Electric Light Orchestra - Zoom
	Released: 2001 Label: Epic Cat. No.: EK 85336 Total Time: 43:37
	Reviewed by: Clayton Walnum, February 2002 Whether you want to call ELO progressive or not, depends on your viewpoint, I suppose. The group doesn't put together long, intricate arrangements, and they definitely rely on pop hooks and melodies to make their point. However, in the early days, ELO was a ground-breaking group whose members played not only the typical electric instrumentation for a rock band, but also traditional stringed instruments such as violin and cello. Still, they definitely had, and still have, a pop sound. The truth is, however, that Jeff Lynne, who is the driving force behind ELO (and, let's face it, is really all of ELO on this album), is one great songwriter. This album overflows with terrific pop-rock songs, many of them very Beatle-ish in nature, which is typical of ELO's sound to some extent. Unfortunately, the great songs just make it all the more disappointing that the recording quality of this album is so poor. All of the tracks sound dark and muddy, lacking crispness and presence. This fact is strange considering Jeff Lynne's extensive experience in the studio -- so strange that I wondered for a moment whether my equipment was malfunctioning. Nothing, short of a bad performance, ruins an album for me more than bad production. While I'm often willing to give bands on a low budget the benefit of the doubt, ELO can afford the best and has no excuse for turning out an album that is listenable only if you have a good equalizer attached to your stereo equipment. Whatever has happened to Jeff Lynne's ears? More about Zoom: Track Listing: Alright (3:11) / Moment In Paradise (3:36) / State Of Mind (3:05) / Just For Love (3:39) / Stranger On A Quiet Street (3:40) / In My Own Time (3:04) / Easy Money (2:51) / It Really Doesn't Matter (3:20) / Ordinary Dream (3:23) / A Long Time Gone (3:15) / Melting In The Sun (3:10) / All She Wanted (3:14) / Lonesome Lullaby (4:06) Musicians: Jeff Lynne - plays just about everything Contact: Website: www.elomusic.com Note: will open new browser window Discography No Answer (1972) On The Third Day (1973) Electric Light Orchestra 2 (1973) Eldorado (1975) Face the Music (1975) Olé ELO (1976) A New World Record (1976) Out Of The Blue (1977) ELO's Greatest Hits (1979) Discovery (1979) Time (1981) Secret Messages (1983) Balance Of Power (1986) Afterglow (1990) (3-cd boxed set) ELO's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (1995) Strange Music: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra (1995) Flashback (2000) (3-cd boxed set) Zoom (2001) ELO 2: Lost Planet (2003) The Essential Electric Light Orchestra (2003) ELO Classics (2003) Early Years (2004) ELO, Part II: Greatest Hits (2004) Collection: Face The Music/A New World Records/Discovery Critical Review 1970-1973 (2005) All Over The World: The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra (2005)
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