Elton John & Brandi Carlile Who Believes In Angels?
Elton John's collaboration with Brandi Carlile on Who Believes In Angels? arrives as a warm, often triumphant conversation between two generations of songwriters, and critics largely agree it succeeds. Across four professional reviews the record earned a 77.5/100 consensus score, with reviewers praising the vocal partnership and the way classic Elton influences meet Americana and country-gospel threads.
Reviewers consistently point to several best songs on Who Believes In Angels?. “The Rose Of Laura Nyro” is widely cited as an irresistible opener and earworm, while “Never Too Late” and “Who Believes In Angels?” are singled out for hymn-like choruses and emotional sweep. Rock-leaning highlights such as “Swing For The Fences” and reflective closers like “When This Old World Is Done With Me” emerge as standout tracks, praised for marrying radio-friendly AOR sheen with rootsy rock and bittersweet meditations on ageing and mortality.
Critical consensus frames the album as both homage and rejuvenation: reviewers note its nostalgia and celebration of musical peers, yet emphasize fresh energy brought by the duo's chemistry. Some accounts lean into the record's dad-rock pleasures and polished production, while others underline quieter moments of grief and tenderness in Carlile's solo turns and John's piano-led benedictions. Taken together across these professional reviews, Who Believes In Angels? reads as a rewarding, frequently moving collection that balances showmanship with intimate reflection, making a persuasive case for fans wondering whether the album is worth listening to.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Swing For The Fences
3 mentions
"“Swing for the Fences” is an uptempo LGBT+ anthem with a rather chugging melody, fortunately elevated by the passionately unified force of the singers’ voices."— The Independent (UK)
The Rose Of Laura Nyro
4 mentions
"The record opens with “The Rose of Laura Nyro”, a tribute to one of John’s idols"— The Independent (UK)
Never Too Late
4 mentions
"You’ll probably have heard their wholesome, interlocking power balladry in action on the radio-friendly single “Never Too Late”"— The Independent (UK)
“Swing for the Fences” is an uptempo LGBT+ anthem with a rather chugging melody, fortunately elevated by the passionately unified force of the singers’ voices.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
The Rose Of Laura Nyro
Little Richard’s Bible
Swing For The Fences
Never Too Late
You Without Me
Who Believes In Angels?
The River Man
A Little Light
Someone To Belong To
When This Old World Is Done With Me
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 8 critics who reviewed this album
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Critic's Take
Elton John and Brandi Carlile make a winning team on Who Believes In Angels?, and the best songs show why. There is an easy, radio-ready charm to “Never Too Late”, whose echoes of "Tiny Dancer" and hymn-like chorus make it one of the album's standout tracks. Brandi's tender solo “A Little Light” and John's piano closer “When This Old World Is Done With Me” are quietly devastating, the former a maternal lullaby and the latter a grief-soaked benediction. Helen Brown's review revels in the record's old-school, dad-rockin' fun while admiring the moments of real emotional payoff.
Key Points
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“Never Too Late” is the album's most immediate, radio-friendly standout because of its hymn-like chorus and echoes of classic Elton piano rolls.
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The album's core strengths are its old-school AOR charm, heartfelt vocal chemistry, and frank confrontation with ageing and mortality.
Themes
Th
Critic's Take
Elton John and Brandi Carlile make a persuasive case on Who Believes In Angels?, where the best songs - notably “Never Too Late” and “You Without Me” - underline the album's strengths. The record feels reflective yet vigorous, Carlile often foregrounded while Elton's piano and echoing support recall his 1970s heyday. Opener “The Rose Of Laura Nyro” and rockier cuts like “Swing For The Fences” show this is one of Elton's strongest collections in years. The partnership reads as a marriage made in heaven, making the best tracks stand out for their vocal chemistry and rootsy ambition.
Key Points
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The best song highlights Carlile's vocals and intimate indie-folk style, making “You Without Me” stand out.
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The album's core strength is the complementary vocal partnership and a return to Elton's rock and Americana roots.
Themes
Critic's Take
Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s Who Believes In Angels? feels like a heartwarming burst of rejuvenation, with the best songs balancing sweep and spark. The review singles out “Swing For The Fences” as the best duet, a rhinestone-rock splurge that captures youthful exuberance, while ballads like “Never Too Late” and “Who Believes in Angels” are praised as sweeping statements about making the most of life. The opener “The Rose Of Laura Nyro” is likened to a modern Candle in the Wind tribute, and Carlile’s quiet “You Without Me” shows off intimate indie-folk shades. Overall, the album’s best tracks mix classic Elton gestures with fresh reflection, making these the clear best songs on Who Believes In Angels?.
Key Points
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“Swing For The Fences” is the best song because it is called the best duet and praised as a youthfully upbeat, rhinestone-rock highlight.
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The album’s core strengths are its reflective ballads and classic Elton gestures reimagined through rejuvenated collaboration.
Themes
Critic's Take
Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s Who Believes In Angels? feels like a rejuvenation, equal parts homage and renewal, with the opener “The Rose Of Laura Nyro” standing out as the obvious standout and earworm. The review savours the stomping “Little Richard’s Bible” and the pensive title track “Who Believes In Angels?” for their energy and moral weight, while the closing “When This Old World Is Done With Me” supplies moving, unsentimental reflection on mortality. The reviewer’s tone is celebratory but measured, treating the record as both a career highlight for Carlile and a late flourish for John.
Key Points
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The opener "The Rose Of Laura Nyro" is best for its magnificent, earworm arrangement and standout harmonies.
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The album’s core strengths are equal partnership, reverent pastiche, and thoughtful reflections on mortality.