The Album Review Club - Week #195 (page 1310) - A New World Record - ELO

This album reminds me that we live in a society and an age where we no longer fix things.

There used to be shops that fixed radios, TVs, toasters and what not. You took your stuff there, the dude examined it and did his best, and you took it back and carried on with it working. Sometimes with a knack. I had an old hoover that I took to a hoover repair guy a whole bunch of times over the years. Changed its cable, wheels, handle, various bits and bobs. It worked great, and I loved it. Eventually the hoover guy closed, never seen him since. Wonder what he's up to these days, and how transferable his skills are. His shop is now a vape shop, like every other shop about. There was no more way for me to fix that hoover, so I replaced it. Had multiple hoovers since, none as good as that one, and I bet if I could get it fixed today, it would still be better than ones twice or more its price brand new. And would outlast them. We just don't build shit to last any more!

No such shops really exist now. If your tv flickers, or a button on your remote goes wobbly, people just buy a whole new tv. If their printer jams or smudges, people get a bit frustrated and then buy a new printer. When something needs a small part replaced, that part often costs most of the way to getting a new thing. There isn’t anyone really that knows enough to have a go at fixing it. There is of course youtube, and for some things it is great. And you are often lucky enough to find exactly your item and your issue and what the problem is, and follow the bedroom expert's advice, and voila you did it yourself! Amazing. Or you end up having wasted hours, only to realise that wee part is completely different or is no longer made, and a bit of chewing gum there won't do the trick. And you buy a new thing. Or try call a guy, but it’s a waiting list for his mercy to see you for a quote. Which will likely be more than a new thing. I wonder if my hoover guy has a youtube channel on how to fix hoovers yourself! I wonder what his favourite Beatles song is. I wonder..

And this album makes me wonder. Good pick this. 7.5 out of 10.
 
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An up and down record for me.
1976 left school and punk and new wave around the corner.
I can remember the awful telephone line so maybe maybe that is why they did not interest me.
Then again I loved evil woma on the album before so who knows.
5 good and 4 bad.
The good.
Tightrope
Rockaria
So fine. (Could have done without the woo woo though.)
Livin thing.
Do ya.
The bad being kind saying bad.
Telephone line.
Mission (A world record)
Above the clouds
Shangri- La
All horrific
So it could have been a classic if it had Evil Woman and a couple of others on it
Giving it a 6.
Will listen to more and hopefully add a couple more of their stuff for a great playlist of their music.
 
This album reminds me that we live in a society and an age where we no longer fix things.

There used to be shops that fixed radios, TVs, toasters and what not. You took your stuff there, the dude examined it and did his best, and you took it back and carried on with it working. Sometimes with a knack. I had an old hoover that I took to a hoover repair guy a whole bunch of times over the years. Changed its cable, wheels, handle, various bits and bobs. It worked great, and I loved it. Eventually the hoover guy closed, never seen him since. Wonder what he's up to these days, and how transferable his skills are. His shop is now a vape shop, like every other shop about. There was no more way for me to fix that hoover, so I replaced it. Had multiple hoovers since, none as good as that one, and I bet if I could get it fixed today, it would still be better than ones twice or more its price brand new. And would outlast them. We just don't build shit to last any more!

No such shops really exist now. If your tv flickers, or a button on your remote goes wobbly, people just buy a whole new tv. If their printer jams or smudges, people get a bit frustrated and then buy a new printer. When something needs a small part replaced, that part often costs most of the way to getting a new thing. There isn’t anyone really that knows enough to have a go at fixing it. There is of course youtube, and for some things it is great. And you are often lucky enough to find exactly your item and your issue and what the problem is, and follow the bedroom expert's advice, and voila you did it yourself! Amazing. Or you end up having wasted hours, only to realise that wee part is completely different or is no longer made, and a bit of chewing gum there won't do the trick. And you buy a new thing. Or try call a guy, but it’s a waiting list for his mercy to see you for a quote. Which will likely be more than a new thing. I wonder if my hoover guy has a youtube channel on how to fix hoovers yourself! I wonder what his favourite Beatles song is. I wonder..

And this album makes me wonder. Good pick this. 7.5 out of 10.
Thesues' Hoover. Making using of you analogy this album is the equivalent of the drawer at Paul. John, George and Ringo's House where they keep spare batteries and odds and ends that may came in useful - oh no wait that's side 2 of Abbey Road
 

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