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10.0
58858
10.0 |
The Independent
An album that may be the best of his career
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9.0
58852
9.0 |
Uncut
An impressively strong set of songs, diverse in both lyrical themes and musical styles
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8.0
59289
8.0 |
Paste Magazine
The man cut his teeth decades ago and now it seems he’s just having fun
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8.0
58877
8.0 |
The Observer
Throughout, he remains the master of bluesy honky-tonking and surprising modulations that he always has been
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8.0
58883
8.0 |
Evening Standard
There are no obvious hits here, just solid craftsmanship — mature vocals and plenty of piano moments — just don’t bother with the lyrics
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8.0
58839
8.0 |
The Guardian
An album that strikes a perfect blend of maturity and freshness
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8.0
58841
8.0 |
Rolling Stone
With The Diving Board, Elton has regained his sense of musical possibility and taken a brave, graceful jump
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7.5
59083
7.5 |
The Line Of Best Fit
Whether it’s his best album ever, that’s yet to be discovered. Perhaps in a few years, via the wonder of hindsight, this could well be up there with his early ’70s LP
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7.0
59323
7.0 |
PopMatters
With The Diving Board and all its relaxed, appealing textures, John has rediscovered his roots, and managed to bring his career full circle
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7.0
58838
7.0 |
musicOMH
The rich history which The Diving Board draws on also slightly undermines it: there is certainly nothing bad here yet so much of it has been done by Elton before
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7.0
58840
7.0 |
Clash
An adult affair, but impressive enough to explore, and reinforces Elton’s continuing creative renaissance
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7.0
59038
7.0 |
The Digital Fix
This is so very nearly a full return to form; some tracklist editing would have done it wonders
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6.0
59046
6.0 |
The Arts Desk
All in all it’s been a good year for the UK plc’s rocking codgers. After Bowie and Rod, and the Stones’ latest apparition, Elton’s still got something to say, so long as Taupin has too
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6.0
59075
6.0 |
NME
An unusually thoughtful album in contemporary pop music terms
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6.0
58842
6.0 |
Time Out
There probably isn’t a song here that will make anyone’s Elton Top Ten, but that’s not to say John and his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin are all out of magic
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6.0
59388
6.0 |
Consequence Of Sound
The union of John, Taupin, and Burnett stands out by being the best way for John to sound like he’s doing it entirely by himself
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6.0
59180
6.0 |
All Music
There is much that is admirable about The Diving Board but the emphasis on tone over song means it leaves only wistful wisps of melancholia behind with the actual songs seeming like faded, distant memories
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6.0
58854
6.0 |
Mojo
He sounds comfortable singing songs that carry the weight of experience. Print edition only
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4.0
58856
4.0 |
Q
Widescreen lyrics paired with waddling blues and maudlin balladry. Print edition only
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3.0
59222
3.0 |
Drowned In Sound
We must demand more from those musical giants who have earned our love and adoration over the years, and if they can’t hack it on record anymore, they need to stop diluting the catalogue
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