Long Wave - Jeff Lynne
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Metascore
70 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.5 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

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  • Summary: The ELO frontman releases a covers album of songs that inspired him, including Bobby Darin's "Beyond the Sea," Fain & Webster's "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing," Etta James' "At Last," Rodgers and Hammerstein's "If I Loved You," Rodgers & Hart's "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," and the Rolling Stones' "Mercy, Mercy."… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. All Music Guide
    Oct 9, 2012
    80
    When these sweet reinterpretations are combined with the straight-ahead rockers, Long Wave adds up to a blueprint in reverse for Lynne; by going to back to his beginnings, he winds up figuring out why he went in the direction he did.
  2. Mojo
    Oct 22, 2012
    80
    Easy on the ear yet never sugary, full and layered yet never stodgy, intricately assembled yet never fussy, pulsing with a Ringo beat yet never monotonous. [Nov 2012, p.91]
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  3. The A.V. Club
    Oct 9, 2012
    75
    Long Wave is actually pretty delightful, perhaps because it's just such a pleasure to hear that telltale Lynne sound again, after it's been absent from the airwaves for so long.
  4. Slant Magazine
    Oct 9, 2012
    60
    Love songs and brazen nostalgia are the album's bread and butter, and it's hard not to be drawn in by the comfort of Lynne's layer upon layer of pleasant melodic attention.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. rookster
    10
    This review contains spoilers. This is a Jeff Lynne masterpiece. I am on my third run through non stop and it is pure genius, a delight to sing along to real classics with that ELO lilt. I have not listened to an cd for so long that I want to play again and again. At last ive found a new one. thx Jeff… Collapse
  2. bHabs
    8
    Jeff Lynne is back, and is sounding better than ever. Any doubts I had about this cover album went away when I heard it. These classic tunes have really been given that Jeff Lynne spin, from the Beatle-esque harmonies of She to the bright guitars of Beyond The Sea. The album is a tad short (at only 27 minutes) and really leaves the listener wanting to hear more from Jeff. Nonetheless, this is a welcomed return from this master of pop.… Expand
  3. Jesseneuro
    8
    It's "only" a covers album, but the song choices are great; and the harmonies, are, well...perfect: ELO harmonic mesmerism is unique. The songs are both understated and overstated, which turns this album into both an homage and a Lynnesque escapade of bliss. The album is too brief; my personal rule is 35 minutes, but quality trumps quantity, and it's not damaged by filler.… Expand

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