Elton John's entry into the rock-disco sweepstakes comes a year too late to make much of an impact. Moreover, Victim of Love doesn't contain any John songs: producer Pete Bellotte, best known for his work with Donna Summer, did most of the writing here, except for a mummified version of "Johnny B. Goode" that's too slow for dancing. Only two of the new numbers, the title tune and "Thunder in the Night," have catchy melodies. Otherwise, the album is empty of ideas.

The style here is anonymous, derivative, Los Angeles-cum-Munich pop disco with no climaxes, no interesting instrumental breaks, no novel twists whatsoever. Either John and Bellotte couldn't think of anything better to do than echo the synthesizer hook of Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" or they just wanted to get the product out in a hurry. Doesn't matter. Victim of Love hasn't a breath of life.

“Time to Pretend”

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”