A more perfect Union 3 Out of 5 Stars
I guess if you knew that Leon Russell has been recording music all decade long, you might feel a bit put out that Elton seems to be telling everyone how he is rescuing the guy. Perhaps, and he's made mention about "getting Leon a better touring bus," so maybe it will be nice to see Russell getting his due. On the other hand, this overdone, overbaked cake seems to be trying to lionize where a simple spotlight might have done the job.
There's just too much going on here, and too often, for me to really enjoy "The Union." Both Elton and Leon seem in fine voice, and the opening "If It Wasn't For Bad" starts things on a high note. But soon, you realize that the whole thing feels like some kind of tribute, and not a collaboration. The endless vamping, the constant gospel choruses, the lack of anything uptempo, and "The Union" crawls into dirgeland. "Gone To Shiloh" breaks out if only because Neil Young's voice pierces through the fog to punctuate a song about the pain of war on the family of the soldier.
There are good songs to be found on "The Union" if you have the patience. "I Should Have Sent Roses" is a good interplay between the artists, and "In The Hands Of Angels" is the kind of classic Elton used to knock off in his sleep, yet Russel wrote for the album. Which probably proves Elton's point after all; As an influence, maybe Leon Russell gave more to Elton than most of us knew. Too bad that, on "The Union," they fail to catch fire.
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