Electric Light Orchestra – Ballads Review

Be it through artificial intelligence slop or phoned-in compilations, Electric Light Orchestra has sold its soul. The Jeff Lynne-fronted group will wrap up their time on stage next month. It is truly the end of an era as the likes of The Who and Lynne call time on stage efforts. This was bound to happen at some stage, and we have the memories, the promise of archival tapes and extra features, to keep us going. But when the barrel-scraping of the ELO team is already in full swing, as it is on Ballads, is hard to put on a brave face and hope for deep cuts to be released in new forms. A compilation of already released efforts and no touch-ups beyond a grating album cover. This is the future for bands of a certain vintage, you may as well embrace it now. It will not change.  

What does not change also is the quality of the songs featured. What for ELO is considered a ballad? Where listening to a Bob Dylan compilation may see a new song slipped in, an underrated gem pop up, the bulk of these pieces from other artists are relatively futile. There is a uselessness to them, the low-hanging fruit of a compilation offering is more to service fans who want a new context for already released songs. Ballads can barely offer that. Even the ballads ELO did offer, especially on later albums, are swerved here. At least Take Me On and On, the underrated rip from Secret Messages, makes it in there. But Ballads soon becomes a checklist of expectations, a hope of experiencing this song or that in a new context. It is not so much the ballad-like suggestions of the song but the tempo or the tone of Lynne’s lyrics which define what is and is not to be placed on this meandering compilation.  

A brief and breezy run-through of their discography is offered, that much is clear, though Ballads struggles to find a route through. Still, there are moments of interest for the hardcore listener. Mr. Radio marks an early song which has not been included outside of compilations since its appearance on the self-titled debut. Those who have a copy of Harvest Showdown may recognise this one, the closest the album comes to ballad-like works, even if the piano keys are in such a high register, dogs may enjoy it more than those with soft tinnitus. A welcome addition to the compilation, nonetheless, with some sharp writing from Lynne which is not overtaken by the electrified effects of the band’s heyday. What should be noted is a peculiar volume issue, a rise and fall which comes from shoddy compilation work.  

Strange Magic is louder than the songs preceding it, an easy fix for those with volume controls at hand but a minor slight which turns the project into a useless, grating piece. These songs work well on their own or in the context of the album, but not when squeezed of their life and thrown together for reigniting interest. Compilations will always have a hard time at recontextualising the songs at hand, but Ballads does not even try. A crammed and unconvincing collection of great songs. You are better off, as is often the case for compilation efforts, seeking out the albums these songs are ripped from. It is not as though Out of the Blue and Twilight are difficult listens. Experience the project in full, or not at all. These are the only options for the always-engaged listener.