Zoom

E.L.O. | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 12, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005KG66
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (230 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,409 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Alright

2. Moment In Paradise

3. State Of Mind

4. Just For Love

5. Stranger On A Quiet Street

6. In My Own Time

7. Easy Money

8. It Really Doesn't Matter

9. Ordinary Dream

10. A Long Time Gone

11. Melting In The Sun

12. All She Wanted

13. Lonesome Lullaby

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice surprise from Jeff Lynne and gang, June 12, 2001

By 

Derek Arnold "music lover" (Collingswood, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zoom (Audio CD)

Zoom, ELO's first studio album since Balance of Power some 15 years ago, is a fun and rock and rollicking return. The new version of the ELO spaceship contains elements of both old school ELO and some modern dashes, such as they are with the musical style of Lynne, a huge fan of retro, 50's based rock and roll. Throw in some dashes of Beatles influence (helped by former Fabs George Harrison and Ringo Starr) on songs like "Just For Love" (try to avoid the John Lennon, "Across the Universe" influence), and of course some Traveling Wilburys touches, especially on "Easy Money," a hard-up rocker kind of like "Four Little Diamonds," off of ELO's "Secret Messages," and the album comes across as a nice listen. In fact, Lynne's preferred musical style better fits his lyrics, which were never really all that complicated; they're a way to help guide you to the melodies, which were always (and no exception here) very strong. But that's not to say that the album is predictable, either. There are little wrinkles throughout that make a close listen rewarded: the use of strings seem more tied to establishing melody instead of just supporting it, the little hints of past ELO songs ("Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" in "All She Wanted," the afore mentioned "Four Little Diamonds" in "Easy Money," and tap dancing, straight out of "Jungle", for "In My Own Time,"), and the last song, called "Lonesome Melody," which is a rocker despite the song title. One last thing: for those who hated ELO in their earlier days, 1) the sound of this album feels much more accessible than ELO's style perhaps 20 years ago, and 2) Lynne has largely changed the use of the strings, using them to create melody and using guitars to establish support, which makes for a much more solid sounding set of songs. Highly recommended, with strong songs throughout, plus some nice surprises as well!

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice to see Jeff Lynne's ELO back at it, June 12, 2001

By 

John G. Miller "jgmiller3" (West Jordan, UT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zoom (Audio CD)

To get right to the point, don't expect an album overflowing with classic, string-filled ELO songs. This has more of a "Traveling Wilburys" feel to it for the most part, but there are still some luscious strings on a few songs to balance things out more with some ELO textures, which is more than can be said for the last couple of ELO releases before Lynne went into ELO exile. Had this boasted more of the classic ELO players like Bev Bevan, Kelly Groucutt, Richard Tandy, Mik Kaminski, Hugh McDowell and Melvyn Gale this would've gotten 5 stars in my book.

But hold on, because this is still a very good effort by Lynne, the first ELO studio effort in 15 years. Tandy is the only ELO alum aside from Lynne on the album, and he only appears on electric piano on the leadoff, "Alright." Lynne plays the bulk of the instruments himself and handles the backing vocals as well. Ringo Starr lends some tasty drum licks on "Moment In Paradise" and "Easy Money." George Harrison turns in some of his trademark slide guitar sounds on "A Long Time Gone" and "All She Wanted." Lynne also is supported by Suzie Katayama on cello, Rosie Vela on vocals and tap dancing, Marc Mann on engineering and rhythm guitar and string arrangement, and a score of other folks, but this is largely Lynne front and center. He worked his hiney off on this one.

The songs are genuine Jeff Lynne, which is good. "Alright" is a great start. "Moment In Paradise" is pretty mellow, Lynne does a good job on vocals. "State of Mind": Very catchy rocker, hooks aplenty. "Just For Love": After you settle in for another mellow one, it rocks a bit and blends right into "Stranger On A Quiet Street," where Lynne stands out more with vocals and keyboards and Katayama contributes brief but effective cello work. Looking for more of a patented ELO sound? It comes out in the bluesy "In My Own Time" with some luscious strings. You'll rock out with Ringo and Jeff on "Easy Money," too cool! "It Really Doesn't Matter" is solid with good guitar work. Looking for more patented ELO sound? Listen to "Ordinary Dream," maybe "A Long Time Gone" as well but without the strings on the latter. "Melting In the Sun" brings a bit of the ELO feel as well. "All She Wanted" is a winner, especially with Harrison on guitar and Katayama bringing out a "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" type of sound on the cello. "Lonesome Lullaby" closes it out very well, in a haunting way, and it has some good cello playing from Roger Lebow.

There's not a song I've heard yet on here that I can say I dislike. I still miss that bigger ELO sound with Kaminski on violin, and McDowell and Gale playing a much more prominent part on cellos, but this is a big step in a quite positive direction. This is a very worthwhile purchase.

Welcome back, Jeff! It's been too long!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars zoom, June 12, 2001

By 

james f murphy jr (millbury, ma United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zoom (Audio CD)

After fifteen years Jeff Lynne has resurrected one of pop/rock music's most innovative groups. To those familar with the "Lynne-Sound" you hear an album that reflects all of what makes Lynne the musically genius that he is. To those new to the band, one finds what has been missing from the world of contemporary music, a smart, balanced, enjoyable pop album for people over thirty. In the wake of the Beatles "One" album young fans who found the Beatles for the first time will find "Zoom" very much to their liking.