From Out Of Nowhere - Jeff Lynne's ELO: Review
is a legendary British rock band who spent the 70's and 80's releasing a series of classic rock records to universal critical acclaim. The band released music off and on until the early 2000's before reforming in 2015 for a moderately well received comeback record. After a series of huge tours the band has assembled a second record, their 14th overall.
Review By Lavender:
I have always been a big fan of what Jeff Lynne has done with ELO, and the incredibly distinct sound they crafted on a legendary run through the mid 80's. I was also decently surprised with their comeback record in 2015, while it didn't blow me away I was surprised by how much of the groups former magic transferred over into some of the songwriting. I was actually pretty pleased when I heard the two singles for this record, and it gets off to a red hot start, but ultimately it is about what I anticipated.
So about that hot start the record gets off too, it is truly hot. From Out Of Nowhere is the title track and opener here which is a fantastic bright and catchy pop rock rune straight out of 1978. With the hazy vocals and planky keys on the track this song would blend right in with a number of classic ELO records, a big compliment coming from a long time fan. It continues with Help Yourself another track that comes out of the bands classic playbook. The title refrain is catchy as hell and the Oasis style bouncy guitar leads are excellent. The track is an all around good tune catchy and smooth as ever.
Even though those are the two best tracks on the record there are still a number of other tracks here that remind of how good the band is. One More Time is genuinely a more jammy 80's rock tune but they pull it off pretty well. The song is short enough to not get boring and one of the highlights here. Goin Out On Me has some fiery blues rock guitar solos which are pretty slick and actually makes an otherwise decent track into a great one. And finally the other single Time Of Our Life is also fantastic and overflowing with youthful and energy and a totally roaring hook that I enjoy.
A couple of the tracks here are just a little bit weaker versions of other better songs like All My Love and Down Came The Rain. Losing You is a track that admittedly kind of sucks with a trudging instrumental and a dreadfully long repeated refrain that gets dreadfully boring by the end of it. Sci-Fi Woman is just a kind of bland core idea that is stretched out far too long. Finally the last track is Songbird and as the closing song on the record it is a very underwhelming moment. There isn't a whole lot of real progression to it and I think the previous song would have been a much more fitting closer.
ELO's return has been better than a lot of bands attempts at returning, but that doesn't make the records any more standout. With some inconsistencies and no overwhelmingly new sounds to be found this record is decent, but far from one of the most significant moments in rock music this year. Despite this there is clearly some creativity left in Jeffy Lynne's ELO and this record is one that classic rock fans should give a chance. 6/10
