Wonderful Crazy Night
by Elton John
  • Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Feb 5, 2016
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. Drowned In Sound
    Feb 12, 2016
    60
    Everything about Wonderful Crazy Night is utterly predictable, from its subject matter to its comprising 100% mid-tempo ballads, be they boogie-woogie piano (‘Looking Up’, ‘England and America’) or acoustic guitar lighter than a Peter Kay show (‘I’ve Got 2 Wings’, ‘Tambourine’). But despite this--and perhaps in no small part thanks to T Bone Burnett adding a lovely warm country tinge in the production--none of it grates.
  2. musicOMH.com
    Feb 8, 2016
    60
    Yes, it’s Elton John by numbers, but it’s his talent as a songwriter that has solidified his stature in popular music and that wide appeal will only be further cemented by Wonderful Crazy Night.
  3. The Observer (UK)
    Feb 8, 2016
    60
    Even Elton-sceptics can take solace in how producer T-Bone Burnett continues to improve the veteran piano man by filling the interstices of his work with detail, rendering songs such as the rather good Claw Hammer at least 43% more nuanced.
  5. Billboard.com
    Feb 5, 2016
    60
    It sounds good on paper, but the album unfolds as an undifferentiated wash of music, without the big toothsome melodies that have lifted John's music for decades.
  6. AllMusic
    Feb 5, 2016
    60
    Often, the tunes appear to be handsome constructions--grand, stately, and well appointed--but their foundations are shaky, constructed from threadbare melodies and words that dissipate not long after they land.
  7. Q Magazine
    Feb 4, 2016
    60
    While Wonderful Crazy Night lacks a truly great Elton John song, he sounds more driven than he has in years. [Mar 2016, p.108]
    All this publication's reviews
  8. Record Collector
    Feb 1, 2016
    60
    A couple of duds: No Monsters telegraphs its Lennon-esque references, while England & America is pointless dad-rock. Everything else works.
  9. Consequence
    Feb 8, 2016
    42
    Under the production of John and T-Bone Burnett (back again after The Diving Board), the instrumentation on Wonderful Crazy Night is glossy yet separate, as if each part was recorded in its own high-end echo chamber. As a result, none of it sounds unified--more high-fidelity karaoke mix than a band that’s playing together.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 29
  3. Negative: 7 out of 29
  1. jimmypowder
    Feb 8, 2016
    3
    Having grown up on Elton's masterworks during the 70's ,I tried to listen to this album .

    I just can't get past how bad his voice is now    Having grown up on Elton's masterworks during the 70's ,I tried to listen to this album .

    I just can't get past how bad his voice is now relative to his prime days with Bernie Taupin .

    Well i tried the first few songs and I give up .Long live Elton!    … Full Review »
  2. Psikolog
    Apr 2, 2016
    9
    I enjoyed listening to all songs except one and Elton John's voice is legendary as always. It's one of the best albums of the year, it doesn'tI enjoyed listening to all songs except one and Elton John's voice is legendary as always. It's one of the best albums of the year, it doesn't aim for producing hits or anything like this so it's understandable that its peak position at Billboard 200 is #8. Overall, Wonderful Crazy Night is a pretty good album both lyrically and musically.… Full Review »
  3. clancyde
    Mar 18, 2016
    10
    Absolutely a Wonderful Crazy Album and I am SOOOOO glad Elton John keeps at it cause goodness knows he doesn't have to! He thinks of his dieAbsolutely a Wonderful Crazy Album and I am SOOOOO glad Elton John keeps at it cause goodness knows he doesn't have to! He thinks of his die hard fans and for that I am grateful.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »