Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO – Album Review
by Killian Laher

This is the third in Hatfield’s series of tribute albums after covering Olivia Newton-John and a decent album of Police covers.  Unfortunately, this time she’s chosen to cover ELO.  Throughout the collection, she struggles to lift the material out of the middle of the road.

Can’t Get It Out Of My Head is bright and breezy, and would probably work well in a different context.  Here, it just blends into the whole, consistent yet not very interesting.  Strange Magic and Telephone Line are pleasant and heartfelt, but not particularly memorable.  She doesn’t add much to what is probably the most recognisable song here, Don’t Bring Me Down.

There’s nothing particularly wrong with any of these songs, or the covers of them. They are perfectly rendered but they are saccharine in the extreme.  She could have done with a bit of 90’s grit, fuzzy guitars or something to twist this collection a bit.  Probably best that all but the rabid fan sit this one out.

Can’t Get It Out Of My Head