Rush + Santana + King Crimson - Yes = Mars Volta

Have the album at work. It's admirable and well-made, but they're consciously trying to recapture the early-70's hunger and passion of the first Captain record. That makes this one feel a bit forced,but still much better than many of his post-70's albums.

I wish he'd dirty up the production a bit, too. No matter how much Elton stays abreast of modern music privately, the recordings seem to always turn out AC-purty.

A- for intention

C+ for execution

wait wait wait

Elton John was good?

Yeah, but I'm looking for specific 2006 songs that sound specifically like specific icons. Not a breakdown of influences.

Oh for fucks sake

This from a Hall & Oates apologist...

Specific Elton John was as good as good could get. Lots of his work is b.s., but Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy is not.

wait wait wait

The Mars Volta have individual songs

There's that "Televators" tune. That was a specific song. Gets a bit iffy after that.

That's a stretch.

I'm more of a Daryl Hall apologist

Oates has always been dead weight

Unfortunately, I'll never be able to give Elton John a fair shake due to being exposed to the song Crocodile Rock in my office every day for almost a year.

Dead weight? The man's moustache alone vindicates him, placing right up there with that dude from Blue Oyster Cult.

he got rid of the mustache in the late 90s

then there's this:

Ignore most of his work past 1980, save for specific tracks like"American Trilogy," but albums like Madman Across The Water, Captain Fantastic and Blue Moves have many tracks that are not "Crocodile Rock," much. Nope.

Also, the self-titled debut is pretty great, too.

That's okay. I'm a Robert Palmer apologist. Works two ways: I apologize for his rank shit and occasionally mention certain stuff that's really good. Makes my wife happy when I defend one of her men.

What, no Gentle Giant.

Gentle Giant kick Volta's ass.

....as well as many other asses !