Electric Light Orchestra fans say one album has ‘one of Jeff Lynne’s very best’ songs on it

Fans of the legendary rock band Electric Light Orchestra say an underrated album hides one of Jeff Lynne‘s “very best” songs.

Lynne, 77, will retire from performing later this year with a gig at Hyde Park, London. Though ELO will no longer be performing, Lynne has suggested he will continue to be an active presence in the studio, though it is not known if this will be as producer or performer. His most recent efforts with ELO in the studio have been a hit with listeners, as one fan believes an album which released a decade ago hosts one of Lynne’s finest tracks. A post to the r/ELO subreddit saw fans share their love of the particular track and the album as a whole, which was praised by many as a return to form for the group.

The band has remained relatively active in the studio and on stage since reforming in 2014 for a Hyde Park show. A fan posting to the subreddit asked if there were “any fans” of the 2015 album, Alone in the Universe. Many replied, and some shared what they believed to be one of the most underrated Lynne songs around.

One fan wrote: “I love it. The first song, When I Was a Boy, really brought ELO back, and the rest of the album is pure Jeff Lynne. I don’t mind the use of string samples on it. Just about the whole album does it for me, including Love and Rain, When the Night Comes, and the title track, to name a few.

“While Zoom was good but failed to bring ELO back on the road (the tour was cancelled despite a couple of appearances for VH1 and PBS), the second time was the charm for Alone In The Universe after the Hyde Park show, which occurred a year before the album’s release.”

A second wrote: “The first track, When I Was A Boy, is a song about Jeff growing up. It’s beautiful, perhaps one of his very best. I was lucky enough to hear it on the 2019 tour.

Another fan has suggested the album has a “mellowed vibe” compared to other efforts from the group. They shared: “I really enjoyed this album. I find the generally more mellowed vibe to be quite contemplative, and a good all-rounder for background tunes in a car, bar a couple of the more upbeat ones, which add some nice variety.

“Caught one of their concerts on their tour for this album and liked the mix of old and new. While not my favourite album, I have five or so tracks in my daily playlist.”

While many were fans of Alone in the Universe, some have noted the lack of true string sections are what lets the album down. One user wrote: “I really like it. Many disparage the lack of strings and feel that this makes it less ELO and more of a Jeff Lynne solo album, but to me ELO is Jeff Lynne.

“It doesn’t make the album any less good in that the essence of ELO is/was Jeff and his great writing of songs that make you feel emotions. His intent is such and because of this he’s a really great artist, my favorite artist of all time. The depth and impact no other artist has ever given me, and of which I have never tired in my appreciation.”

Another added: “Love it, I think it’s the saddest and maybe most underrated ELO album. It doesn’t reach the highest heights of ELO, but the songwriting is solid, and you can tell that the album came from a deep place. When I Was A Boy, The Sun Will Shine On You, and Alone In the Universe are my favourites from it at the moment.”

A third suggested Alone in the Universe had fallen short of expectation, writing: “The album is okay and when one is starving, a hamburger will suffice even when you wanted a steak.

“I have the album downloaded and have listened to it innumerable times. Sadly, with the exception of a few tunes, it lacks the creative audacity of the earlier ELO work. I don’t get the chills that I got listening to Eldorado, Face the Music, A New World Record and even Out of the Blue.”