Alone In The Universe - (Jeff Lynne's) ELO

Before I fully invested my time into discovering all sorts of Hard Rock and Metal songs, one of my favourite bands growing up was ELO. I still love the band now although after much thought I probably don't know enough of their B-sides to call them one of my favourites. That being said, when I found out that they'd released another studio album after 14 years of silence under the name Jeff Lynne's ELO (due to the fact that aside from a backing vocalist and shaker/tambourine operator, Jeff Lynne plays every instrument on every track), I knew I had to listen to it.

Of all the bands I enjoy listening to, I've never really been certain of the genre that ELO fall into. Many people seem to classify them as Prog Rock but compared to bands like Yes and Rush, ELO are definitely more of a Pop Rock band with Prog origins and elements here and there (sort of like Kansas but with less of a Classic Rock touch). However, after listening to Alone In The Universe, it's clear that the band have walked away from the Prog scene and embraced the Soft Rock/Pop label.
Lead single "When I Was A Boy" may not sound like it came from the same artist that wrote "Hold On Tight" or "Turn To Stone" but it's definitely an appropriate album opener. It tells you that whilst Jeff Lynne still wants to carry on as the fifth Beatle, singing a tune that sounds like a mix between "Let It Be" and John Lennon's "Imagine", he's no longer about synth riffs and bouncy rhythms like the band used to be. ELO have matured and so has their music.
If you listen to any ELO compilation, the majority of songs will probably sound very upbeat and radio friendly. This album is the opposite side of the same Soft Pop coin with tracks such as "When The Night Comes" and "I'm Leaving You" sounding perfect for modern radio but only for listeners who enjoy their music slow, mellow and a little bit depressing. In fact, I honestly wasn't expecting this to sound so glum both musically and lyrically, especially towards the end of the album where the bonus track "Blue" is a total downer compared to that other song of theirs with "Blue" in the title.

Fortunately, there are a couple of upbeat numbers placed at healthy intervals that contain some classic ELO hallmarks ranging from the synth usage to the style of drumming, giving them a bit more of a Rock vibe although still a little tame compared to what Jeff Lynne is capable of ("Ain't It A Drag", "One Step At A Time"). There's also a Bluesy number called "Fault Line" completely set apart from the rest of the album that's understandably demoted to another bonus track. Not that it's a terrible song, it's just a bit of a strange inclusion.
Luckily, everything else feels right at home, whether it's the other Blues track with more Prog elements ("Love And Rain") or the Soft Prog Pop Rock filler track for nostalgia seekers ("Dirty As A Bone"). It's a testament to Jeff Lynne's ability to not only showcase his various musical talents and utilise his signature sound but also adapt his sound and musical style to be more in line with contemporary Soft Rock ("The Sun Will Shine On You") without forgetting about his...let's say, Liverpudlian influences ("All My Life").
Fans of the band's greatest hits will probably find this material a little bit gloomy to become new classics but I get the feeling that this album wasn't written to appease the die-hard fans clutching their copy of A New World Record in anticipation. Jeff Lynne clearly wanted to write something that he cared about instead of just pumping out "Mr Blue Sky '15" so he could pay off his new car. Regardless of whether or not the music is what you want from ELO, they get points for trying something relatively new and adapting to the times.

Alone In The Universe is easily less upbeat than some of the band's stronger material but that doesn't mean the production or songwriting is weaker. Granted the majority of tracks sound like they end prematurely, almost as if Jeff Lynne wasn't sure how to end them so chose to fade them out, but overall the album is well made and could've been released in any decade of the band's career without sounding out of place.
It may not be to my tastes but I can appreciate Jeff Lynne's vision and applaud his return to the studio, so he gets a 7/10 from me. It maybe could've done with something a bit more cheerful and bouncy like "The Diary Of Horace Wimp" just to give more of a contrast to the slower moody songs and inject a bit more variety into the record but other than that and the fade outs, it's a good album if you're into Soft Rock. Hopefully Jeff Lynne WON'T adapt to the current trend of aging musicians and die next week though.