Listen Up: Elton John makes splash with 'Diving Board'

• USA TODAY review%3A *** %28out of four%29
• He%27s again working with lyricist Bernie Taupin
• But there aren%27t any clear radio hits in this pop/Americana collection

This must be, what, the sixth or seventh life for Elton John, the once-irrepressible honky cat? In any case, he has landed solidly on his feet once again at age 66. For The Diving Board (*** out of four), his first solo outing in seven years, Elton has longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin back at his side, writing about Oscar Wilde, wanderlust and war vets; his sturdy vocals and spare but sturdy piano melodies are way out in front of a minimalist backing group; and Americana master T Bone Burnett is in the control room.

The result is a stately, at times elegant work that evokes early albums Tumbleweed Connection and Elton John, and his stellar 2010 The Union collaboration with Leon Russell (which Burnett also produced). Though shy on obvious radio hits (somber Home Again is the first single), Diving Board is focused, mature and reflective — and the slightest bit boring. The occasional gospel chorus, slide guitar accent and piano interlude enliven the baroque sound, but fans of chart-topping phases will wish he had leapt into the deep end occasionally. — Jerry Shriver

Download:Oscar Wilde Gets Out, A Town Called Jubilee, Home Again, Voyeur, Take This Dirty Water