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Rating: The so-called "Orchestra of Electric Light," led by the eclectic Jeff Lynne and his motley crew (a hybrid of symphonic and rock artists), attempted to experiment in a flourishing period like the early '70s with a new concept of rock, pairing strings and violins with classic instruments of the genre; in truth, this attempt had already been timidly undertaken by other bands of the '70s, but we are talking about sporadic episodes and mainly live performances. The Electric Light Orchestra (from now on, we will simply call them ELO) tried to produce, especially in their early productions, a decidedly progressive sound, an attempt that actually did nothing but reveal the group's real peculiarity: short, catchy, and well-arranged tracks.
After the experimental ELO and ELO II, the transitional On a Third Day, and the ambitious Eldorado (all albums accompanied by successful singles), the classic "boom" arrived: "Face The Music".
Face the Music, seems almost to foreshadow aggressive sounds... nothing could be more wrong. The LP in question is a collection of catchy and well-arranged tracks, the best ELO could aspire to, yet it does not lack experimentation and tracks with progressive nuances: it is the first track, "Fire On High", that stands out from the rest of the album.
"The music is reversible but time is not. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back."
This line of text is the only one in the entire track, and moreover, it was recorded "backwards," making it incomprehensible without playing the old tape in "rewind" mode. Therefore, we can consider "Fire On High" a purely instrumental track (the only one on the album) with a great impact: besides being aggressive (just as the album title suggests, no?), it features a rather erratic rhythm, with violins and strings accompanied by guitar and drums that intensify, then take a short break, resuming with the strings and the relentless drumming of Bev Bevan (who made a brief appearance on a Black Sabbath tour).
"Fire On High" is certainly the most original and compelling track on the album, followed closely by a series of sweet symphonic sketches like "Waterfall", "Strange Magic" and "One Summer Dream", mainstream hits with a commercial impact like "Nightrider" and "Evil Woman", the rocking "Poker", and "Down Home Town", a track with a country flavor. Nothing aggressive, yet the title suggested otherwise; the reality is that we have an album in which the listener is mostly lulled, and that's not a bad thing: what seemed to be a "Progressive" work, is actually what I would define as Symphonic Rock, and Face The Music will pave the way for subsequent works, with ELO increasingly in search of simple and catchy melodies, their great limitation.
At least in this LP, we find two of the most successful tracks in their discography, and I am mainly talking about "Nightrider", with a truly galloping and dark rhythm, just as if we were admiring a knight of the night, and especially "Evil Woman", a famous track in the USA, recently included in the prestigious soundtrack of the video game GTA IV, deservedly so. However, "Waterfall" and "Strange Magic" are excessive for different reasons: the former is too sweet, the latter too somnolent. The rest of the tracks won't make history, but we are talking about an album that I consider an "Evergreen": it's suitable for all seasons, it's not demanding, it can be listened to by anyone, and it can introduce you to one of the catchiest bands ever.
The light bulb depicted on their covers has finally lit up, revealing their true ambition: simplicity. And we like them that way.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Waterfall (04:27)
So now it’s getting late, for those who hesitate, got no one,
But they don’t understand and no one hears the sound,
It’s like a waterfall, it’s an illusion.
Chorus
Love is all, waterfall, love is what you are,
Pulls you in, takes you down, it’s a sad affair,
But you know as you hold back the power there without the friends
And lovers you could never go on living.
Across the waterfall that’s falling evermore down on you,
Cascading through the days, and flowing on it’s way,
That’s how it has to be, just an illusion.
Chorus repeat
03 Evil Woman (04:19)
You made a fool of me, but them broken dreams have got to end
Hey woman, you got the blues, 'cause you ain't got no one else to use
There's an open road that leads nowhere, so just make some miles between
here and there
There's a hole in my head where the rain comes in
You took my body and played to win
Ha, ha, woman, it's a cryin' shame
But you ain't got nobody else to blame
CORUS
Evil woman, evil woman, evil woman, evil woman
Rolled in from another town
Hit some gold, too hot to settle down
But a fool and his money soon go separate ways
And you found a fool lyin' in a daze
Ha, ha, woman, what you gonna do
You destroyed all the virtues that the Lord gave you
It's so good that you're feelin' pain
But you better get your face on board the very next train
CHORUS
Evil woman, how you done me wrong
But now you're tryin' to wail a different song
Ha, ha, funny how you broke me up, you made the wine, now you drink a cup
I came runnin' every time you cried
Thought I saw love smilin' in your eyes
Ha, ha, very nice to know that you ain't got no place left to go
CHORUS
04 Nightrider (04:23)
I remember somewhere in the rain,
The faces of the passers-by,
Staring faces broken blinds,
I recall the situation clearly standing in a crowded car,
I can feel the need in me.
CHORUS:
Hold on, nightrider baby,
Hold on you're a nightrider,
Riding the night, searching for what is gone,
Never reaching the end, so you must travel on.
I still see that vision of delight,
While cruising on the black of night,
But she keeps a step ahead,
Looking out the corner of her world,
Nobody ever knows a girl, who once lived along this way.
CHORUS: Repeat
Desolation degradation row,
Don't let the feeling show,
She's a ten a penny dream,
Faces with no name and no address,
Keep staring in on my distress, but she kills me with her smile.
CHORUS : Repeat
05 Poker (03:31)
Away, the jokers's closing in,
Reform and they will win,
The light is fading fast.
I know, you know, they know, we all know,
Everybody's gonna burn down.
The girls come crawling on all fours,
Banging on locked doors,
High cards call the tune.
I know, you know, they know, we all know,
Everybody's gonna burn down.
Play me another hand,
Loose everything I am,
Until we meet again.
The ace, that's hiding up your sleeve,
Will cause the world to grieve,
The love you had is gone,
I know you know, they know, we all know.
The dream, in every player's heart,
To win it all not part,
They lie awake at night,
I know, you know, they know, we all know.
The game, where gamblers rule the night,
And get your blood they might,
The joker's closin' in,
I know, you know, they know, we all know.
06 Strange Magic (04:29)
You're sailing softly
Through the sun in a broken stone age dawn
You fly, so high, I get a
Chorus
Strange magic, oh what a strange magic
Oh it's a strange magic, got a strange magic,
Got a strange magic.
You're walking meadows in my mind,
Making waves across my time,
Oh no, oh no, I get a
Repeat Chorus
Oh I'm never gonna be the same again
Now I've seen the way it's got to end,
Sweet Dream, Sweet Dream
Repeat Chorus
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