Leather Jackets (1986)

Elton John’s Leather Jackets embodies a curious contrast, blending moments of infectious energy with formulaic tendencies and melodramatic clichés. Elton’s mid-80s sound is a mixed bag, from funky basslines to heartfelt ballads, and this record runs through both the mids and lows of his musical expression.

Leather Jackets kicks off with the funky basslines, synths, and horn accents that have defined this stage of Elton’s sound. While catchy and upbeat, it feels somewhat formulaic. Hoop of Fire succumbs to melodrama, a recurring theme in Elton’s mid-80s work. Don’t Trust That Woman combines synth-pop with Caribbean elements, reminiscent of Island Girl, though not executed as successfully. And before anyone comes at me with Island Girl hate… I stand by it. Great song. Be more fun.

Go It Alone amps up the rock energy, reminiscent of an 80s car-chase soundtrack. It may not be trademark Elton, but it undeniably kicks ‘some’ ass. Is it as fun as Top Gun icon Danger Zone? No, but it gives a similar feel.

While many hail Gypsy Heart as the standout of the record, it’s just one of the melodramatic ballads on the album. Although the more I listen to that song, the more I contradict those feelings. The signature Elton band backing vocals are strong, as are the piano chord progressions. Again, I conflictingly find it more and more enjoyable on every listen.

Slow Rivers and Memory of Love follow suit, feeling again like copy-paste melodrama clichés. Heartache All Over the World attempts an anthemic energy but falls slightly short. Angeline is bluesy but lacks the personality of early Elton blues songs, despite its energy. Paris lands in the middle ground, a forgettable yet pleasant 80s tune. And finally, I Fall Apart makes minimal impact, blending once again into the rinse-repeat melodrama of the album.

Leather Jackets offers brief moments of pleasantry amidst formulaic tendencies and melodramatic clichés. It’s a mixed bag that shows off Elton’s versatility but struggles to leave a lasting impression. It’s nowhere near as hard to sit through as Victim of Love, but in this recent run of records, it’s not very strong.

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Highlight Songs:

• Gypsy Heart

• Don’t Trust That Woman

• Go It Alone

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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?

As an Elton completist, I own this record. With an alright-looking cover, it’s welcome in my collection. That said, there really isn’t any essential listening on it. I’d suggest streaming it just for the knowledge and insight of what Leather Jackets is, but you could save your money for other albums. Is it as bad and unlistenable as most everyone says online? No, not at all. But it’s for sure close to the bottom in the album rankings.

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Overall Rating:

2 Stars