‘70s Progressive Pop Rock, Redefined

In her twentieth studio album, Juliana Hatfield covers a selection of Electric Light Orchestra songs, throwing her own peculiar spin on things. Hits such as “Don’t Bring Me Down” are reclassified with a wistful, alternative vibe in the likes of singer-songwriters Natalie Merchant and Fiona Apple.

This whole project is very cohesive in the sense that each track flows and glosses over in an identical way, almost similar to each scene of a music video color graded the same, or a salad of multiple vegetables glazed over by a singular dressing. With this being said, Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO is a great project to listen to in one sitting. The tracks are upbeat and light, similar to a scenic drive with a loved one. Juliana Hatfield’s overall aesthetic seems to shine through these ideals, in which she possesses an extremely liberated spirit. Her positivity can be heard throughout the lead vocals as bright guitars, drums and bass accompany ELO’s re-spoken lyrical messages.

“Showdown” is a particularly energetic song, almost pertaining to a hard rock sound without actually being that abrasive. The groove of the track carries the arrangement far, like a chugging train with no means of stopping. The song unfolds in a very transportative way, hence the train and scenic drive analogies mentioned earlier. When indulging in these sounds, it’s hard not to think about the freeing, timeless sensation of one flying down an American highway. These themes are sharp, but once again the entire album remains light and pleasant on the ears. Hatfield never asks for too much within this project and at the same time she gives it her all.

The tempo is taken down a notch on “Strange Magic,” in which Hatfield’s vocals are layered with bountiful, lush backups, altogether creating a wholesome, harmonic soundscape, friendly on all ends of the spectrum. By the time the rhythm section kicks in on this piece, it’s hard for the listener not to be hooked as well as possibly feeling a certain type of emotion from the track’s melancholy vibes.

Overall, as a cover album, Juliana Hatfield does a stellar job of recreating something that is already great. She is undeniable in her vocal delivery and the instrumental arrangements shine through with true value. This album is certainly worth listening to, especially for fans of Electric Light Orchestra. However, anybody can take something home from this project as it is an extremely wholesome collection of songs.