Ice On Fire (1985)

Elton John’s Ice on Fire is a rollercoaster that swings between the highs of funky disco and the lows of forgettable melodrama. Released in 1985, Ice on Fire continues Elton’s willingness to experiment with different genres, but it doesn’t always hit the mark. This is Elton’s 19th studio album, and it was technically a commercial success. Many online reviews suggest that’s far from the case, but to give credit where credit is due, Elton’s vocal performance is as emotionally deep and strong as ever, and the record can carry a real energy at times.

Kicking off with This Town, we’re thrown into a funky bassline that screams ‘80s disco. It’s fun, it’s catchy, but it lacks that extra punch to make it truly memorable. But if you catch me blasting this song while I’m cooking dinner, mind your own business.

Next up is Cry to Heaven, a melodramatic ballad dripping with synths and atmosphere. It’s your average slow burner, not bad, but not exactly groundbreaking either. Soul Glove adds to my ongoing list of guilty pleasures with its upbeat energy, though it does come off a tad wimpy. But hey, it’s still a jam, and you’ll absolutely catch me playing it poolside.

Now, let’s talk about Nikita. It’s undeniably the album’s most popular song, but is it a little overrated? Perhaps. The lyrics shine in this war-themed track about a forbidden love affair. It’s a pretty atmospheric full-band ballad, but for a song that was so commercially accepted and loved, it really falls further down the list of Elton John “Essentials.”

Too Young brings us another melodramatic ballad, but this time with some interesting melodic twists and dynamic musical crescendos. Elton’s vocals are on point, and those signature backing harmonies are a much-welcome return.

Wrap Her Up dives back into your standard mid-80s disco/funk territory, and while it’s not revolutionary, it could be considered a guilty pleasure. You can’t help but move and groove to it. Elton John and George Michael aren’t doing anything new or unheard of here, but you can’t say they’re doing a disservice with a track like this. It’s fun.

Satellite, on the other hand, feels a bit bland. It’s missing that spark that makes the other tracks memorable. It’s there, and it’s just… kind of just there. Tell Me What the Papers Say has good energy and fits thematically with the rest of the record, but it fails to stand out. It sort of just blends into the background. Candy by the Pound, from what I’ve read online, is one of the “better” tracks of the record, but I actually find it a bit plain. It’s got a nice shuffling rhythm and lots of horn accompaniment that are sonically pleasing to the ear, but it’s not very dynamic and I’d argue it’s a little more on the forgettable end of the record.

Shoot Down the Moon gets the same love and adoration online, but I again just find it missing the mark. It’s one of Elton’s grand, dramatic ballads with compelling lyrics and a dominating vocal performance from the man himself, but I just don’t find myself returning to it. The record ends with The Man Who Never Died, predominantly an instrumental. It doesn’t add too, too much to the record, but I quite enjoy it, and it’s a most welcome addition to your rainy-day playlist.

Overall, Ice on Fire is a mixed bag. It has its moments of brilliance and fun, but it also has more than its fair share of forgettable tunes. It’s worth a listen for die-hard Elton fans and completists, but don’t expect every track to be a hit.

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Highlight Songs:

• This Town

• Soul Glove

• Nikita

• Too Young

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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?

It’s far, far away from being a No Skip Album, but if you’re looking for a small handful of energy and fun, there’s a bit you can pull from Ice on Fire. Every Elton completist should own this one. As for the everyday music listener, feel free to stream it. I wouldn’t go as far as saying skip it altogether, though.

Overall Rating:

2.5 Stars