Out Of The Blue/Discovery - ELO

Advantages: 70's pop perfection
Disadvantages: could never be matched there after

...following year a sell out world tour commenced , based around the album. The album itself was indeed ambitous . Commercially successful , yet independantly grandiose , with a mixture of styles , that blend together so seamlessly . With the different syles being combined , keeping the listener focused on the record would normally be very difficult , however , Lynne did the impossible , and the compostion holds ones attention throughout the duration ...
...Reviewing 17 tracks is out of the question especially if I want to keep your attention , so I’ll pick out my favourite tracks : 1) Concerto for a rainy day ( collectively tracks 10 - 14 incl. ) . With our three weeks of sunshine now past , we look forward to a wet and miserable end of year . But fear not , as ‘Concerto for a rainy day’ will soon cheer you up on such days . Uplifting , upbeat , with some wonderful orchestration thrown in , particularly ... Read review

Advantages: Ambitious and bombastic - but it works brilliantly
Disadvantages: The occasional also-ran

"Out Of The Blue" was an ambitious album that managed to be grandiose yet instantly commercial, and throughout his long career ELO mastermind Jeff Lynne rarely surpassed the achievement. Musically it runs the full gamut of mock-Wagnerian choral and orchestral audio pyrotechnics, but there are plenty of hooks and strong tunes to keep the listener's attention hooked. It's not everybody who would take a ballad like "Wild West Hero" and keep threatening ...
...Berry guitar, bar room piano and sawing cello! Four of the 17 tracks were singles, in order "Turn To Stone", the diehard ELO fan favourite "Mr Blue Sky", "Hero" and "Sweet Talkin' Woman", but several of the other tracks would have fitted the bill equally well. "Across The Border", one example, introduces Mexican-Tijuanan-style brass, and the majestic "Standin' In The Rain" was strong enough to last as a regular stage favourite of the band right up ... Read review

Advantages: Brilliant sounds, virtuoso performance, great Jeff Lynne songs
Disadvantages: What constitutes a band anyway?

...of ‘Let’s Have a Party’ (various including Elvis). ‘It Really Doesn’t Matter At All’ hints of Travelling Wilburys. ‘Melting In The Sun’ could have come from Dylan or Tom Petty. Tracks which are highly typical and reminiscent of ELO at their best (‘Out Of The Blue’ and ‘Discovery’) are ‘Just For Love’, ‘Stranger On A Quiet Street’, ‘Ordinary Dream’ The plot thickens when you consider the history of ELO. The break up when it came appears to have been quite acrimonious. Jeff Lynne went on to record production, including collaboration with members of The Beatles. Various remaining members of the band wanted to continue touring and after a variety of legal battles persisted with the name ELO Part II. As Otis Wilbury, Jeff was also instrumental in putting together, writing the music for and producing the eponymous album ‘The Travelling... Read review

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