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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The closest anyone has come to "classical rock.", July 28, 1998
By A Customer
Sadly overlooked, even by many E.L.O. fans, "E.L.O. II" is Jeff Lynne's rock masterpiece (let's face it, "A New World Record" is a pop album). A quarter century after its release, it's still the closest anyone has come to producing something that can be called "classical rock" with a straight face. From the Move-like 'In Old England Town,' to the raveup of Chuck Berry's 'Roll Over Beethoven' (a Top 40 hit in the U.S.), to the majestic 'Kuiama,' "II" is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow chased by Yes, The Moody Blues, Emerson, Lake, & Palmer, Genesis, and others. The playing on the album is downright virtuostic and Lynne's production is top-notch as usual. You wonder after your first listen to the album why the band didn't explore some of the ideas on "II" further ("On The Third Day" bares no resemblance); on your second listen you realize they didn't need to.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Transitional, November 19, 2004
Electric Light Orchestra II was a transitional album for ELO as Roy Wood departed in mid-stream (though he plays uncredited on the two "Boogies.") It's wildly experimental, at times rough and barely listenable, but it is a brilliant and stirring piece of work. (As has been noted, this album is entitled "II" by the ORIGINAL Electric Light Orchestra; it is not the self-titled debut of "The Electric Light Orchestra Part Two.") That settled, we can say that the 1973 album "II" by ELO is a masterpiece, albeit somewhat flawed by later ELO production standards. It was here that ELO truly became Jeff Lynne's band, and he makes the most of it. "Mama" is a lovely pastoral Lynne ballad, with a memorable instrumental break. "From the Sun to the Sun to the World" is an orchestral rave up and showcases new keyboardist Richard Tandy, who rocks his socks off here. Jeff contributes a memorable, smoking guitar solo. "Roll Over Beethoven" is the perfect marriage of orchestra with retro-rock and struck pretty big on the charts. It remains popular today, and is the definitive version of that oft-covered tune. "Kuiama" is a very ambitious prog-rock tune that lumbers along at times, soars celestially, and ultimately breaks your heart. It's unlike anything ELO has done since, and bears repeated listenings. Kudos to Bev Bevan for his perfect drumming on that tune and througout this entire album. Wilf Gibson's violin solo is stunning on "Kuiama." The album's lead-off track, "In Old England Town (Boogie #2)" is somewhat of a mis-step. Instrumentally interesting, it contains one of Jeff's harshest vocals ever. Check out the instrumental version of this song on EARLY ELO, which I greatly prefer. Still, ELO gets points for trying. This whole album has a very experimental air, and saw the band stretching its legs like never before or since. If the only ELO you know is from pop radio, you might give 1973's "II" a spin; it contains some really fine progressive rock. (Also look for the UK import expanded edition THE LOST PLANET which contains two discs with contributions from the Move's Carl Wayne and T. Rex's Marc Bolan.)
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
On The Second Day, June 15, 2004
Nifty title eh?
Oh, oh well...
Firstly, I advise you read a review that gives the album a poor mark in addition so that you can compare the good comments to the bad. Right, I find this album to be in the ELO's top three. (alongside their debut, and Eldorado). It is my opinion that this is an underated album (not a classic though) which is shown in many other of the reviews written around mine. This is their second album, and was mostly written after the departure of Roy Wood. However he did contribute on several tracks, which is obviouse when listening to the two albums that surround it- the debut sounding very similar, the successor sounding completely different.
However this is straying from the point, the album contains five very good tracks, one being the famous cover of Roll Over Beethoven. I will give you a tip though. Buy the ELO 2: Lost Planet CD set as it has many other tracks as well as early versions of some tracks played here. (there are three versions of Roll Over Beethoven!). I also advise you to buy this set only if you are a hardcore ELO fan as it will hold little interest to any one else.
On the whole though, anyone who has other ELO's and likes them can get this with reasonable assurence of satisfaction (unless you only like the albums after Out Of the Blue) and the same goes for someone 'into' music who wants to give ELO a go, hey, that rhymes! I should be a lyrisist. After all I've greet speling...
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album Electric Light Orchestra II 
