1001 Albums Summary

Did not like this much, although one track was pleasing enough to add to my gym playlist. Smiths problem: lovely melody and musical accompaniment, most of the singing either weedy or shouting.

First track seems to be several different songs fused together. Verses have nothing to do with the chorus and are mashed-up lyrics from rock & roll classics. Don't mind the singing, hate the prog guitar noodling and the tappy cymbals. Very little light and shade. Is this Ian Gillan? It is. He can sing a lot better than this. Track two is whiney/shrieky and a bit monotonous. Don't think I can listen to all of this.

Quite enjoyed this (although really noticed the Beatles debt after listening to so much Beatles lately, something that didn't occur to me when I first heard ELO in the 70s) but it was too long and some of the tracks were a bit samey.

This is more like it. The first LP I owned, so a profoundly nostalgic pleasure, but Dancing Queen and Knowing Me, Knowing You are classics for a reason and I have an ongoing fondness for Tiger and Why Did It Have To Be Me? too. No need to add Fernando and Happy Hawaii to this album, Arrival was the perfect ending already.