Personnel: Jeff Lynne (vocals, guitar, cello, piano, electric piano, keyboards, bass, drums); Marc Mann (guitar); George Harrison (slide guitar); Suzie Katayama, Roger Lebow (cello); Dave Boruff (saxophone); Richard Tandy (electric piano); Ringo Starr (drums); Rosie Vela, Laura Lynne (background vocals).

Engineers: Marc Mann, Ryan Ulyate, Richard Dodd.

Vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and studio commandeer Jeff Lynne takes classic art-rock band ELO into the 21st century. In the 15 years separating ZOOM from the previous ELO album, Lynne has been a Traveling Wilbury and produced George Harrison, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison. Lynne has always been the musical maestro behind ELO and that fact couldn't be more apparent on ZOOM. He produced and wrote the album as well as handling lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, cello, piano, keyboards, bass and drums. While ELO's '70s sound featured a 40-piece orchestra and a 30-piece choir at its most expansive point, ZOOM contains smaller string sections and is a more guitar-oriented album.

First single "Alright" is a great pop/rock tune that will satisfy ELO fans. On "Moment In Paradise," Lynne is joined by Ringo Starr on drums. "State Of Mind" has a chorus reminiscent of 1977 ELO and a fabulous guitar lick from Lynne. Tunes like "Stranger On A Quiet Street" showcase ELO's trademark multi-layered vocal sound, while "Ordinary Dream" will take you away with its orchestral feel. Another ex-Beatle joins the fray as George Harrison plays slide guitar on "A Long Time Gone" and "All She Wanted."

Rolling Stone (8/16/01, p.105) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Sounds like [classic] ELO. George Harrison's weepy slide guitar and Ringo Starr's steady drumming on 4 tracks bring Jeff Lynne that much closer to the Beatles sound ELO emulated..."

Mojo (Publisher) (7/01, p.114) - "...What a swizz this is....much of ZOOM sounds like Steve Miller covering late-period Tears For Fears..."