The Diving Board
| Elton John
The Diving Board
The Diving Board is the twenty-ninth studio album by British singer-songwriter Elton John. It is the second of his studio releases since 1979's Victim of Lovewithout any of his regular band members. The album was released in the United Kingdom on 16 September 2013, and debuted at No. 3 on the UK album chart, his highest-charting studio album in that country since 2001's Songs from the West Coast, and at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. It is also his highest-charting solo album in the United States since Blue Moves in 1976. However, after just eight weeks the album fell off the charts completely. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Rolling Stone
The album is more focused than anything he’s done in years..
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Consequence of Sound
These are short stories set to song, rather than the pop songs he’s proven so capable of in the past, but they also lack the personal touch to enliven the subjects. C minus.
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The Line of Best Fit
In the current, fresh context, while it’s good – very good – it’s not going to sit next to those essential albums just yet.
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The Guardian
It's an album that strikes a perfect blend of maturity and freshness.
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Clash Music
‘The Diving Board’ is an adult affair, but impressive enough to explore, and reinforces Elton’s continuing creative renaissance.
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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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Independent
Elton makes a splash with a great return to form.
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Louder than War
He will never again be the man who, along with his partner in crime Taupin, wrote ‘Teacher I Need You’. But he’s still bloody good at what he does.
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Timeout
It's too long and a bit comfy, but there are still some classic Elton moments here.
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Uncut
The rocket man returns to his very best on 30th LP.
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NME
Unusually thoughtful but morbid.
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All Music
The feel is spacious and haunting, the ambition is commendable.
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What Culture
Something precious enough to warrant a spot in your iTunes library.
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Uproxx
Elton John’s ‘The Diving Board’ proves the perfect platform.
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Cinch Review
He certainly proves that at the age of 66 he still has that which he’s always had, namely a plainly miraculous gift for a pop melody and hook.
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AZ Central
There are no obvious attempts at singles and no flashy guest stars, just John and a small group of musicians playing a set of songs that that aren’t fitted with huge pop hooks but reveal themselves over time.
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Music OMH
That The Diving Board is very good is an achievement in itself, even if it seems certain to be quickly forgotten by listeners eager to hear Your Song for the billionth time.
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Omaha
Weak songs mar Elton John's album.
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Brent Music Reviews
Elton John Doesn’t Miss A Beat on His Latest.
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Herald Extra
I've been listening to it for weeks.
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Mimo
he Diving Board may not be the absolute best of his career, but it certainly could be the most meaningful.
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Montreal Gazette
It’s heartening to see Sir Elton go back to basics with a small core band.
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Vintage Rock
There’s lots going on here even though the production is simple. I’d put it among one of Elton John’s best efforts in recent years, and quite possibly of his entire career.
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Record Collector Mag
The voice is deeper and more sonorous than it was 40 years ago.
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Post and Courier
It’s a better role for him than trying to reclaim his youth.
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Audiophile Review
I've been enjoying Elton's later period resurgence and The Diving Board sits nicely alongside fine albums like Songs From The West Coast (2001) and his 2010 collaboration with Leon Russell, The Union.
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Express
ELTON JOHN is so much a part of our sensibility that we need a neologism for “national treasure” to do him justice.
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She Knows
The Diving Board is Elton John’s first solo album in seven years — and the wait has been worth it.
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The Great Albums
It’s an interesting listen while it’s playing, but the songs aren’t catchy enough to make this album one you’re likely to come back to all that often.
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Skiddle
He has aged graciously from a musical perspective.
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