Time

#64

[2022, PART 1 - ALBUM 12]

I've come to realise that early 2022 was a good time for me and music. Like, I had taste back in the day - and a proper listening profile; I wasn't expecting such a concise sound world for my retrospective, but 2022 Part 1 has really blown me away. Perhaps I've just become nicer with my ratings in the past year; perhaps its just nostalgia; perhaps I've just gotten better at listening to music - but the numbers don't lie: I was really knocking out some bangers.

And 'Time' is most definitely included in that list. Thanks mostly to Twilight (but more on that later). Another child of the discover weekly harvest, 'Time' soon became (and still remains) one of my most cherished records. To me, it is sublime. Is it back to back with 10/10 songs? No. But, its consistency is really something to envy. Every song is at least really quite good, and the conceptual and sonic world of the album makes it feel like an entity that is more than the sum of its parts. It's not the most ambitious concept album, but it's certainly an album with a theme - something I feel all the best should have. For me it's a record synonymous with summer (which means relistening to it in December has been somewhat dissonant) and it started the trend of me listening to a new E.L.O. album every summer (I first listened to it in April). Simply, one of the greats.

Track list breakdown:

Prologue - To be taken as the prelude to twilight, I'll discuss them both together. (8/10)

Twilight - The second greatest album opening of all time. This song is immense. It was my most played song in 2022 and it was my favourite song that I discovered in 2022 (I already new 'We're Finally Landing'). It inspired me to listen to this album, it inspired me to keep listening to E.L.O. (it's not just their best song, it's one of the best songs of all time). It inspired the entire opening scene to a TV pilot I recently wrote. Ever since I first listened to this songs it has been absolutely integral to my life. This is one my most important songs, and it probably gives the whole album a leg up. (10/10)

Yours Truly, 2095 - Every songs should be this conceptually interesting (8/10)

Ticket to the Moon - Absolutely adore the vocal layering in the chorus (8/10)

The Way Life's Meant to Be - A belter and a classic. Simple, but brilliant. (9/10)

Another Heart Breaks - An instrumental to break things up and keep the tracks fresh (8/10)

Rain is Falling - (7/10)

From the End of the World - (8/10)

The Lights Go Down - Easing down a bit now. (7/10)

Here Is the News - (7/10)

21st Century Man - Unfortunately, the key track that keeps being musically referenced throughout the album doesn't quite live up to what it could have been (7/10)

Hold On Tight - When I was in Year 5 we sang alongside the year above us for their Year 6 leavers play, and this was the licensed song that we sang at the end. I've never felt very strongly towards it, but it isn't bad. (7/10)

Epilogue - I like it because it reminds me of Twilight (8/10)

Ranked:
1. Twilight
2. The Way Life's Meant to Be
3. Ticket to the Moon
4. Yours Truly, 2095
5. Prologue
6. From the End of the World
7. Another Heart Breaks
8. Epilogue
9. Here Is the News
10. 21st Century Man
11. Rain is Falling
12. The Lights Go Down
13. Hold On Tight

Maybe I should get back on discover weekly... (9/10)