Advantages: Some reasonable songs Disadvantages: A predictable retread of the old formula
When various Christian Fundamentalist sects in the US accused ELO of being devil-worshippers and inserting satanic 'secret messages' in their songs, Jeff Lynne was inspired to write, record and produce a double album sending the fools up. Although their previous two albums had topped the UK chart, the record company refused to endorse a double album at that time on the grounds of expense. Some of the songs were left in the can, a few reappearing ... ...pruned single album was what was left. At its best, it represents the ELO we knew and loved most of the time. "Rock'n'Roll Is King" might be an over-formularised rewrite of "Hold On Tight" and similar hits, but it still sounded good on the radio and on stage, and "Four Little Diamonds" is a reasonable song in similar vein. On the other hand the title track sounds like a poor man's Supertramp, and "Train Of Gold" as if Jeff was still trying to rewrite ...
JOHNV 13.08.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Secret Messages - ELO
|
![Back In Black [DualDisc] - AC/DC](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/505/prod_small-6303505.jpg)
![Appetite For Destruction [PA] - Guns N' Roses](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/237/prod_small-44237.jpg)
![River Is Wide, The [Remastered] - Forum (The)](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/251/prod_small-6006251.jpg)
![101 [SACD] - Depeche Mode](http://imagesa.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/598/prod_small-43598.jpg)
