MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER was Elton John's second great album, following the Old West tales of the concept release TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION. The best song here is the title track, which sounds like a psychotic person speaking incoherent babble from the confines of a mental institution. Perhaps it shows better than any alterna-rock song what the price of excessive self-indulgence is, and I take it as a warning not to use an alcoholic beverage to toast my grandfather on his 95th birthday. This CD, along with TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION, HONKY CHATEAU, GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD, ROCK OF THE WESTIES, and CARIBOU, is one of Elton John's must-own individual CDs.