album that isn't completely ruined by being over-produced, like so many were in the 80's and 90's.
The only weak track for me is 'The Wasteland' which just sounds like a bit of a filler. However, one track sums this album up for me, and its "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore". This is the best single track Elton has recorded since the 70's in my opinion, and certainly in my top 10. This track would be worthy of a place on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, or Honky Chateau.
From what I have read recently 'The Captain and The Kid' may also be a return to 70's form for Elton. If it matches this one I'll be buying it.
The personal album
2007-07-08 - Elton John and Bernie Taupin have never been shy about baring themselves on record, even doing (now) two variations on their success with "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" and "The Captain and the Kid." Even parts of "Made in England" came across as autobiographical. But on "Songs From The West Coast," it really felt that Elton moved from singing about his life to singing from his life. Parts of this album moved from the personal to the depths of the soul.
This may also be the "gayest" Elton John album. The striking "American Triangle" tribute to Matthew Shepard seethes with anger and heartbreak (catch the withering blast aimed at the Phelps idiots), with the added weight of Rufus Wainwright's backing vocal. "Ballad of The Boy In The Red Shoes" is brutal in its assessment of the Reagan years and his criminally negligent ignorning of AIDS. Coming off as the hostile extension of "The Last Song" (from "The One"), Elton lashes out:
"They pushed aside our presence,
they refused to go the distance.
Back then I was Sigmund,
but that old man wouldn't listen.
Back then I was handsome.
Back then he was ignorant."
Elton has rarely been this forceful, and it makes "Songs From The West Coast" his best album of the century so far. The sound was pure Elton, mainly him and his piano backed by tasteful playing. The always valuable Paul Buckmaster, Davey Johnston and Nigel Olsson bring back echoes of the classic years (Johnstone and Olsson's backing vocals have been years underrated). There are plenty of other musical reasons to enjoy this CD. There is the usual stellar guest list; in addition to Wainwright, Stevie Wonder and the late Billy Preston make appearances. The Beatlesque "I Want Love" should have been a hit, and "This Train Don't Stop Here Anymore" is possessed of the old Elton/Bernie magic. There's even a decent blues workout with "The Wasteland."
As we move through the first decade of the 21'st Century, "Songs From The West Coast" remains the Elton CD I keep coming back to. I have enjoyed the songs on it since its release, even more so than "The Captain and The Kid" (with the exception of that album's "The Bridge," those songs are not as good as the ones here) and I have already ditched the lifeless "Peachtree Road." If there were half-stars available, I would notch this up a bit. But alas there aren't, and while good, "Songs From The West Coast" is not classic. So if the latter day Elton of "The One" and "Too Low for Zero" appealed to you, then by all means, get "Songs From The West Coast."
