Out Of The Blue

An album that offers some interesting ideas, has some memorable songs but suffers a lot from its long duration. And why would it suffer if it has variety? Keyword: 'some'. The majority of the songs felt almost the same, all following the structures of a typical opera/pop rock. It was kind of a chore to get to the end of the album

3 von 5 Besser, stellenweise etwas weirder (deshalb?). Einige Stücke kannte ich und manche sind gleich interessant (Mr Blue sky). Gleichzeitig zu sehr 70s Stadionrock. Würde ich nochmal hören.

It's as if there's too much going on with this. They're all undoubtedly talented musicians, sure, but it's overdone, making it sound obnoxious and pretentious. The production is also too smooth, and some of the songs sound kinda the same too. Maybe my IQ isn't large enough to comprehend it I can see myself enjoying a couple of the songs, especially the slower stuff e.g. Starlight, but I can't do a full album, especially when it's over an hour long

Steppin' Out, Mr. Blue Sky (Thanks GOTG). Very cinematic and groggy. Fun, but it dragged on a bit more than I'd like.

Got to listen to this while delivering some bird seed. Love Lynn’s voice and had forgotten as a kid how much I enjoyed this album.

Oh! I didn't know this was the Mr. Blue Sky people. Love this song, as does most of the rest of the planet. I did enjoy listening to the rest of this album.

Post Beatles / Faux Rock 'n' Roll / Watered Down Orchestral nonsense! The second star is for the last 60 seconds of the title track. Almost everything else is horrible. Overrated.

Mr. Blue Sky couldn’t save this from 2-star territory. I feel like this album tries to make you feel everything but I came out feeling like nothing. “Turn To Stone” was decent though.

A dazzling 70s party

Sounds like a natural continuation of the Beatles. A little more expansive, not quite progressive. Ultimately unremarkable to me fifty years on. 2/5 it's fine enough.

Very much "what if the beatles, but with no John". I don't really care for the music hall style tunes and arrangements. It's produced incredibly well and must have been mindblowing to listen to on headphones as a kid, but it all just felt strangely empty. Mr Blue Sky is a lovely tune, as are several others, but it just left me a bit cold.

Very 70,”’s

Beautiful instrumentals, mellow lyrics. Includes the infamous "Turn to Stone" and "Sweet Talkin' Woman." Very enjoyable all the way through.

Pleasantly surprised by this !! I of course knew Mr. Blue Sky and thought that the rest of the album was probably going to be bad in comparison but it didn’t let me down. I really liked the sound ! And I think the songs have potential to grow on me even more with future listens and looking into the lyrics more. It was a very long album though and a lot of the songs were kind of the same vibe so unsure if I would listen to it again start to finish but you never know ! I feel like I’m being maybe too harsh with the scoring but it’s possibly because I know there are so many more albums to go and I haven’t had any song so far that I’ve wanted to add to my ‘Songs I wish I wrote’ playlist yet 72/100

Ethereal jams that I can get behind.

I guess there’s a reason everyone alive in the 70s has a copy

Yeah. This is ELO. The songs that hit are catchy as hell. The misses aren’t really misses per se, but extra noise for the signal to pass through. That is to say, there’s just a lot. Still, the signal is catchy AF.

This is longer than it needs to be. Have tried going through an ELO journey before, and whilst I enjoy some of their psych music, the majority of it for me is just dull

The incestuous love child of the Beatles and Pink Floyd. Loved the stringy motifs. Typical English writring about the weather... And space...

The first ELO album I owned and wore out several copies. Such recognizable and solid rock

This ELO album is 70 minutes long? Hello? They were doing Beatles pastiche decades before Oasis. I must say that most of it absolutely slaps. Maximalist, glittering, nostalgic pop-rock. The orchestral swells add welcome lushness without veering into corniness, a real danger of adding strings to rock music.

3.5

Yeah this was a cool listen. The review that describes it as a bedazzled Pink Floyd kind of nails it.

Hello Mr. Blue Sky is like the one of these things is not like the others surprise track but still overall ok

Interesting, layered musicianship and I enjoyed hearing the different influences throughout. Was not familiar with ELO’s sound so this was a nice surprise! And “Jungle” is a banger.

White guy music

Very orchestral. Very long. But mostly entertaining.

Full of hits including Mr. Blue Sky

If you like Queen but thought they rocked too hard, this is the band for you

ELO has a pop sound then mixes in mechanical or outside sounds that is a type of Pink Floyd touch. Problem is the musical style cannot support these mixes. That being said, there are some good tunes from this album. I was glad the album was over at the end. 3/5

Lovely

Very 70s. 6/10

2-3

Out Of The Blue is one of the outstanding rock/pop albums of all time. Jeff Lynne delivers musical expressions of love, heartache, promise and bliss in an orchestral masterpiece acrisd vocals, music and arrangements. A defining album of the late seventies.

Some really great symphonic pop here but probably could have been edited to a single disk. A strong 3 for me

I was only really familiar with Mr. Blue Sky before, but this whole album was a lot of fun.

vibes

dobre momenty – solicka a tak

Oldies, gives me stranger things vibes. 2.7

Great album, love his voice!

You already know ELO gets a five star. No notes.

9/10

mehhh. Not my jam. Too orchestral for me.

Every song on this record is incredibly well crafted and orchestrated. Jeff Lynne’s genius is incomparable. A great listen, but not my “thing”.

Sweeping harmony

Even though this was probably after the whole Beatles concept for ELO went out the window, there are some good ideas here. I do think there are some that don’t quite work. Jeff Lynne tried to be both Lennon and McCartney, which just shows he really could have used a collaborator. I do enjoy the “Mr. Blue Sky” motif. That being said, this was a lot better than I initially thought it would be.

Was für ein Album 🥹 abwechslungsreich, musikalisch top und ein Ohrwurm nach dem anderen

You can clearly hear the influence of the Beatles, David Bowie and Queen and it's well-made, but it's also just a bit too much of everything. I can't put it in words, but the songwriting just doesn't click with me overall. It's not at all a bad album, and parts of it are actually really nice, so I'm torn. But what the hell did they think in "Night in the City"? That song is annoying af.

Just not much going on here. Other than Mr. Blue Sky it's not that memorable. And this was a double album.

Great songs! Amazing album! Rather impressed!

Listened whilst driving through the countryside on a sunny Sunday afternoon - it was nice. Probably listen again next time the suns out 3/5

I know that they are a great answer to many a New York Times crossword clue, and I was excited to listen to the music behind the clue. Good sound, I'm not sure if I recognized any of the songs, but had a 70s rock vibe that I was into.

Some of it was good. A lot of it was ok. Some of it was meh. Minus a star for being entirely too long.

Prologue: This was selected as my first album out of 1001, although I have the book and have done some random picking / listening / discovering before. I totally understand people who love this album. I totally understand people who hate this album. I'm not sure to which group I belong to though. Elo is not so familiar to me (not even blue sky, I am sure I've heard it...vaguely), overproduced aor (i wouldn't call this progressive rock) isn't my beef. But damn the production is magnificent. Too magnificent perhaps? I can hear the influences, but also can here ELO in so many things that have come later, from Daft Punk to Divine Comedy to Quincy Jones productions and hoards of indie and electronic musicians of today. I don't care so much about the more or less traditional, basic rock songs which have been over-ornamented, but there are beautiful melodies and interesting song structures, some of which almost get hidden under the production, some of which would probably sound lame without the production. As someone mentioned here, the Concerto as a sort of minialbum in the middle is a masterpiece, have to agree on that. Epilogue: In the end, would I buy it? Probably in a good enough condition from a discount bin. How often would I listen to it? Maybe once in 10 years. From the year 1977 I'd choose 10-20 punk records over this one. But it remains still quite an amazing gesamstkunstwerk. So I'll settle in a 4.

Again, super dated and not good anymore. Sorry.

never really listened to ELO but i’m loving this, the dissonant harmonies are delicious, proper 70’s omg to die for. the harmonies are so giving queen, only issue is the repetitiveness but like it’s fine

They all sounded the complete same , like I liked the songs but I won’t like think “ oh yk what is gonna pass this time that I’m gonna enjoy, ELO” like I’m good. But like it was average. I think my review is a hot take .

used to be obsessed with this band in like october time, unfortch my favourite song by them is not on this album but that is okay!! my faves on this album were standin' in the rain and obviously mr. blue sky. i just love their sound a lot.

#580. This is perfect mom rock. Well, I guess grandma rock at this point, but you know what I mean. 3/5: decent

Really good - not quite 5 stars though, some songs just kind of drift into the background.

Wanted to like it.

There is a lot of falsetto.

This album sounds very much like an indie album from the 2000s. I enjoyed the sound a lot.

Some crackers but could be half the length

It's as if someone took a Beatles record and made it interesting. I like this a lot. The strings are used to terrific effect and there's a great range of sounds and production quirks thay makes it an engaging listen. It peaks with the opening 'Turn to Stone', and it's afflicted with the banal romance vernacular of the era (how many times does the word 'baby' occur on this album?), but I'd be happy to come back to this. A high 3*.

This a busy album, but I’ll be damned if it didn’t put a smile on my face. There’s a lot going on in the production, and it can be overwhelming at times, but the tracks are bright and infectious. Personal favourite for me was Wild West Hero. If anything it’s nice to delve just a bit deeper into ELO’s catalogue and be pleasantly rewarded, rather than listen to the same four or five of their overplayed radio staples that kind of do my head in a bit. ✨

Kinda fun rock opera type album. No need to listen again, and the hits cannot be avoided on classic rock radio

Grew up listening to this album . I enjoyed some of the songs. Wolf

All bangers! Oles is wrong!

Boooooring zzzzzzzz. I tried listening to this on my walk and I fell asleep! This is sleep walking music!

This is tough listen for me. Jeff Lynn is talented…. love him as a Wilbury! ELO falls into that REO Speed Wagon/ STYX era of music that that just doesn’t catch my ear. Thier sound is high and pitchy.That music is always FF for me. This album is a pass.

Always thought ELO was a ‘peppy Pink Floyd’ . Melodic and atmospheric at times though some some of the chorus’ sounded like disco unfortunately

ELO sounds like no one else. I enjoyed this one overall, but it's a bit sprawling. 3.5/5 Album 53/1001

Theatrical production, interesting and new, but somehow not super appealing

i didn't finish listening to it, and I'm not mad about that.

- A clear example of overindulgence. There are some wonderful tracks on here (namely "Turn to Stone" and the beautifully smooth "Sweet Talkin' Woman") and thank God they are near the front or else they would be buried in the hour-plus of this unnecessary double album. - ELO often has a cool sound, particularly with their clean vocal harmonies and use of additional, frequently odd instrumentation. But then they fall into these repetitive traps -- looking at you, "It's Over."

10/10 For this album being made in 1977, it sounds so fresh and exciting to hear in the 2020s decade. All the instrumentation is so triumphant and pleasing to hear. After taking a long break from hearing Mr. Blue Sky, coming back to it made me recognize its timelessness. ELO killed this album and made me appreciate prog rock more as a whole.

I was excited for this album, I like a few ELO songs and I think they sound great. Maybe I’d built it up too much but it didn’t hit the way I’d hoped. The album sounded great and everything was well done but the songs on it just didn’t feel special. Mr Blue Sky is a banger though, I love that song!

‘Hardly out of the blue when it’s your seventh album’…the harsh words of Len Houmous when he was annoyed that ELO did a tea run and forgot his order! 1.8

I really wanted a clear-cut 5-star album for my first 5-star, but alas that's not quite what this is. While entertaining, surprising, and generally a very fun album, there are some low points that made me have to think really hard about giving it 5 stars. In the first two-thirds, every song has a new surprise and it doesn't miss. There wasn't a specific song that was jaw-dropping, but on aggregate the album is just such a cohesive journey. Unfortunately, the last third of the album starts to wander and the quality slips. Ultimately, it's better than Bryter Layter at 4.5 stars due to its variety in sound while maintaining cohesion, so it deserves the 5 star label in that regard. An imperfect but nearly-there 4.75-star album, meaning we have our first 5 star album! - Despite having a Beatles sound at times, they have their own contemporary twist. Even when similar, it's distinguishable from the Beatles - Even the artistic dissonant-sounding moments feel whimsical and lighthearted (not noise for the sake of noise or pretentious 'artsyness'). This band just sound like they're fun to be around - 'Standing in the Rain' is another example of an entirely new-sounding song that grabs your attention, without feeling out-of-place on the album as a whole - The last 1/3 of the album in general is a bit weaker, up-and-down - 'Mr. Blue Sky' is one of those songs you've heard a million times without even realizing it (1 billion streams)

Hell yeah

It may have dragged a little at the end but I’m rounding up because ELO just puts me in a good mood.

I would say this was a lovely little album, but there was nothing “little” about it. This thing was jam packed with jams. I did listen to the wrong ELO album at first because I’m a moron who can’t read properly. If you’re curious to see how I feel about A New World Record, see below: Another one of these I own a physical copy of. Such a lovely little album that’s always worth a listen, but I can’t hear Telephone Line without thinking of Steve Buscemi in Billy Maddison 💄

Fun listen...a lot of groovy songs. Feel like ELO is slightly underrated because they weren't totally prevelant on the classic rock stations growing up. 4.5 stars, only because I didn't totally want to hit play again when it was over.

I like Jeff Lynne's work with the Wilburys. Mr. Blue Sky is a damned good song, and the production is immaculate. Still an interesting exercise in having good melodys, and good playing, but limited soul. So - heavy beatles influence, and sounds like them occasionally but doesn't hit the same. Vocoder hasn't really aged well either nor the sound effecty/gimmicky jungle mariachi stuff.

A totally fine and fairly unique sound, but it gets pretty repetitive after a few songs.

I’ve always seen ELO as a really unique, standalone band. While I’m not familiar with all of their albums from front to back, I’ve heard a lot of their music over the years, and I’ve always appreciated how they have tracks that range from straightforward, pop-inspired soft rock to grand, orchestral ballads, and even some experimental, synth-driven songs. One thing that stands out to me is how ELO’s strong use of strings and orchestral elements gives them a very full, rich sound that’s incredibly colorful.

This is a fantastic album which is perhaps just a little too long. I don't believe any album needs to be over an hour. The album is split into 4 parts. Part 1 is good. Part 2 is hit and miss with Jungle being a highlight but a couple of songs could have been cut here. Part 3 is fantastic and is concluded with Mr. Blue Sky which is one of my favourite songs of all time. I did always wonder why the song sort of changes into something else for the last minute or so and now I realise it's because it's part of a larger concept. Part 4 starts with the second best song on the album, Sweet is the Night, but then goes into a 5 minute whale noise instrumental which feels like the music they play at the end of a musical when everyone is leaving. This is followed by Birmingham Blues which is good but sounds suspiciously like Rockin All Over the World (released a couple of years prior) to me. The album ends with Wild West Hero which is a good song but I don't think it works too well as the closer for an album with this scope. I think they could have moved Sweet is the Night to part 2 (cut Believe Me Now) and got rid of part 4 and it would have been both shorter and better overall as well as being able to end on Mr. Blue Sky which has a great outro. Despite the criticisms, I find it hard not to give this album a 5. You can feel the passion and genius that went into it. The production is fantastic and it just sounds good.

Essentially a 50-minute prologue and a 15-minute epilogue for "Mr Blue Sky."

ELO has a sound so unique you can tell it’s an ELO song within the first 3 seconds. The issue becomes all the songs have a similar sound, so if you’ve heard two or three ELO songs, you’ve heard their breath of music they can write. Instead of a double album, this could have been four songs and I wouldn’t feel like I missed anything.

this shit slap, kinda wanna dance after

There are undeniably pretty melodies and arrangements on Out Of The Blue. Where I struggle with it is the songs themselves. Many of them sound like a mix of disco and those out of place old-timey songs that The Beatles would drop on every album. If I was an English baby boomer I might understand the pastiche and appreciate it but it misses me. Overproduction and an overstuffed album length makes this a two-star record.

This would be an album I'd recommend for someone trying to find a classic rock sound.

au début je pensais que c'était juste de la pop trop vieille pour moi mais finalement je me suis mis à sérieusement kiffer l'album avant que la track super connue arrive et ça m'a fait décrocher

Hell yeah I love ELO!!

Fantastic album, great hits that I already knew, but deep track gems abound as well

Was fun but boy did it get old by the end.

Absolute classic album. Packed with all time great songs.

nice one, Pink floyd/queen alike

This list is entirely too eurocentric

Fun vibes? not really traditional music. i guess... meh in the end

very cool losers I loved it final rating 9/10

Ok

Wow, this was really great. I didn't expect much but this is pretty amazing 70s pop music, I loved the electronic parts and especially jungle

5.5/10

ELO is a huge blind spot and I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Another “my favourite bands’ favourite band” thing. Hard not to hear entire templates for albums by Grandaddy and the Lips. Likewise, I’m curious how The Soft Bulletin and Sophtware Slump play for 25 year olds today the way ELO did for me when I was 25-26. Lots of thoughts about Jeff that I won’t go into detail about here, as they aren’t terribly unique. This is a pretty good break-up album as those things go and as with nearly every other double album does not justify its length. Jeff finding true brilliance as a producer/co-writer/arranger with other classic rock dudes says a lot to me about the challenge he set for himself being a huge Beatles fan: he just never had a Lennon (even if he eventually had George). I like a lot of ELO and am always charmed to come across another melody of his I’d forgotten, but the reason I tend to forget ELO is the lack of an edge, the actual rock part of RNR. Keepers: bsky, sweet talkin woman, turn to stone

Ehh, fun album but didn't blow my socks off, I like Mr Blue Sky tho

Halfway through checking in, I'm already loving this. Although im working while listening, there are moments where I have to pick myself up and just listen. Wow.

Perfect prog pop album

Interesante supongo, esperaba algo supeeer diferente con la portada

really good axtyallt my dad likes the band and i think it was quite good

Seriously too long and too boring. The well known tracks are okay (I can't be bothered checking which were actually singles), they get trotted out for radio play to this day. I see all these reviews claiming how much they love Jeff Lynne. well, however much that is, kid, it's nowhere as much he loves himself.

I knew some of the singles and j remember my parents having some ELO albums when I was a kid (those futuristic space jukebox albums covers really stuck in my mind). This was an incredible listen. I’m more familiar with Jeff Lynne’s work with the Traveling Wilburys, but I’ve really been won over by the whole ELO sound. It sounds like music from the future without being hammy. I can feel the influence this band has had over so many modern musicians, and I can’t imagine how wild this would have sounded when it released. I listened to it 3 times yesterday, an easy 5 star for me.

so good i listened while studying and it lowk helped the interludes were def not my favorite did give very orchestra but overall very good will be adding a few to my playlist!!

the beginning was pretty good and then there were a handful of songs that were pretty mid but i fw jeff lynne’s voice and all of the synths and future like vibe. and there were a few songs after mr blue sky that were good. decent album 4 big booms

Fun! I like ELO’s hits quite a bit and I’ll never really tire of “Mr. Blue Sky” so hearing the album it spawned from was a treat.

Just not my cup of tea. I think if you halved the album and just picked out the good bits you could have something special, but it's just too long with too much filler.

this sucks and its too long and it sucks

i haven't been able to find a good source for John Lennon saying that Electric Light Orchestra were the "sons of the Beatles", but if they were in any way Beatlesque, they clearly didn't come from any member's loins but Paul's. of course, this discounts their admiration for the Beach Boys, the Kinks, a little glam rock, and a jumble of soul references put through a symphonic filter and let loose with all the colors of the rainbow. basically, they took all the influences they could carry, glued it together, and put it on the wall. however, unlike a lot of collages, it doesn't feel piecemeal or abstract; rather, it feels like Jeff Lynne made something wholly new from chopped up reference. it's only when you get closer when you start to notice all the little bits the songs are made of -- and Lynne knows it. in "Across the Border", he's clearly biting from Heroes and Villains, but then puts a little twist in it with the second half, denying the audience the ability to call it a rip wholesale and lets us in on the joke. "Mr. Blue Sky" offers a very McCartney-like radio announcer to bring us into the song before hitting us with the piano break from A Day in the Life to start us off. and on "Sweet Talkin' Woman" and "Starlight", you can just make out half the Motown roster through the violins and vocoders. still, there's something brazenly original to how ELO does things. the melodies hold so much more sentimentality to me, maybe a bit corny, but also sweet and lush. maybe the back up singers are just that powerful of an instrument, a cue for your heart to put value into the interplay of the chorus and the leading man. there's a few failed experiments like "Jungle" and "Birmingham Blues", but there's more experiments that went completely right like, well, the entirety of "Concerto for a Rainy Day". that C-side feels less like any sort of musical thing and more like a substance, golden and ambrosia-like in consistency. there's something about this damn band, man. phenomenal stuff. ELO rocks.

super fire

Really liked it, made me feel nostalgic, enthusiastic, happy.

Wanted to give it a 5, but I think it was just a tad too long. It’s really cool to hear something take bits of all different genres and meld them together into something sonically pleasing and also unique. 4.4/5 Fav song: Mr Blue Sky (duh)

Very fun album with great melodies and intricate instrumentation. A little bit too long though.

One of the greatest pop rock albums of all time!

One of the best ELO to me. This album is a wonderful ride of feelgood magic and space drifting pop. In the 70s, Jeff Lynne gave it all.

Good album, but tedious to get through. ⭐⭐⭐ Best track(s): Mr. Blue Sky

Nice one, we have this one on vinyl

Godt album, gode vibes og gode sangs

this is the type of album i needed to hear today. “turn to stone” was such a fun song. the instrumentals on this album are majestic. especially on “across the border”. every song is just SO CUTE!! “birmingham blues” def sampled rhapsody in blue (good thing). can you tell i liked the instrumentals? yeah probably a 5/5. really great.

This was fun an easy listening. It gave Beatles vibes and Boston vibes.

A blast.

Probably a 3 but a high 3. It's enjoyable music but an hour of it does get old. Mr. Blue Sky is a bop though, and I liked the sound through-line from Steppin' Out to that. And Birmingham Blues weirdly didn't sound like ELO, but I did like the sound on that one.

What an epic experience. Loved it.

i always thought it was a missed opportunity for Mr Blue Sky to not have been used in the Breaking Bad soundtrack. anyway i really like this album. i just do. it's just fun. last night olivia and i got wasted at babe's and i listened to the first half when we got home and it was great. i don't have a lot more to say than that. 4/5 real queer summer hours

Inoffensively okay. I would rather listen to the Beatles, Queen, or Pink Floyd than all of them at the same time. Mr Blue Sky does go hard. Musicianship and arrangements are so good and the talent is obviously there but my enjoyment sadly wasn’t. Steve rating: 4.5/5

Great album. Don’t have time for a full review. Would recommend. Cool. 4/5

One of the first questions when I see a double album is would this be better if they trimmed it down to make one amazing record? In this case, I don’t think so. I don’t think you could lose a single song from the concerto for a rainy day and that’s a whole side right there. I do think we suffer a little from streaming this rather than having the physical album to help define how each side of this album fits together. The first side kicks off with like 5 bangers in a row. Turn to stone tells you everything you need to know about what you’re in for - orchestral strings mixed with rock n roll, an electric light orchestra if you will. I love the horns in across the border and the almost doo-wop sweet talking woman before it. Side two is a little more varied in sound, but still unmistakably ELO. A little disco here, little soft rock here, whatever Jungle is too. I think this side adds great variety and is where I’m going to continue to find some of my favorite deep cuts from this record. Now if we had the physical vinyl of this we’d have a short break while changing the record before we hit what might be there MO - the concerto for a rainy day. I need this on vinyl because I could wake up and just listen to these next 4 tracks and they make a great little unit within the overall record. Out this batch I have to say Mr. Blue Sky is still my favorite, and is one of the best songs from the 70s overall imo, but Summer and Lightning was new to me and is a close second. By side 4 we’ve listened to a lot of ELO but they aren’t out of ideas yet, sweet is the night is so soothing, even with its melancholic, yet hopeful lyrics. We do get what might be the only cuts from the album I’d make here with the whale and Birmingham blues but even then I don’t mind these. Wild West hero is kinda funny, wants to be a little cowboy on the prairie roaming around - I like it. Yes I felt the need to go through each side because I get the ELO fatigue that can happen on this record but it’s such a landmark of the 70s rocksphere that I think it deserves it. I haven’t even mentioned the vocoder yet, but yeah it’s there and it’s great. And look at that giant spaceship on the cover - was that just a 70s thing? I’m into it. There’s only a couple of other double albums that I think match this - London Calling being one of them, can’t wait for that one and Songs in the Key of Life as well. Anyway my review is now the length of this ELO album. 5/5

During the course of this hour long double album I went from "wow ELO rules this is sick" to "wow they really have one trick don't they, I'm getting bored" to "ok nvm I'm starting to get it this is cool again" to "oh hey Mr. Blue Sky this song rules" and then back to "idk how much of this album I needed to hear, I got it after song, like, 3" and all of that actually averages out to a 3 out of 5. I have turned album rating into a science and I may be the best to ever do it. You're welcome, review reading public. Jeff Lynne sometimes sounds like Jimmy Fallon's parody of Barry Gibb on those SNL Barry Gibb talk show sketches, I think that might be an insult?

It’s fine. Not amazing. Pretty bland. A lot of cowbells.

A good album but a bit too much of the times

Love. Their best. Happy joyful memories come back.

Perfectly pleasant in every way. Probably a 3.5. Could have benefitted from being tighter though.

No skips

Love ELO they just make you feel good

Good stuff here.

I think I liked this more than I thought I would!

Sounds so modern

нормалек.

A lot going on. They've thrown the kitchen sink at it. Probably sounded incredible at the time.

Good albumliked the groove

Some bangers. Light listening. Vibe like Queen

Non l'ho ascoltato tutto. Direi 3 sulla fiducia ma non mi stava lanciando troppo.

Nice

perfectly fine, for the most part, with some high highs and lovingly gooey hyper-intricate synthetic production. easy to space out to. (delightful jump-scare when the loop from the william maranci "Subterranean Homesick Blues" mashup showed up as the second half of "Summer and Lightning")

I thought I had never heard of this album before, but it turned out that I had heard one of its songs, 'Mr. Blue Sky'. I have no idea where I came across this song, but the melody is so familiar that I can easily hum along. I'm happy to meet a song I knew already while playing this random album. I also love the album cover!

Stared very strong but grew old. Still tons of fantastic layering and instrumental varieties that I feel are still underutilized even today. I knew a few of these going in but never knew the outro to Mr Blue Sky was tied into the entire album as a motif

At it's best, this album is pure sunshine, but with so many songs it's hard to keep the energy. Still pretty solid listen.

More "Beatlesque" pop. Listenable, if only because as a musician, artist, and music producer I respect intentional and competent production and arrangement. Definitely drags after a couple songs though.

A+ on the inclusion of those mariachi players on Across the Border. The Whale feels like they were trying to channel some Pink Floyd from the Dark Side of the Moon era.

Keith - 6/10 Ross - 6.5/10 Caylum - 7.5/10

I know it's true to say that a lot (indeed most) bands are pretty recognisable whichever of their songs you are listening to. But I don't think there are any bands MORE recognisable than ELO. Out Of The Blue is another so-called 'classic' album that I've never listened to in full before (even though my wife has it in her vinyl collection). Although it was hugely commercially and critically successful I think the reason it passed me (and a lot of people) by is its timing - being relased just at the start of Punk - when such bands and overblown albums were having the piss taken out of them relentlessly. Nonetheless I loved it. It's a great listen and a 4+

9/17. В целом, понравилось

Armonías que no dejan de recordar a Queen con arreglos Beatlescos tardíos (por ejemplo, "Mr. Blue Sky" podría pertenecer al Sgt. Pepper's y no sorprendería a nadie) y toques de prog rock. Una amalgama que define el pop-rock barroco setentero a la perfección. Un álbum entretenido, complejo a la vez que muy melódico y excelentemente producido; uno de los máximos exponentes de la ópera rock de su época. Por otro lado, demasiado largo y tampoco demasiado innovador. Merece formar parte de esta lista por su calidad y el enorme éxito que tuvo en su época, pero creo que, retrospectivamente, tres estrellas le hacen justicia.

Not my thing but cool, interesting mix of sound.

This is the perfect album for a Spring day - outside doing yard work, or cleaning the house with all the windows open. Neither of which I did while listening to this, but it would be perfect for that. I can definitely hear some Beatles influence, and Queen at times. I love their vocals and harmonies.

4.5

I was on the fence with this one Parts of the songs were so so good. Mr Blue Sky 10/10 🔥 Other parts were either too weird, or boring. This album was also really long. It was just a bit all over the place I appreciate the music and talent, but I don't think its my cup of tea 3 ⭐️

Back to back 1977, and back to back 10 outta 10 albums (this and Muddy Waters Hard Again). From Blues legend to Blue sky. Class.

Good

Could not Stream it.

Really 3.5 stars but it gets a bit of a bump up because of the GOTG influence from Mr. Blue Sky. Pretty pathetic to be nostalgic for a movie less than 10 years old, but there was at least still some hope for humanity and the future back then. Did listen to it twice.

Might sound like it's from the 60s, but I love this. Each side has something to offer.

Easiest 5 stars for me. I have this album. It has no weak songs, in my opinion. Most of the songs are catchy as hell. I love the orchestration. The backing vocals are so charming! It even has my favourite ELO song: Wild West Hero

Fantastic!

uf sí pero

Couple great songs, it is ELO afterall. Whole album is a super chill and lighthearted vibe and would be great to listen to while doing something else. I would probably prefer to listen to ELO's greatest hits cause they've got enough amazing songs for an entire album's worth.

Some childhood nostalgia in here to be sure as it was one of a few records my mother owned growing up. I remember as a young lad being drawn in by the cover art to try out the album I was pleasantly surprised by how well this held up for me despite not having heard it in decades. This is more a 3.5 than a 4 for me as it can get a little tedious by the end of the album and some songs do seem to bleed together but otherwise a fun orchestral rock journey.

This is gonna be so fun. One track in and it sounds the exact same as Mr blue sky and I have trauma behind listening to that a million too many times in the car. Also very repetitive, they thought up five whole lyrics for this song. Ok they sound totally fine actually, just an insane amount of falsetto. And for a listener from 2025 it feels very predictable and typical although that probably wasn’t true for the late 70’s. The songs mesh together and it’s crazy long but if you just gave me four of these songs randomly I might have rated this a three instead.

Ughhhh I am not excited for this. I will be utterly surprised if I give this album anything more than a 1 purely for it having Mr blue sky on it. Ughhh and it just gets worse. It’s 17 songs long and an hour and 11 minutes. Yup. Easiest 1 I’ll ever give.

Fun stuff! Thought of Sparks and Bee Gees and Beatles and Elton John. Favourite tracks were Sweet Talkin Woman, Across the Border, Night in the City and of course the classic Mr Blue Sky. Also one of the sickest album covers out there.

I was always going to love this album because it has the greatest feel good hit of all time - Mr Blue Sky. But actually this album is full of great hits - Night in the City and Turn to Stone were particular favourites.

Really fun album

You know music that sounds all great and innovative but still feels a bit forced? That's ELO for me sometimes. This album has many interesting elements though so you should give it a try. You might like it more than me.

Loved this album! Such a cool sound. I think I'm a prog rock girly and never knew it :)

Another generic band from 70s

Album #400!!!! I see why they named themselves Electric Light Orchestra because this album sounds like a score. Carefully crafted and everything was placed meticulously in the perfect place. This is what I imagine being in a good mood while on a walk during a sunny day sounds like. Which perhaps is the reason why they named this project Out of the Blue. Classic album with classic records, I love when this project gives me back to back classics!

This one was just fun and enjoyable. It didn't take its self too seriously. They leaned into the 80s musical rock opera feeling and did it well and fun. Its over the top, but not so much that it was cheesy.

I feel like they should have put "It's Over" first so that it could all just be over before it begins and the album can get on with it. But srsly... great album! Creative songwriting, great instrumentation, great melodies and vocals (love the harmonies). I listened to this 4 times and I like it more with every listen!

If I was a teen when this was released I have no doubt that I’d have been obsessed with it. The songs are poppy and sound BIG…almost too big because after a while they all sound the same The production still sounds epic. I once read a quote from John Lennon stating that had the Beatles not broken up, they would have ended up sounding just like ELO. I can hear that. Lots to love here even if some of these songs are over played on classic rock radio.

Love ELO! They have such great energy, and they create music that's big and interesting and super fun. Love all the different instrumentation they use and the variety of sounds they create. I've always been a big fan of their hits...Sweet Talkin' Woman is my fave on here, and Mr. Blue Sky was my special song for my late sweet kitty cat. Favorite 'new to me' songs are Summer and Lightning (so freaking good!) and Across the Border, but this is full of other terrific tunes too. A double album delight, and not a song to skip in sight. I had a fabulous time listening, easy 5!

Solid album despite it not being my genre

🎧ELO’s greatest hits happens to be the CD in my car for the past few weeks. 3 songs from that are on here. This is overstuffed but ambitious and pretty marvelous at times. Wild West Hero is a new favorite.

This was fun =)

I Love ELO but this is a lot at once. Maybe if this was a single album instead of a double-album.... anyways still good. 4/5

Like I wouldn't be mad if someone played this in an elevator.

Am I becoming ELO-pilled as I progress through my late 30s?

It's like a less campy Queen, but each song is packed full of sound effects and production tricks it feels like a movie or stage production. I guess Electric Light Orchestra is an apt name.

3.5 for me blue skies

(listened once, doing a walk and some work at home) So that sounded a lot like The Beatles. I don't know how to feel about that. I've heard Mr. Blue Sky before and thought it was a beatle song I didn't know of, whereafter I was corrected. More synths and experimental instrumentals tho, like Pink Floyd. I didn't really like it to begin with, but the further I came into the album the more I enjoyed the songs. I think I could learn to like this band. Favorite tracks: Sweet Talkin' Woman (such a nice intro to that song) Starlight Steppin' Out Standin' in the Rain Mr. Blue Sky Sweet is the night The musicians and production quality is clearly very good. It also gave me musical-vibes. Like the songs could fit so well into a musical. But maybe that is just my love for Across The Universe-musical. Anyways, I'll give it two stars for now. And I will probably come back to see if I enjoy it more the second time around.

It's a big album, and many of the songs on here are absolutely phenomenal. However, it does feel a little long by the end of it, which stops it from getting 5 stars.

Albums with 20 tracks typically don't keep my interest. However, this one did. The energy, the experimental elements. Quite good overall. Highlights: Turn to Stone Across The Border Mr. Blue Sky

Cheesy, but in a pretty fun and cool way.

2,5?

hell yeah

da waren doch mal ein paar gute Sachen dabei

Gewoon keihard Soms weet je dat iets gewoon goed is zegmaar. Zonnetje? Regen? Buiten? Binnen? Maakt niet uit Kan altijd Alleen niet op een feestje maar ewaja

Sounds a bit stuck in disco late 70’s rock for me and not age well.

A few songs are total cheese, but overall there are enough hits and just plain fun songs to make this album really enjoyable.

very fun! almost all of it I would listen to again

Very operatic. The varying styles exhibitted on this along with the vocal harmonies make this a great listen.

Marvellous.

Catchy. This was a great album to listen to.

This is a mix of Supertramp and post Beatles Paul McCartney . What’s that mean? I don’t know. And the Bee Gee’s. I’m not feeling this. Being a late 70’s baby, I’d say this is parent music . Not my bag baby. But if you like mostly The Bee Gees and Supertramp, try this, it’s ok

This album is a work of art! All the songs are true epics, everything sounds incredibly grand! I enjoy listening to this album every time I vaguely forget how mind-blowing music can be! 5 stars of course.

Iconic album

Knew more song than I thought I would. Its a solid okay.

Pretty good and enjoyable just not very special to me. I enjoyed listening to it once but I don’t feel like I’ll ever need to listen to it again.

Fun album with a couple bangers but too long 3.5

Yes Lynn loves The Beatles very much but who can blame him?

Lovely

I want to love ELO but there’s something about them that just doesn’t quite add up for me. Everything about them is up my alley - layered instrumentation, upbeat catchy melodies, a little weirdness. But for some reason, I just like it, I don’t LOVE it.

Okay, I genuinely don’t understand why people are hating this one. Sure, it’s extra as hell and it’s a little long, but it’s SO FUN. I’m surprised ELO doesn’t have a rock opera. It feels like they’re begging for it. And I would listen to the shit out of it.

Cross genre multi instrument powerhouse of a double album.

I love this album and ELO! Favorite songs are Sweet Talking Woman and Mr Blue Skym

Never heard about them, nor their most known songs. Not really my thing.

Prog Rock? Ne, Prog Pop? Bombast-Pop? Keine Ahnung was das ist. Was ich weiss: perfekt produzierter Popklangbrei mit vielen Streichern, mehrstimmigem Gesang, an die Beatles erinnernde Melodien... In den 80ern gefühlt in Dauerschleife im Radio zu hören gewesen. Einige Songs haben sich daher ins ewige Gedächtnis gebrannt. Deshalb wohlwollende 3*

Enjoyable

Just enjoyable and very post-Beatles-pre-Queen-ish? Would be more appropriate if this is released in1967 rather than 1977, but sure it does give that 70s prog pop; symphonic rock vibe. Very smooth to the ear, it's the kind of music I can listen to all day but not every day (gets dull if you listen too much). It's an overall enjoyable journey listening to this album. The little keys are very cute, I love them. An outstanding music album, deserve a decent 4/5.

Me gusta la mezcla de elementos que maneja ELO. Tiene algo super beatles/beach boys pero con sonoridades un poco más modernas (imagino que por ser late 70s). Mucha épica, buenos arreglos de instrumentación e increíbles ruiditos, buenos delays en voces y muchos sextos descendidos para más placer. Jeff Lynne está loco. Si me encargaran destruir la estrella de la muerte lo haría con esto de fondo. 8/10 sofis

Sweet… maybe too sweet. A little long and same-y throughout.

Sounds like a cheap knockoff of Queen with synthesizers, this album only feels famous because of the only unique song on this album - Mr Blue Sky. Otherwise forgettable record and far far too long. It would have gotten a 3 due to song quality, but slapping this one with a minus 1 for wasting my precious time with boring ass deep cuts that wasted my time fuck you

Feels like being mean to a kind-hearted animal to rag on this, but for a group whos production style could be described as 'a bit much', stretching that out to an hour and 20 minutes can really feel like it takes that to too much. Feels like it would be appreciated more in smaller chunks rather than raw dogging the whole thing but the more laid back instrumentals towards the latter half were a nice 'coming down' of sorts.

A relentlessly positive album - even where the actual lyrical content may reflect a less than happy subject, it still has the sound of a good day. I’ve never been upset to hear ELO - they have such groovy harmonies layered through every track that it really does sound like some bizarre future orchestra playing a composition. This feels like music made by people who really love making music.

Not a lot to say, good album, liked a lot of the songs, backloaded as fuck. 7/10

An enjoyable album but far too long for what it is, I can't be in a good mood for this long. The arrangements and production here is great, with some deep cuts that I wish I had heard before diving into this. The hits here are great, and unfortunately this also means that listening to this can sort of feel like you're just waiting for Mr Blue Sky to come on. Luckily the album really picks up on sides C and D! I couldn't see myself eating a tub of cotton candy, nor could I see myself regularly listening to a whole double LP of ELO. Highlights: Turn to Stone, Starlight, Big Wheels, Summer and Lightning, Mr Blue Sky, The Whale

ELO isn’t prog rock. It’s Prog Pop.

It was good but needs editing, too long. some great standout moments of course Mr. Blue sky.

I really loved this. Will definitely be in rotation through the summer

I had really high hopes for this one after hearing the first track, Turn to Stone. To this point, I had only ever heard Mr. Blue Sky and this song captured a similar vibe that I was excited to get more of. While there a some moments that reached the same feelings, I didn’t find this to be the case across the board. This album is too long I think. After about song 3-4 I felt that I already kinda “got it”. I’m sure the orchestral/symphonic aspects of this album would have been fresh and interesting at the time, and it still sounds very nice, but I don’t feel ELO did enough with this styling to fully justify a double album runtime. There’s a poetics and pop sensibility that is heavily inspired by the Beatles (especially Paul McCartney) in the songwriting. There’s an overall attention to pop song that makes each of these songs sound like they could have been smash hits. Mr. Blue Sky is still legendary and a great song worthy of that status. It was able to bring up many overall enjoyment of the record, but not enough for me to think this is something I’ll revisit often as a complete album.

I really dig the happy egg vibe that ELO creates in this album. Love songs, heartbreak and finding happiness. Technically I like the orchestral arrangements blended in rock. I bought the album in my youth because of Mr. Blue Sky and i wore it out.

Definitely too long. I love Mr Blue Sky and I could quite happily listen to this as background music but just too long.

Queen and ELO in the same week? Tempted to buy some supermarket stone washed jeans, a brown leather jacket and a copy of The Times then go to the pub for a pint of mild and a right good chat on what's wrong with the modern world.

it's all a bit too Alan Partridge-ey for me I'm afraid. I can't take it seriously, but are/were ELO supposed to be serious, is it jokey, tongue in cheek? What do I know, don't like it that much though.

Ugh Blugh Bleh

Good rock with various styles, ranging from classic to prog, and some really good instrumental songs.

I bought this when it came out, I was 11 and practically wore out the grooves on my blue vinyl copy! Absolute pearl of an album, Jeff Lynne was a pop song writing God! Epic!

It wasn’t bad but not great either. Over an hour is too much as the music kind of sounded the same after a while. Couple of good songs tucked away on it.

Pretty solid didn’t know what to expect

This probably could've had a shot at a 5 if it wasn't so freaking long. But it is so it should be happy it's getting a 4. They sound great, love the harmonies, production is great. Songs were nice and varied. Overall sounded really nice just so long.

great harmonies, BIG sound, love the blend of orchestral instruments, lots of variety in tempos.....but it is long. 3.5 stars

Fairly samey for me although do love the orchestral element.

Great fun.

I'll call this a 4.5 rounded up. It's a bit long and I imagine several songs come across as repetitive, seeing as, dynamic as they are, ELO has a bit of a signature, consistent sound. However, the album is still jam packed with hits.

This album is quite experimental. Which is usually down my alley. But this record doesn't resonate well with me. At times, you this happy beach boys vibe with string sections and then vocal distortions. Mr. Blue Sky sounds like a Queen rip-off... Or at the very least, a Freddy Mercury rip-off. This record tries to be epic but the songs don't hit that level. They're not bad songs.. But there isn't anything bringing me back to this record. Maybe Mr. Blue Sky. I'd give it a 4 for standing out as a record. But the replay ability is a strong 1. I'm stuck with giving this record a 2. I appreciate the things they are doing. Perhaps this is a pioneering album for the effects and style they've used in pop music that one still hears in today's pop music... But overly, it's just an ok. ELO-K.

I really enjoyed this actually. I’ve only heard one or two songs previously from this band and never thought to really delve into them but there are defo some standout tracks on this one. There are songs I wouldn’t really go back to hence a 3/5 but it’s a solid sound and enjoyable listen for the most part.

Mr. Blue Sky is one of my favorite songs. Absolutely always brightens up my day no matter how shitty the world is when I hear it. That being said, this album would be great if it were a single instead of a double.

A wonderful blend of the Beatles and possibly Queen, with more synthesizer and big post production. I loved it

I like this album, but there are better ELO albums. Mr Blue Sky and Turn to Stone were the highlights.

Easy to listen to but didn't blow me away 2.5

Like rock'n'roll era Elton John had a baby with the Beatles and Queen. Omg Mr Blue Sky has 437M listens on YouTube music alone. Is this track played in nursing homes and shopping malls? And this album is so over-indulgently long. I can't even. Hold yourself back. Two stars.

Solid, besides Mr. blue sky, I had heard of Telephone line from another album of theirs and was expecting greatness and was not disappointed, alot of variety in sounds which all sound cheery and good. Really good sounding band all round.

Super enjoyable pop rock

Fun album with great energy.

que álbum loooooooongooooooo da porraaaaaaaaaaaaa

groovy

I loved this album. I loved the fun sound it had, how catchy most of the songs were, and of course, Mr. Blue Sky. Only reason it doesn't get a 5, is for it being a little longer then I'd prefer, but it was worth the hour and ten most of the time. 4.75 Favorite Songs: Turn to Stone, Sweet Talkin' Women, Across the Border, Starlight, Mr. Blue Sky, Birmingham Blues, Wild West Hero Least Favorite: The Whale

It’s fine…probably could have used some editing

This felt like you put all the big 70s bands in a blender and this album was the result. It was interesting to feel like I was listening to the Electro-Beach Boys-Queen-Beatles album but I can't say I liked it.

A bop and a half

Amazing

I don’t dislike ELO but they tend to grate on me after a while

Prog disco, dated but Mr Blue Sky is a great song

Other than being too long, it's pretty excellent. I struggle to cut anything to make it shorter, but it could have been split into two albums. The rain medley is absolutely brilliant and should have been the end of the album. It feels a bit dusty after that. Strangely, the breakdown during Summer and Lightning is my favorite part of the whole album, but it feels like it's almost just lifted from Steve Miller's The Joker. Jeff Lynne on the whole is absolutely brilliant and underrated by John Q Public. Losing a star for length, but this is an all time great album.

Very VERY Beatlesesque, but damn does ELO do it justice. Absolutely killer and catchy tunes which make up for any slog this album has through its runtime. "The Whale" especially surprised me, that was absolutely beautiful

Honestly have a tough time deciding my favorite ELO album. This feels like the easy pick, the iconic artwork and a fair bit of their biggest hits. There is a decent amount of filler on here that are fine but I would’ve been fine with being removed. I still think I got to give a 5 in case this is the only ELO Rating: 4.6

This takes me back to middle school and awkward school dances. Big hair, flared jeans, girls dancing with their friends, boys standing on the sidelines and ELO playing on the speakers. I've never been a fan of ELO, but I tolerate listening to them for the 70's nostalgia. Plus, I've always thought this album cover looks like a Simon electronic light game.

Milquetoast is the word that kept jumping up in my mind while listening to this album. It doesn't help that it is over an hour long, I feel like all that couldve been said musically was said in the first 20 minutes. Mr. Blue Sky is a nice song, though, but that is the only one that really stood out to me.

Solid dad rock. It's got riffs, it's got singing, it's got tone, it's got soul. Just drags on a bit too much for my liking, so it starts to get old.

Obsessed

So fire, trippy and lovely

I do love ELO. Some great songs even though I feel it strays a bit from the original band concept to a more smooth sick pop sound. The pop sound is fine but the album is entirely too long.

This double record sprint out of the gate with some great tunes then stumbles bit here and there before popping out a few more big songs that are absolute classics. The production is super slick and tight and full. But why a double? Pick the best and leave the rest for b-sides. Still a 4 because of the bangers that have stood the test of time.

Kind of a poppy classic rock album. A little long.

There’s a couple of stand out songs on this album. But like most double albums it’s entirely too long. Way way too long. Probably a 3.5 but I’m rounding down because with some editing this could’ve been a high 4 star album.

It’s better than I had expected. Maybe because it’s dad rock, and I’m a dad? I remember when I was a kid, I definitely did not like this type of music, so I had low expectations going into this. I get kind of a 70’s The Beatles vibe if they has never disbanded However, this is just waaay to long. I do get tired of it at some point

Fun! 3.8.

Personal enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5

Amazing

4.1/5

Nice album to listen too, and Mr Blue sky is a fantastic song. On a personal note, my mom loved elo, so they'll always have a place in my heart.

While many of the songs here are catchy pop numbers, I just have never been able to find any soul in ELO's music. Jeff Lynne's production style never varies from tune to tune or artist to artist. Somehow, he was so influenced by the Beatles that he made George Harrison sound like ELO.

Solid batch of songs. I don't go out of the way to listen to ELO, but I enjoy it when I hear it.

Amazing album with some catchy, popular, famous songs that will remain awesome forever.

85/100 very nice little album. cool production, but the first half is considerably weaker than the first.

Its fun. Its a bit rock and disco, with a lot of retro synth. I like "Turn to Stone" and "Birmingham Blues", but overall its not really my thing. I couldn't listen to the whole album in one go and skipped a few songs.

Over produced American sounding pap. Hits good. But rest boring.

Orchestral. Fun. Wendy's favorite. Mr. Blue Sky

This was fine. Jeff Lynn has a very distinctive sound, so all of the songs have a very similar quality to them. Also, the running time is a tad excessive. I don't hate it. It's nice to have ELO peppered throughout other 1970s classic rock, but listening to 70 minutes of it straight through is too much. 3 or 4 songs is all I need.

This is OK to listen to. There are some fun songs, but man the sound is the same for every one of them. It got old quickly for me.