Recycled
eveoflove | North York, Ontario Canada | 07/01/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Made in AUT in 2000, Serial# 489039-5, Playing Time 148:08Not much to say about this compilation, but here's the lowdown:Ever heard of the 2-disc set "Light Years" everyone that's craving for a great "best of" is raving about? No... well, it was released in 1997.This set is the same, also made in Austria (not in Sweden as the title might suggest!) but in 2000, same track content, but with different artwork.Same material (even the core serial number is the same!), but better priced!"
Great for the newbie
Candace Scott | Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA | 04/10/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am sick of ELO being bashed as the poor man's Beatles, as sappy, as "disco-flavored violin trash," and as infantile muzak. All of these criticisms are from people who haven't bothered to listen to ELO from beginning to last and who are too obtuse to realize that Jeff Lynne is a musical genius (and no, I don't use that word lightly). Yes, his lyrics are banal, but with this type of music, who on earth cares? The lyrics to "Ob La Di, Ob La Da" are trite too, but with such catchy music, one can overlook the banality of the words.This set is the not definitive set of the three issued ELO compilations, check out "Flashback" for that distinction. "Xanudu" is still a limping dog of a song, but there are some remastered gems here. ALl of the first 2 discs are pure magic, including ELO's most underrated (and, I think, best) song, "Nightrider." And how about "Four Little Diamonds" on disc three, where you can Lynne counting down the intro and sounding exactly like Ozzy Osbourne, in their mutual Birmingham accents.The sound quality is excellent and the track order is pleasing. There are no omissions and only a few questionable inclusions, and they all appear on disc three.I bought my first ELO single when I was 10 years old and I never looked back. If you've read this far, you're a fan like me and you will devour this set. Long live this sappy, trite, banal band... I still love 'em forever!"