STRANGE MAGIC: THE BEST OF ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA

For the casual fan of ELO, this is as good as it gets. It is a career-spanning 2-disc compilation that includes most of the band's greatest and most beloved songs. Over two hours of great ELO music, this is a one-stop collection for one interested in obtaining just about all the hits, although it certainly will not please those looking to delve deeper into the group. There are a few absences to bemoan, however: I would have loved to have seen the quirky song "The Diary of Horace Wimp" or the eerie instrumental "Fire on High" included, and given the total times, they could have been easily added. But there is little to complain about, really. The songs are roughly in chronological order, and since this compilation preceded the release of Zoom, no music from that album is included. Also, there is quite naturally no tracks from the Electric Light Orchestra Part II incarnation of the band, which is, to be quite honest, for the best. Strange Magic- The Best of Electric Light Orchestra is the most complete compilation on the market today. For someone unfamiliar with any of the band's output, this could prove a decent starting point, although one must realize that most of what's here is generally speaking pop music.