Electric Light Orchestra - Zoom (Reissue)

Electric Light Orchestra

Zoom (Reissue)

by Samantha Lynn Ham at 20 May 2013, 2:41 PM

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA is back on the scene with the re-mastered version of their 2001 album “Zoom”. This re-issue is a great flashback to my teenage years, lying in the sun writing until my heart was content. Jeff Lynne is nothing short of an impressive jack-of-all-trades, and many of his guests include musical legends such as Beatle bandmates George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The music on this album are great “r & r” tunes for the days you would like to kick back with in the sun a book, or a cold beer and some barbecue. It is a good summer soundtrack.

All that being said, I find that this album falls short of being great. I don’t think it stands out from many other albums of that day, even with the legends used to revive this album. It has a fun, classic Rock sound, but it leaves no lasting impression. There is definitely something that is missing within the revival of this album. In my honest opinion, the ELO of today has definitely lost the something unique that captured fans of all ages with albums as 1975’s “Face the Music”, which contained a much still enjoyed hit “Evil Woman”. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t pop it into my cd player sometime while soaking up the sun or having a family picnic.

The songs are fun to listen to, and the transition between each is quite smooth. Then again, that is kind of an issue for me, because it’s so smooth that they seem to melt together at some points. And I can’t sink in what I just heard and really enjoy the song. But generally the songs are good, and the bonus track “One Day” is a good, catchy song. It is not the best album ever put out by ELO, but it is definitely worth a listen to at least once in your life.