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A NEW WORLD RECORDElectric Light OrchestraCrossover Prog3.38 | 343 ratings |
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ZowieZiggy
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Prog Reviewer |
ELO had digested quite well the production of their El Dorado masterpiece and
produced a quite decent follow-up album. So, what about this one ?The first track, "Tightrope" is quite promising at the start (quite similar to "Overture", again) but turns into a convential rock / pop song. Still, it will be one of the best number of this album. "Telephone Line" : is another McCartney oriented wonderful ballad with a fabulous melody. Jeff is really only second to him to write such beauties. Very nice indeed. "Rockaria" like its title indicates is a pure rock'n'roll song like some of the godfathers of the genre could have written (Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry ...) . Of course, the cello / violin makes this one different than just a rock song (but "ROB" had already paved the way). So far, this album is not too bad, but with "Mission" ELO will produce a middle of the road track, a bit boring I must say. "So Fine" is another example of this downhill in quality : it sounds more like a "Grease" type of song (Travolta and Olivia could have made the chorus : Ouh La, Ouh La La !). Totally out of purpose (but Lynne and Olivia will strike again some years later). "Livin Thing" could have deserved a place on El Dorado (sorry to come back with this one, but it is my ELO fave you know ...). Completely melodious and symphonic. Quite poppy as well. Another good number. "Above the Clouds" is a short, mellow track that won't be remembered for the centuries to come. "Do Ya" is a 100% poppy song; but grandeur and nice harmonies are left aside. The album closes with "Shangri-La" : a melancholic ballad, not bad nor great. 100 % supermarket music. Not offending anybody, not interesting anyone. This comment is actually valid for the whole album. I guess Jeff needed a rest so that he can again recover his creativity. He tries though with this one to reach the levels he was used to. But he did not succeed. This album is probably their weaker so far. My advice is to stick with their previous work. Prog orientation is completely gone (but this is not a news). Two stars.
ZowieZiggy |
2/5 |
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