Breaking Hearts (1984)

Elton John’s Breaking Hearts unfolds as a slight step back in quality after the “comeback” of Too Low for Zero. That said, this record is still a diverse run through rock, ballads, and the unmistakable essence of the mid-80s. With a keen ear for musical intricacies, Elton lays out a timeless classic, some underrated deep cuts, and his trademark vocal flair.

Restless is your classic mid-‘80s rock song with the perfect blend of guitar and synth accents. It keeps a steady rhythm and energy, and it’s overall a very solid outing for Elton. Slow Down Georgie tries to capture the classic Elton sound with bluesy pop energy. It works on various levels, but there’s a sense it’s missing that x-factor. The chorus, despite the strength of the verses, feels somewhat underwhelming.

Who Wears These Shoes? to me is a massive standout with its half-time beat, excellent guitar work, and funky bass line. It’s a personal favorite that deviates from Elton’s usual style, with foot-tapping and singable qualities as strong as ever. The self-titled track, Breaking Hearts, aims for a lyrical focus, conveying the essence of love in its time. While sonically beautiful, it falls a bit flat for me, since I lack a personal connection to the lyrics.

Lil Frigerator brings back the energy, a much-needed lift. While it embodies the cookie-cutter 80s rock style, trying to channel the energy of past decades, it doesn’t hit all the marks. The saxophone addition is a highlight, though.

Passengers competes with Warm Love in a Cold World for Elton’s worst song in his discography. It falls short without any redemption. It’s fun at least? No… no it is not. Stay away. Stay far away. It takes the cake as the worst-ranked reviewed song on this whole site.

In Neon is a solid ¾-time power ballad that works better than most of the songs so far on this record. Great backing harmonies, a subtle twang, and excellent vocals lift this one. Burning Buildings feels like Elton channeling the power ballads of Captain Fantastic. Successful in moments, but it ends up middle of the road, not fully hitting the mark.

Did He Shoot Her? is a major guilty pleasure of mine, filled with ’80s musical clichés yet undeniably fun and catchy. The backing harmonies on the chorus are memorable and get stuck in my head all the time.

Lastly, Sad Songs (Say So Much) is the gem of the album. Sad Songs made the setlist for Elton’s final tour, and it shined bright with a rearranged bump in tempo and energy. It’s so damn good. Unbelievable danceability and out-of-this-world backing harmonies make it one of the most enjoyable songs in his entire catalog.

This is a solid, middle-of-the-road Elton John record. There’s quality in there and some forgettable moments as well. Also… one deeply… deeply painful track… yes, Passengers, I’m talking to you.

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Highlight Songs:

• Sad Songs (Say So Much)

• Who Wears These Shoes?

• Did He Shoot Her?

• Restless

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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?

Tough call, because it’s a pretty good-looking album cover, but you could probably get away with just streaming it. It’s not one to skip at all, as there are definitely top-quality songs interspersed throughout that you should save.

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Overall Rating:

3 Stars