Alpacas Orgling

L.E.O.

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 17, 2006)
• Original Release Date: October 17, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cheap Lullaby Records
• ASIN: B000HRME6Y
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #100,126 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Overture

2. Goodbye Innocence

3. Ya Had Me Goin'

4. Distracted

5. Make Me

6. Ol' College Try

7. Nothin' Will Ever Change

8. Don't Let It Go

9. Private Line

10. Sukaz Are Born Every Minute

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If the three letters of this band's name look familiar, just rearrange the first two. That's right--Alpacas Orgling is an homage to the orchestral sweep of '70s hitmakers Electric Light Orchestra. What's so compelling about these ten songs is how they capture the spirit of that earlier music without coming off as retro or nostalgic, even while directly referencing Jeff Lynne's arrangement, production, and writing styles. (The lyric "I can hear the cellos singing" in "Distracted" is certainly a tip of the hat in that direction). LEO have impressive credentials: assembled by Boston-based Bleu, a.k.a. William James McAuley III, the members include Andy Sturmer of Jellyfish, Tony Goddess of Papas Fritas, and Mike Voila of the Candy Butchers, whose past works make them dovetail perfectly. Though all brand-new originals, the set sounds like a greatest-hits collection. (And buried at the end, unlisted, is a cover of ELO's "Don't Bring Me Down.") This is the soundtrack of one decade, updated and right at home in another--braiding the years together, making the world go 'round. --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tasty hooks, cunning songwriting, November 14, 2006

By	J. B. Christian "Sans l'Édulconants Artificiels" (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This album is brilliant.

It's rare that I'll be that straightforward about it, but sometimes it's just best to cut to the chase. Which is what L.E.O. did, in this excellent, elegant tribute to the many production styles, beeps, whirrs, and full choirs of Jeff Lynne. Somehow Bleu has managed to write a concise group of songs that all (save for Ol' College Try) sound like cuts from ELO's best.

Of all the songs, the only true blatant rip of an ELO grove is 'Ya Had Me Goin'", which is directly Evil Woman in places, but it feels more like a lost second verse than theft. Bleu's vocal range fits perfectly with Jeff's, and hearing recognizable voices in the background choirs is always appreciated (specifically Jason Scheff from Chicago!)

This album is clearly new material, but it's the tiny, split second hooks or riffs that just sound exactly like ELO at their best, one little 'Oh, oh' here, one 'Clap clap' there, and it all fits together brilliantly to be an album that's enjoyable to the first listener, and to the longtime ELO fan - it's rare that tribute material can have such broad appeal. Every era of ELO is represented here: 'Goodbye Innocence' feels like chart-topping ELO (a la Out Of The Blue), 'Ya Had Me Goin'' and 'Distracted' belong in early ELO (Face The Music, Eldorado), with 'Private Line' and 'Sukaz' hailing from electronic-ELO (Secret Messages, Time) and even 'Nothin' Will Ever Change' providing a cameo from Jeff's solo-material era (Armchair Theatre)

Well, if you know your rock history, you know ELO was a side project of '60s band The Move. Who knows? Bleu may continue to release LEO records - and by the strength and taste of this music, I wouldn't be disappointed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Andy Sturmer Lives, October 30, 2006

By	Kathryn L. Bakken - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Hearing former Jellyfish frontman, Andy Sturmer, sing oh so briefly on Goodbye Innocence is glorious -- well worth the price of this record. If you're a Jellyfish fan you MUST own this record.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tribute To A Musical Genius, October 18, 2006

By	Phil G. Wilbury - See all my reviews

Bleu Mcaulay has recently stated in an interview that this album pays homage to the amazing talents that is Jeff Lynne.
It's obvious from start to finish that he has tried to recreat the sounds that Jeff Lynne has become well known for over several decades.
Rick Rubin also lent a helping hand speaking directly to Jeff and then advising Bleu and his mates on all those wonderful rich sound tapestry's that Jeff conjures up and how he does it.

But what a wonderful album it is.

Goodbye Innocence with the George Harrison slide guitar, could've easily fitted onto the Cloud Nine album.

Distracted very ELO-ish a wonderful melody with great harmonies.

Old College Try sounds very Mccartney to me combined with a little Lynne.

Nothing Will Ever Change is pure Jeff Lynne, with falsetto in the chorus and wonderful chord changes this could've easily been on Jeff's recent Zoom album.

Don't Let It Go again is pure Jeff Lynne. Super catchy melody, great harmonies and soundalike Jeff Lynne production.

This is actually a great album, every song is a pop gem though I wish Jeff Lynne himself had really produced it, Bleu MCaulay and his mates have made one hell of a record and appropriately a fitting tribute to one of the greatest musicians in pop history.

Buy it now!!!