Electric Light Orchestra, Part Two

B.Wind (August 10, 2004)

Let's see here... You have a million-selling group that has been declining for the past five years and you lose your heart and soul, producer, and writer. Two of the three founders have left, and the third had expressed complete boredom in the enterprise over the latter part of the previous decade. What do you do -- call it a day?

Not ELO. Replacing the irreplaceable Jeff Lynne was the capable (but not outstanding) Eric Troyer. Drummer/founder Bev Bevan assumed the leader's position (despite wanting out in the latter '80s), and the name of the group was changed to ELO Part II.

The LP/CD is not unlistenable, but it is very nondescript. The only song that stands out was their single "For the Love of a Woman."

But since the purpose of ELO Part II was to keep the songbook alive in their tours, and Troyer's voice was not that far from Lynne's, the LP/CD served it purpose, and it served it well. But the group's expectations were set clearly lower than when Lynne, Wood, and Bevan converted the Move into the original ELO two decades earlier.