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Post by coathanger on Aug 13, 2019 16:12:23 GMT
I have a very defined sequence of ELO by era so as was wondering what others felt?
'The Electric Light Orchestra' is obviously out on its own being the most innovative and unusual amongst the collection.
'ELO2' and 'On The Third Day' I regard as similar although there is a progression to a more electric sound with OTTD.
'Eldorado' is a bit of a transition although one of my favourites with its conceptual (lyrical and compositional) approach and Louis Clark's input I see as very noticeable here.
'Face The Music', 'A New World Record' and 'Out Of The Blue' I class as a tryptic with the obvious influence of Kelly Groucutt and more modern synthesisers prevalent and have some of the most catchy tunes in the catalogue, although OOTB strains with filler to a greater extent.
'Discovery' onwards is the last era where the pretence of a band structure more or less disappeared completely so i'm not too bothered from there on although I did quite like one or two tunes from the most recent Jeff Lynne solo album which got listed (erroneously in my opinion) as ELO. He can stand on his own two feet and didn't need to do that. 😉
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Post by orioles70 on Aug 14, 2019 18:13:29 GMT
when I want to pick out an album to listen to, I tend to think about which ELO sound I'm in the mood for and I generally agree with how you've grouped them
but I would group Discovery and Xanadu together as the "peak Disco" era.
TIME stands as a thing of it's own. Play any song except perhaps Hold on Tight and it's easy to place as coming from TIME.
Secret Messages and BOP are similar in sound.
Zoom is a bit of a throwback - seems most similar to Armchair Theatre.
Alone in the Universe is another one that stands alone - doesn't seem similar to the rest of the catalog. Except perhaps "When I was a Boy" which is a Beatlesque pop tune that could fit in with the FTM,ANWR,OOTB trio.
and why not start earlier with the Idle Race and Move material. Jeff had some nice rockers back then, piano driven melodies and more Beatlesque stuff very interesting to hear the early genesis of themes that appear throughout the ELO cataglog dressed up in different moods or different levels of string accompaniment
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Post by queenofthehours on Sept 30, 2019 19:00:22 GMT
I'd group the albums like this but I'm having trouble explaining why! - The Electric Light Orchestra / ELO 2 / On the Third Day - these albums are all about experimentation and might not be at the top of anyone's album list. I feel I have to work hardest when listening to these.
Eldorado / Face the Music - more confidence here and more accessible songs. Lots of ideas and they are carried out perfectly. A New World Record / Out of the Blue - by now the band have found their best style, their niche.
Discovery / Xanadu - ELO's peak perhaps. You certainly can't get anymore accessible than these albums.
Time / Secret Messages / Balance of Power - sophisticated 80s
Zoom / Alone in the Universe / From Out of Nowhere - the new era
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Post by disgruntledfilament on Oct 13, 2019 21:57:17 GMT
One of ELO's most unique facets is that Lynne and co. were continually experimenting with new popular musical trends, technology, recording methods and bandmembers in significant ways between years, which gives each of their albums a distinctly different feel - each presents a mildly different (yet still largely recognizable) rendition of the band, and that yields a variety I appreciate. If I were to approximate, however:
No Answer - unique from its successors due to ubiquitous presence of Roy Wood's vocals and signature chugging cello riffs, the use of woodwinds ("Look at Me Now") and higher ubiquity of purely instrumental tracks.
ELO 2 and On the Third Day - the band attempts to form a clear identity under Lynne's sole leadership, leading to a series of odd experiments and a lean towards more prog-rock-styled overtones with an inclination towards longer tracks ("Kuiama") and a heavy use of the Minimoog synthesizer (which is actually very noticeable across these two albums, particularly Third Day, if you recognize its basic sound).
Eldorado/Face the Music - a transitional period between the band's more orchestral roots and the Beatles-esque work of its prime, where the more complex arrangements of previous albums are gradually superseded by shorter tracks with a more hook-based (and therefore catchier) structure.
Face the Music/A New World Record/Out of the Blue - the prime of the group, notable for its energetic disposition, Beatles-inspired riffs, soaring string arrangements (the multitracked string section on "Out of the Blue" is one of the album's greatest assets and provides its tracks with an appealing grandiosity/ and vibrancy) and increasingly conspicuous disco-inspired elements.
Discovery/Xanadu - the group directly confronts the disco craze by adopting a more 'crystalline' keyboard-founded sound. The Lynne/Groucutt harmonies notably reach their crux here.
Time - closer relation to Discovery than its successors, but remains in its own unique category due to its softer, more 'open-air' and spacey tone (almost evoking a hybrid of Paul McCartney and the Buggles).
Secret Messages - notable for its more down-to-earth and ballad-focused (with an underlying surreal edge) tone with heavy use of bright-sounding early '80s keyboards and a grimier aesthetic in line with the grungier sound evoked by its pop contemporaries.
Electric Dreams/Balance of Power - the dying breath of the original ELO, defined by a lighter (essentially non-orchestral) sound and more streamlined aesthetic ('slimmed-down' is probably the most suitable technical term here).
Zoom - Lynne's attempt at evoking the more acoustically-founded feel of his 70s work.
Alone in the Universe/Out of Nowhere - notable for their more subdued sound and greater tendency toward a 'ballad'-esque tone.
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Post by moon on Oct 16, 2019 3:09:23 GMT
Mmmmm let's see let's see...
- ELO/ELO 2/On The Third Day: I agree that these are experimental albums, with long songs and maybe a harder sound, but not the greatest
- ElDorado: A unique piece by itself. The first conceptual album, a different experience, so it's maybe a little apart from the rest
- Face The Music/A New World Record/Out Of The Blue: The three albums with the most classical line-up, aaaaand the years with the biggest number of well-known songs
- Discovery/Xanadu: The disco days, the string section disbanded, the most comercial moments...
- Time/Secret Messages/Balance Of Power: From the same decade, but so different between them. Time, another conceptual album, Secret Messages, when they were three, and Balance Of Power...well...
- Zoom: Another unique piece, in the middle of everything, just there, alone, in 2001...
- Alone In The Universe/From Out Of Nowhere: The newest, most quiet albums maybe, with sweet tunes and great songs. I can't put them with Zoom, even when it was something about Jeff and Richard, because of the time they were -or wil be- released
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Post by Timeblue on Oct 16, 2019 8:16:37 GMT
Mmmmm let's see let's see...
- ELO/ELO 2/On The Third Day: I agree that these are experimental albums, with long songs and maybe a harder sound, but not the greatest
- ElDorado: A unique piece by itself. The first conceptual album, a different experience, so it's maybe a little apart from the rest
- Face The Music/A New World Record/Out Of The Blue: The three albums with the most classical line-up, aaaaand the years with the biggest number of well-known songs
- Discovery/Xanadu: The disco days, the string section disbanded, the most comercial moments...
- Time/Secret Messages/Balance Of Power: From the same decade, but so different between them. Time, another conceptual album, Secret Messages, when they were three, and Balance Of Power...well...
- Zoom: Another unique piece, in the middle of everything, just there, alone, in 2001...
- Alone In The Universe/From Out Of Nowhere: The newest, most quiet albums maybe, with sweet tunes and great songs. I can't put them with Zoom, even when it was something about Jeff and Richard, because of the time they were -or wil be- released
This is more or less how I'd define the group's history too, a good synopsis Moon....
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Post by tremblinwilbury on Oct 16, 2019 8:21:06 GMT
Mmmmm let's see let's see...
- ELO/ELO 2/On The Third Day: I agree that these are experimental albums, with long songs and maybe a harder sound, but not the greatest
- ElDorado: A unique piece by itself. The first conceptual album, a different experience, so it's maybe a little apart from the rest
- Face The Music/A New World Record/Out Of The Blue: The three albums with the most classical line-up, aaaaand the years with the biggest number of well-known songs
- Discovery/Xanadu: The disco days, the string section disbanded, the most comercial moments...
- Time/Secret Messages/Balance Of Power: From the same decade, but so different between them. Time, another conceptual album, Secret Messages, when they were three, and Balance Of Power...well...
- Zoom: Another unique piece, in the middle of everything, just there, alone, in 2001...
- Alone In The Universe/From Out Of Nowhere: The newest, most quiet albums maybe, with sweet tunes and great songs. I can't put them with Zoom, even when it was something about Jeff and Richard, because of the time they were -or wil be- released
This is more or less how I'd define the group's history too, a good synopsis Moon.... I'm with Timeblue on this - that's how I would categorise ELO to date. Thank you moon.
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Post by pelo on Oct 16, 2019 12:06:28 GMT
- Alone In The Universe/From Out Of Nowhere: The newest, most quiet albums maybe, with sweet tunes and great songs. I can't put them with Zoom, even when it was something about Jeff and Richard, because of the time they were -or wil be- released
The newest, most quiet albums? Have you listened to the entire FOON album already? The title track that I am familiar with is actually quite fast-paced and more powerful than anything on AITU.
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Post by pelo on Oct 16, 2019 12:18:03 GMT
- ElDorado: A unique piece by itself. The first conceptual album, a different experience, so it's maybe a little apart from the rest
- Time/Secret Messages/Balance Of Power: From the same decade, but so different between them. Time, another conceptual album, Secret Messages, when they were three, and Balance Of Power...well...
Actually, On The Third Day was the first concept piece by ELO (first attempt = ELO 2-The Lost Planet, which was given up in the middle of the recording process) although even Jeff himself admitted that the concept was only convincing on the first side of the album. Added to this, I also consider Secret Messages a concept album to some degree - by the way I don't see why many people here describe the album as mainly ballad-focused. There are some ballads, of course, but also a lot of fast-paced tracks and Chuck-Berry-inspired rockers.
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Post by ShardEnder on Oct 16, 2019 18:26:11 GMT
I've always thought of Time as an expansion of the same basic dream concept that was previously explored on Eldorado, only with more of a futuristic setting, and Secret Messages could be seen as a nostalgic call back to the many styles of music that influenced Jeff while also showcasing contemporary techniques, ending (in its originally intended 2LP form, at least) with a musical bookend to 10538 Overture - the first ELO song, itself heavily inspired by I Am The Walrus. More recently, Alone In The Universe seems to be an autobiographical journey through Jeff's life, and I'm interested to see whether From Out Of Nowhere has any underlying theme. Also, despite not being as obviously connected, both Out Of The Blue and Discovery were heavily influenced by Jeff's personal situation, the former even having an entire side that used weather metaphors to show him overcoming a failed relationship.
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Post by moon on Oct 16, 2019 22:55:07 GMT
- Alone In The Universe/From Out Of Nowhere: The newest, most quiet albums maybe, with sweet tunes and great songs. I can't put them with Zoom, even when it was something about Jeff and Richard, because of the time they were -or wil be- released
The newest, most quiet albums? Have you listened to the entire FOON album already? The title track that I am familiar with is actually quite fast-paced and more powerful than anything on AITU. Thanks tremblinwilbury & Timeblue!!
Ohhh no no, I didn't hear them, but I wish!! But for what I felt about the From Out Of Nowhere song, it's a bit related with the work on the previous album. Of course we can discuss that, but maybe for style and time of releasing, I find both albums a bit close the each other...
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