ELO is one of those 1970s bands that divides critics thanks to their heavy reliance on orchestration and progressive pop sensibilities. Much like with similarly divisive Steely Dan, I am firmly in the pro-ELO camp, proving that I am a lover of pop schlock once and for all (okay, my positive review of Paul McCartney's Tug of War already gave that one away). But really, I don't get it. Sure, ELO is following in the footsteps of the Beatles, particularly the Sgt. Pepper's era, albeit updated for a mid-70s classic rock sound. But they write captivating hooks, use their strings in a creative way (check out those runs on "Evil Woman"!), and if it is all overblown, so be it. The one potential misfire for me is the all-instrumental opening track "Fire on High," which reminds me way too much of the Moody Blues' similar failed efforts to open each album with a string instrumental (though the Moodies made it even worse by adding a spoken-word poem). But after that, this is all impeccable pop music that makes me yearn and swoon. Thumbs up!
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