grumpyf1

Hold on tight! This week sees the return of a man who is definitely a musical genius with a capital G. Don’t walk away – it isn’t strange magic... Jeff Lynne is back! Yes, the be-afro-ed one with the shades who bestrode the 70’s with orchestral rock of the highest calibre did apparently not turn to stone, or purchase a ticket to the moon, for this week sees the release of not one, but two albums, all over the world. Considering it’s 22 years since the ELO frontman/writer/guitarist/everything else too’s last solo outing, it’s true that this could cause some confusion. For a man heading into the twilight of his career, it’s an ambitious outing – “Long Wave” is an album of covers of songs from his youth, whilst “Mr Blue Sky” is a best-of... but re-recorded entirely by his Jeffness as - get this! – he wasn’t happy with the original versions. Don’t bring me down, Jeff – they were awesome. But I guess that’s the way life’s meant to be. If he wants the world to know “I’m alive”...