ELDORADO

El Dorado is an album of firsts, including the first ELO concept album and the first time ELO hired an orchestra. The theme here is that of being preoccupied with fantasy and a longing desire to leave the ordinary. It is therefore one of ELO's most cohesive, romanticist albums and, unsurprisingly, very enjoyable.

"El Dorado Overture" The dreamy orchestra opens with strings and a science-fiction voiceover from the early days of television. The music grows more dramatic until it flutters into something recognizably like the Electric Light Orchestra.

"Can't Get it Out of My Head" A title that, for me, may well describe a large number of ELO songs, represents one of the band's most beautiful, dreamy pieces. The wistful vocals during the verse describe a Walter Mitty-like everyman daydreaming, enjoying several romanticist visions during his mundane job at a city bank. Perhaps Robin Hood, William Tell, Ivanhoe, and Lancelot would have envied his relatively peaceful life and air conditioning- who is to say? I cherish the romantic nostalgia of this song, as I have fond memories listening to it many times on that bargain bin six-song compilation disc my brother bought me for Christmas when we were kids.

"Boy Blue" And on that bargain bin six-song compilation album that my brother bought me for Christmas when we were kids was "Boy Blue." It was, unbeknownst to me at the time, edited, cutting out the baroque horns and dreamy symphonic strings in the introduction, launching directly into the repeated rock riff over changing chords that signifies the start of the song proper. I loved it, and was mystified when I heard the full version- I mean, it was so cool to hear it unedited. "Boy Blue" sits among my favorite ELO songs, with its jubilant tone and upbeat nature. After the first vocal section, the dreamy atmosphere returns with sweet violin and piano. The lyrics describe the homecoming of a war hero, who, disillusioned with the grandeur or honor of war, proclaims to the people that he never wants to fight again. So much orchestration takes place behind the upcoming series of verses. Plucked strings bounce around whimsical violin and slide guitar, welcoming the enthusiastic refrain.

"Laredo Tornado" This slightly Old West-flavored song features a strong Jeff Lynne vocal performance. While not complex, it has a pleasant string arrangement and a moderate foot-patting goodness.

"Poorboy (The Greenwood)" This short pop song relays the protagonist's imagining himself as a part of Robin Hood's band of merry men. Strings and choir spiral and stomp at the end.

"Mister Kingdom" Beginning with an unassuming vocal and minimal instrumentation, this distrait piece has the daydreamer imagining all manner of scenarios, like rainbows' ends and flying away from the city. The song has a wonderful symphonic motif.

"Nobody's Child" "Nobody's Child" initially reprises the orchestral theme of "Boy Blue" before easing into a blues-based, show tune-like number. The lyrics seem to indicate an illusory seductress.

"Illusions In G Major" The misleading title represents a song that is one of ELO's Chuck Berry-inspired tunes. In a roundabout way, I think I can relate to the lyrics, as they seem to describe the elusive nature dreams have on our creativity; I myself have heard songs in my dreams that sound like a band I enjoy (I have heard such material from Kansas, Seven Nations, and The Mars Volta), but are not really songs by those bands. Then upon waking, I can recall the music for about four seconds before it fades away. I wish I could write it down.

"El Dorado" Returning to the pensiveness of "Can't Get it Out of My Head," the title track makes great use of the strings and the choir. The lead vocals have an old country and western vibe to them (like Elvis), describing how the protagonist has fallen in love with his dreams and wishes to remain there, forsaking the humdrum nature of his life.

"El Dorado- Finale" Revisiting the opener, this is more intense, with heavy orchestral music and the fat, silky choir.