Customer Reviews

The Road to El Dorado

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

The negative comments of other customers are quite amazing, particularly those which suggest that "real" fans should steer clear of this album. To my mind, as a "real" fan for nearly twenty years, this is certainly one of Elton's best albums, especially in the last 10 - 12 years. Patrick Leonard has done a great job of elevating Elton's voice and piano to the front of the mix, a production value lost by Chris Thomas, whose overblown drum and synth work has dogged good songs since 1992. Best tracks on here include "Eldorado", the first single "Someday Out of the Blue", "Queen of Cities" and the brilliant "Friends Never Say Goodbye" which features the Backstreet Boys on uncredited backing vocals. I judge a new Elton album by how long it stays in my CD player before I revert to older material. This one has been there since release day, and shows no signs of leaving. The songs fit together very well, and Elton is obviously enjoying the experience of writing to Tim Rice's lyrics. I can honestly say there isn't any track on here that shouldn't be. Amazon should include this as an essential recording by Elton John - a return to the form he reached with 1995's "Made in England". I look forward to the next John/Taupin album, which Patrick Leonard is producing - they are back in the studio in September.

I believe the above has been stated in at least a couple reviews, but I somehow missed it in perusing the reviews before I purchased this album, and I want it stressed that this album does not contain the actual recordings used in the movie El Dorado. The tunes are the same, some lyrics are different (a minor quibble) but most upsetting is if you're looking for a recapturing of the songs you heard while watching the movie, you're not going to get it here. I LOVE the film version of "It's tough to be a god" with Ken and Kevin singing it, and while the Elton/Randy Newman version also is cute, it just doesn't have the same 'oomph'. The title theme is weak compared to the version heard in the movie, and I was really disappointed that the lively female backing vocals heard in the movie version of "The trail we blaze" are completely missing from this CD and replaced instead by breathy male backup. Compared to the movie, the songs on the CD are of a notably slower tempo and calmer delivery (read: a bit boring). My children are more forgiving than I, and enjoy the CD anyhow, and the additional tracks feature some really great music ("16th century man" is a great catchy upbeat tune if you ignore the somewhat silly lyrics). Just be sure you know what to expect!

FIRST and foremost, this incredible collection of songs, some heard in the new animated feature film, Dreamworks "The Road to El Dorado" is NOT an original soundtrack recording. Although nine of the fourteen songs are heard in the film, six of them are heard in a different, less compelling presentation than performed here. With that said, this project is the most recent Elton John album proper since the majestic "The Big Picture" album released in 1997. For those Elton John fans of his seventies era, he hasn't re-recorded the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" album. He's been there, done that. Although he discovered ballads and the adult contemporary sound during the eighties and nineties, his use of the format is to impressive degrees on this project. For the first time since "Captain Fantastic" Elton's music actually sounds inspired as does his performance of these impressive songs. Elton has matured and his taste in music has developed and grown with him. His collaboration with Tim Rice is triumphant, a first since the union for Disney's "The Lion King". Their attempt to compose for the stage, although noble, was completely trashed by hideous performances in their last project "Aida". On this opus, Elton handles all the singing. The only guest vocalist is Randy Newman on the hilarious "It's Tough To Be A God". Two of the most impressive songs "16th Century Man" and "Trust Me" are NOT heard in the film at all. In addion, "My Heart Dances" and "Queen of Cities" as impressive as they are were not used for the film. No matter, this album is not a soundtrack intended to remind of favorite sequences from the film. Rather, the album plays out in the manner appropriate for an original Elton John project proper. The final three tracks on the cd are compositions from the picture, however they fit like a glove in the context of the theme of the project. "Without Question" and "The Panic in Me" are sublime Elton John. The animated film itself is impressive, however this collection is purely Elton John's triumph and welcome return to glory.

This Album is a must have for all collections. I can listen to it over and over again. I first got this Album before I even saw the movie and it was the music that made me want to see the movie....honest truth...the music makes the movie! This album has something for everyone. YES, I am going along with the popular opinion that my favorite song is "Someday Out of the Blue". "Friends Never say Goodbye" is also a sentimental favorite of mine. PLEASE LISTEN TO THE SAMPLES THEN ADD THIS ONE TO YOUR COLLECTION!

With this cd, the movie, the broadway AIDA, concerts, etc..., etc..., this is the YEAR of Tim Rice and Elton John. Even though these projects were years in the making, they are truly spectacular. This soundtrack/theme cd is filled with some of their best work ever. Such touching songs as "Friends Never Say Goodbye" and "The Panic In Me" are so haunting that you find yourself feeling for what the movie COULD have been. It's a great album to close your eyes and relax with. From the Sgt Pepper like trumpets that begin the title song, to the country/western enabled "Trail We Blaze" and "16th Century Man", to the George Harrison-like guitars of "Trust Me", and the latin flavored "Tough To Be a God", it's clear that there is something here for everyone. Elton is in fine voice and melody. Rice's lyrics, as usual, can make you laugh and cry, with moments of tongue-in-cheek cleverness giving way to heart-breaking love songs. No Matter What people think, he is the quintessential lyricist of our time. Yes, the orchestrations of the songs in the movie are TOTALLY different. However, keep in mind, we will have those versions when the movie is on video and DVD. This is merely for listening to. And absorbing yourself into. And enjoying.

I have everything Elton has ever recorded and I was so suprised when I listened to El Darado. Elton's vocals are strong, the music is very sound and all in all I think it's the best thing from Elton since Captain Fantastic. I know the lion king tracks sounded great ...but as a body of work this is much better. If your an ELton fan you'll love El Darado, if your not..your really missing something great.

Elton John has an uncanny ability to create over and over again those melodies that strike a chord in your heart and soul. "The Road to El Dorado" is filled with catchy, lush and layered melodies with extraordinary vocal arrangements that showcase Elton John, a legend and one of the greatest male voices of the modern era. The title track, "El Dorado" along with "Someday Out of the Blue," "Without Question," "Friends Never Say Goodbye," "The Trail We Blaze," "The Panic In Me" and "Trust Me" stand out as highlights. This CD, like "The Big Picture," and even last year's "Aida" display a more contemplative, textured mood than we are perhaps used to from Elton...and like these two previous gems, "The Road to El Dorado" takes you on a beautiful journey with graciousness and style, from your heart to your voice and back again. Some will probably say there is nothing new here...and they are right...sheer brilliance and beauty, as usual...as has always been! Thank God...and thank you, Sir Elton!

Road to Eldorado was a great movie with great songs that didn't really need to be touched for the soundtrack. Instead, all the songs are given changes and performed by Elton John, minus the three orchestral score pieces in the back. Don't get me wrong! I enjoyed the songs a lot! But even when I heard this wasn't exactly a soundtrack, I didn't exactly expect so many deviations from the originals.

The big let-downs for me were: "The Trail We Blazed." In the movie it was much stronger and had much more energy in the background music. And then of course, "It's Tough to be a God." It was performed so much more humorously in the movie. I just didn't find this version fun at all. See, in the movie, even if you paid no attention to the lyrics and action, the character's voices and emotions displayed through them were funny in themselves. The song was much faster as well. I wanna hear Tulio...

But all in all, good music is here. You really can't go wrong with the composers. I wish they'd just make one more soundtrack though for the movie crowd and those stuck in the middle like me...

EDIT: I made a mistake! How unlike me! (Not... heh ^_^;) I read some other reviews then did a little research. These are pre-songs, rather than post (altered) ones. How silly of me. But that doesn't change the fact that I miss the movie version of "It's Tough to be a God."

I would like to add something else as well. "Panic in Me" and "My Heart Dances" are both really nice dramatic songs with a touch of angst. Highly recommended. I still wish there was more SOUNDTRACK than ALBUM on it. The score was great. But I still don't regret owning this one bit. Elton John and every other talent put in a great effort for this movie and it shows!

Okay, I know I'm overrating this one a bit (in truth, I think it's a three star record), but I agree with an earlier review: after several disappointing records I really feel this one is a nice bounceback for Elton. I'm a huge EJ fan, but I'd found his last albums sort of tepid and dull. From the self-help schmaltz of Made in England (check out EJ's drop-dead Stuart Smalley-looking album cover) to the all-too-comfortable The Big Picture, EJ had reemerged--in the 1990's heading into 2000--as an easy listening, adult contemporary, soft-rock icon. Honestly, it was hard for me to believe that the man who sang "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" was also the glitzy rocker who sang "Bennie and the Jets," "Levon," and "The B---- is back." Put simply, I'd nearly given up on the guy. Or, to borrow a phrase from rock crit Robert Christgau, "The B---- was gone. Presumably forever."

But now, after having bounced and bobbed gleefully for days around my apartment listening to "El Dorado"--the first track on EJ's new offering--(I'm not exaggerating when I say that I've listened to this song at least fifty times!) I have to admit that I've rarely had as much fun listening to an Elton John album since, oh, Jump Up! Truth is, I should hate this album. For one, it's a soundtrack (i.e. industry product). Moreover, it's a soundtrack to a kiddie flick! But as another earlier review noted, this is a very different soundtrack. No cartoonish characters singing, no corny Disneyesque sound effects, no sappy film music filler (well, okay, there's a little filler--the last three Hans Zimmer tracks). In short, this is a new Elton John album. Are the tunes still a bit tepid? Well, yes. Does Elton rock out at all? Well, not really (although he tries his best on "16th Century Man"). Nevertheless, I really feel the songs on this set are stronger than anything he's written recently. The slower songs (and, boy, are there a lot of them) are actually quite nice, and I love the duet with Randy Newman (my true idol; I wonder if the duet is a return favor for Elton singing on Newman's Faust record). I find this new EJ cd absolutely listenable; and, to be honest, in the year 2000, with Elton now in his fifties, I'm more that willing to celebrate this fact.

Versatility rules in this soundtrack - the conventional Elton John love-ballad sound doesn't adamantly ring away with stiff sentimentality. It's fresh, fun, and a wonderful makeover from his albums of the `70s. From the energetic start in "El Dorado", to heartfelt poignancy in "Friends Never Say Goodbye", to even amusing "The Lion King" rock in "16th Century Man", it's all a package of musical talent and culture (from Spanish to Native American) that's more than you'd have bargained for (after all, only five of the new eleven songs appeared in the movie)!

And there really isn't anything lacking in the jazz remix of the movie's original "It's Tough To Be A God" - Randy Newman still sparks with fervor in his duet with Elton John, and the bluish instrumentation accompanying it gives the track a sensual conclusion. And "Trust Me" turns out as a very unique track, with the odd sound of Madonna's "Beautiful Stranger" sizzling around.

Of course, Hans Zimmer does a great job on the scoring, along with John Powell - I especially enjoyed "The Ball Game" in "Wonders of the New World" with that modern rugby touch to it. With this much in line, anyone can expect - this is worth its weight in heavy-weight gold!