Time was the last truly great album from the Electric Light Orchestra, released as their world-conquering fame was starting to ebb. A concept album (a brave undertaking in 1981), Time has a space-age theme and is set at th... more »e end of the 21st century. What's most remarkable is how all this science-fiction silliness is salvaged by the exuberant playing. "Yours Truly, 2095" uses a number of ELO's hallmarks--a catchy synth riff, sweeping strings, and over-the-top production--to tell a tale of a man in love with a robot; the album's highlight, it should have been a hit single. The epic "Twilight" and "Hold on Tight"--which practically bounces along like an overexcited puppy--also stand among ELO's finest works. Moreover, critical darlings Grandaddy have frequently stated the album influenced their excellent Sophtware Slump, evidence that this futuristic album was itself years ahead of its time. --Robert Burrow« less
Time was the last truly great album from the Electric Light Orchestra, released as their world-conquering fame was starting to ebb. A concept album (a brave undertaking in 1981), Time has a space-age theme and is set at the end of the 21st century. What's most remarkable is how all this science-fiction silliness is salvaged by the exuberant playing. "Yours Truly, 2095" uses a number of ELO's hallmarks--a catchy synth riff, sweeping strings, and over-the-top production--to tell a tale of a man in love with a robot; the album's highlight, it should have been a hit single. The epic "Twilight" and "Hold on Tight"--which practically bounces along like an overexcited puppy--also stand among ELO's finest works. Moreover, critical darlings Grandaddy have frequently stated the album influenced their excellent Sophtware Slump, evidence that this futuristic album was itself years ahead of its time. --Robert Burrow
"I don't know if its being the first LP I ever bought has anything to do with it, but I've always cherished *Time* and continue to listen to it with surprising regularity. The arrangements are both more intricate and more atmospheric than those on many other ELO albums, and the loose but present narrative thread (of a man lured to an enticing but ultimately lonely future) has always captivated me. "Ticket to the Moon" embodies more than one kind of longing, and its heart-wrenching beauty has few parallels in pop music.This fresh edition of the album is superlative in almost every respect. The sound, while still dynamically compressed, is extremely true to the astonishing quality of the original LP, with perhaps greater heft in the bottom end (but not so much as to make it sound overly equalized) and of course no surface noise in the quiet moments!It probably goes without saying that the new version trumps the original CD, mastered by the great Joe Gastwirt in the late '80s. While timbrally respectable, Gastwirt's version still suffered at the hands of the relatively poor-quality analog-to-digital converters of the day, and for some reason certain song transitions did not originally make it the CD intact (track 5 into 6, track 11 into 12); these are restored on this new edition.The original CD lacked lyrics and complete liner notes, and these also can be found on the remastered disc. The CD's only failing is in the petty "commentary" from Jeff Lynne, who more often belittles than illuminates his music (the commentary on the new box set, *Flashback*, is little better). At best, Lynne offers insight on the keyboard sounds used in the haunting instrumental, "Another Heart Breaks"; at worst he sounds put out at having to say anything at all: his comment for "The Lights Go Down" is merely "I guess the lights went down." One would think this reissue were being put out under duress!In any case, if you liked this record or are feeling adventurous and want to hear one of the best albums released in the 1980s, add this to your cart!"
ELO's Best Ever and Among the Best Concept Albums of All Tim
Frederick Baptist | Singapore | 10/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album was one of the very first that I'd ever owned and even after all these years, the sheer brilliance of it still leaves me spellbound. Jeff Lynne without a doubt has the gift of melody and storytelling which comes out in great evidence here. Set as a futuristic warning of a space-age, Asimov-style robotic time to come and one individual's successful escape from this experience, we get track after track of just great, well-written songs that only ELO could come up with. It's difficult to single out any weak track here and my favourite which also is one of my all time favourite tracks is "The Lights Go Down" which still gives me a thrill each time I hear it. This is ELO's greatest album of all and clearly showcases all the reasons for what ELO will also be remembered for: great unique blending of the classical and rock genres, great ear for melody and great songwriting. This version of the album has been well remastered by Jeff Lynne and he writes the liner notes as well. Highly recommended!"
The Way Music's Meant to Be
Jvstin | Circle Pines, MN United States | 06/29/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Time was and is one of my favorite E.L.O. albums. A concept album much in the same tradition of Eldorado, TIME tells the story of a man who is transported from the year 1981 (the year of the album release) to a dystopic 2095. Sound dull? Far from it! E.L.O. has a history of catchy pop tunes with excellent and unusual instrumentals, and this is no exception. This remastered edition includes a few songs which were "left off" the original album, but are definitely part of the story that the item tells. I heard all of the "extras" on the Afterglow compedium, and I like them as much as the original Time songs. They belong with their brethren, and although I already have a copy of Time, and Afterglow, I could not resist picking up this album to have the entire Time cycle on one CD.This is truly the way music's meant to be."
From another planet that we have yet to discover!!!!!!!
michael shaoul | new york, new york United States | 12/07/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I don't think anyone really understands how devistatingly good this album is! It's one of the most consistant and playable albums anyway. A good mix of pop and intelegence that makes it, in my opinion, some of the best pop music from the eighties. Short and sweet, but with a real power and driving force behind it that makes it stand the test of time. I can put it in the CD player and listen to it from beginning to end every time and what a pleasure it is. No one has Lynne's voice - one of a kind. Why can't there be more music like this made today. This album will be discovered one day and credit payed due. I mean there are not many other that sound like this. It's almost like it's from another planet. It's sounds are out of this world - almost like Jeff Lynne recorded it on the moon or something. This album is to ELO what the Sgt. Pepper's album is to the Beatles - Groundbreaking!!!! A fantastic adventure that pulls you into its own world. I haven't heard much new stuff today that can achieve what this album does to my spine. The song "Yours Truely, 2095" is, I don't even know what to say, for one thing, bone chilling and scary!!! The orchestra section in this song is, and if you don't agree, listen to it one more time, absolutly frightning but also eloquent and moving. Lynne knows exactly what chords to use in order to strike to right chords in your brain.Others like, of course, "Twilight", "Ticket To the Moon" and Rain Is Falling" are classics, but the are hidden treasures all over the place. "Another Heart Breaks" is a creepy Pink Floydesk song that's darker tham most usual ELO songs. I like that. There are also many prolific social statements such as "Here Is the News", "The Way Lifes Meant To Be" and "21st Century Man" that are also absolutly priceless. Where is this music today? Man, if only I was born just ten years earlier instead of the same year this masterpeice came out! Yes, I'm only 21 and I can't say how sorry I am that other kids my age are missing out on stuff like this. This album needs to be reccognized and played more on the radio. I just don't understand why it isn't.Fun album from another planet, play it loud if you want to!!!"
A fantastic undertaking that has held up very well.
David Kenner | Fort Worth, Texas United States | 09/04/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I thought I had all the ELO I wanted with their double disc hits collection until one day not too long ago when I woke up with their song "Yours Truly 2095" in my head. I don't know what made this 20 year old song, that I haven't heard in probably 15 years or so, play so vividly in my dreams that morning but it reminded me that there were several songs on "Time" other than the hit singles that I really enjoyed when I had the LP "back in 1981". Since the album has recently been remastered with bonus tracks, I figured the time was right. The album doesn't sound nearly as dated as one might fear. The futuristic concept of the album still sounds amazingly fresh. And when "The Way Life's Meant To Be" came on, I couldn't believe that I haven't owned this CD before. That was always my favorite song on "Time" and it still is. I think "Meant to Be" and "Yours Truly" should have been singles before "Twilight" and "Rain is Falling". The latter two songs are great tunes, but seem in retrospect to have been too predictable as single choices. The bonus tracks were new to me and I love all three, especially "Julie Don't Live Here". It's a really great song and it's strange to think that such strong material had to be left off of the album due to time restrictions. I'm glad to have "Time" again. Now, maybe I need to re-investigate another long lost friend in "Out of The Blue"."