ELO

“Mr Blue Sky: The Very Best Of…”

Pop Rock

Frontiers

Released 8^th October 2012

 

            Let me make one thing clear, I don’t like people pissing on my back and telling me it’s raining.

           This is the blurb that accompanies this album and I quote, “Featuring ELOs biggest and most memorable hits, Mr. Blue Sky The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra is a BRAND NEW ALBUM featuring BRAND NEW RECORDINGS by Jeff Lynne, which sound much sharper and clearer than the old versions. It includes a never before heard bonus track, Point of No Return. In a nod to ELOs 40th anniversary, a very special edition of 10538 Overture is also featured.”

Got that? No? Well let me put in simple terms; IT’S A FUCKING RIP OFF.

I’m fucking incandescent. A brand new album of brand new recordings? A brand new compilation album of rerecorded ELO hits more like. That used to be termed alternate versions didn’t it? What’s the fucking point in that?

There are two bonus tracks, one of which has never been released. I take it that’s the USP then? Well yippee, fuck me rigid and call me sweetheart.

What makes things worse is the tracks here add nothing to the originals. In fact, if they don’t sound almost exactly the same, they are inferior.

And where’s Ma-Ma-Ma-Belle and Rockaria? The very tracks that would justify me sat here flipping my lid and writing this. They couldn’t even do a full cover version of the damn title track.

There are probably still hordes of ELO completists out there to justify Frontiers optimism/cynicism. Well good luck to them. The deserve each other.

If you want some ELO then go for Best Of… which is available for nearly half the price with nigh on double the tracks.

Or…

There are loads of excellent original albums of original songs by original bands out there on which to spend yer hard earned dosh. Just check out Metaltalk’s archive of review articles for one.

I don’t understand why this nasty release has arrived at all, let alone why now so avoid this fucking piece of shit like the plague. I don’t care what they’ve done; it’s still a damn rip off.

I think when the corporate juggernaut takes its piss taking antics to these heights (admittedly surprising for Frontiers) someone has to get stuck in with the proverbial size elevens.

Overall, trully awefull in more ways than one