Time: ELO Went There Before You

by JP

There are two types of people in this world: 1) Those who have an opinion about Electric Light Orchestra and 2) Those who have never heard of them. But even people in the latter category have heard them--their songs are all over the place--they just don't know it, since ELO never quite reached the same level of iconic status as, say, the Cars. For those not in the know, ELO helmsman Jeff Lynne is one of the great movers and shakers of late-20th century rock...if not for the entire ELO catalogue, then surely for his later incarnation as producer of (among others) Tom Petty, assorted solo Beatles and Dave Edmunds. Oh, and he's also "that bearded bushy-haired guy with the hat" in the Traveling Wilburys.

Originally released in 1981, Time is a concept album that tells the story of a man transported from his own time into the 21st century. After becoming disillusioned with the conveniences the future has to offer (including a robot female companion), he unsuccessfully attempts to escape. He is eventually returned to the year 1981 with the awareness that he must work to prevent this version of a cold, unfeeling future from becoming a reality.

The songs on Time are mind-bogglingly hook-laden, as if the album was the result of a class assignment to cram the maximum amount of catchy melodies, strings, synthesizers and inhumanly high falsettos into the grooves of an album. From the frenetic gallop of "Twilight" to the dramatic melancholy of "The Way Life's Meant to Be" and "Rain is Falling," the songs of Time effortlessly melt into your consciousness upon the first listening--and immediately feel like you've heard them for years. In at least one case, you have; "Hold On Tight" is a TV commercial workhorse, most recently for Honda.

In spite of Time's earnest combination of shrewd commercial songcraft and geeky sci-fi cliches (or more likely because of it), the album comes off as incredibly dated and fresh at the same time. The abundance of synthesized robot voices and sound effects predicts the Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots as well as the fashionable, unabashed bombast of the Arcade Fire and the Killers.

Time is best taken in at night, preferably while driving alone (the better to belt along with). Pop it in, crank it up, take out your inner geek-boy, and party like it's 1981.

Dead or alive, you're coming with me.

by MK

Instead of creating an ode to all '80s action flicks, it seems more appropriate to discuss one prime example of this genre, a film I just recently had the pleasure of watching again: Robocop.

Amidst the Die Hards and Lethal Weapons, Robocop is an oft-forgotten action movie due to its lack of big-name talent and slightly narrower sci-fi categorization. However, this film has numerous recognizable faces and stands the test of time with innovative directing and succinct storytelling.

There are the fairly common 80s film stamps of authenticity on this classic piece of celluloid: archetypal characters, unbelievable cop scenarios and extraordinarily violent sequences of blood and explosions. Yet, when you put all of these things together in a consistent manner, you get a complete style that is as engrossing as it is entertaining. Most elements are over dramatic, but most of the performances are top-notch and take this tale of revenge to another level.

Kurtwood Smith--known to most of us as Red Forman from FOX's That '70s Show--is powerfully intense as Clarence Boddicker, one of the most despicable villains in recent memory. Miguel Ferrer and Ronnie Cox (members of the "I've seen that guy in 100 movies" club) both have memorable performances as warring executive sharks at the corrupt weapons manufacturing firm OCP. And even with fairly forgettable performances by Peter Weller and Nancy Allen as Robocop and his hard-nosed partner, respectively, the film still holds its own amongst the very best of its own genre.

If you're looking for a fun, truly R-rated action film with solid cinematography and special effects (with its fine share of exploding buildings), then pick up the DVD or tune into Universal HD during the month of January to catch an underrated 103 minutes of 80s glory. He's part man, part machine and all cop--and completely ahead of his time.