ON THE THIRD DAY

This release features the same type of ELO sound that was showcased on their first 2 albums, but with more pop leanings. There is some very fine music here: "New World Rising/Ocean Breakup", "Daybreaker", "Dreaming of 4000". However, there are also some weaker tracks that tend to bore me: "Bluebird is Dead", "Oh No Not Susan". "Ma-ma Belle" is probably their first hit besides "Roll Over Beethoven". Overall, this record has never struck me as a less-than impressive follow-up to the much finer release of ELO II. But, the production on this album is crisper and cleaner than the first 2 ELO albums. I can't rate this more than 3 stars. It is not bad, not good, just average.