Time takes its cues more from such bands as
the Alan Parsons Project and
Wings than from
Jeff Lynne's fascination with
Pepper-era
Beatles. Sure, all the electronic whirrs and bleeps are present and accounted for, and
Time did spawn hit singles in "Hold on Tight" and "Twilight," but on the average,
ELO had begun to get too stuck on the same structure and content of their releases. "The Way Life's Meant to Be" echoes very early
ELO hits like "Can't Get It Out of My Head," and the "Prologue" and "Epilogue" segments try and bring about a unifying concept that doesn't quite hold up upon listening all the way through.
Time proves to be competent
ELO but not great
ELO. ~ James Chrispell