The second album by ELO, as well as the first one after Roy Wood's exit from the band. His absence is easily felt in the album through the songs. Despite clocking in at around 40 minutes, there are only 5 songs on the album, one of them being a cover. The songs have a tendency to be either repetitive, forgettable, or both, with a couple exceptions. Wood leaving the band seems to have left the overall tone of the album confused, both in elements and theme. The heavy orchestral emphasis from their first album is still there, this time more integrated with modern rock elements, but unfortunately it isn't that smooth. Aside from that, the themes of the songs is a loose and a little scattered. It'll show you light criticism of industrialism, war, and the process of life, but then also throw in out of place lyrics that don't compliment the other side very well, and can be hard to interpret (see: From the Sun to the World). When put together, the album doesn't really have anything it wants to say despite seeming like it does, and has a bumpy time trying to do it. On a positive note, the cover of Roll Over Beethoven is great.
Highlights: Mama, Roll Over Beethoven.
Rating: 2/6
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