Electric Light Orchestra's more modest follow-up toEldoradois a very solid album, if not as boldor unified. It was also their first recorded at Musicland in Munich, which becameJeff Lynne's preferredvenue for cutting records. At the time, he was also generating songs at a breakneck paceand had perfected the majestic, quasi-Beatles-type style (sort of high-wattageMagical Mystery Tour)introduced two albums earlier. The sound is stripped down a bit on Face the Music,Louis Clark'sorchestral contributions generally more subdued than onEldorado, even when they competewith the band, as on "Strange Magic." The soulful "Evil Woman" was one of themostrespectable chart hits of its era, and one of the best songs thatLynneever wrote (reportedly in 30 minutes), while "Strange Magic" showed off his writing in a more ethereal vein. "One SummerDream," which is written in a similar mode, also has a touchingly wistful mood about it but isa somewhat lackluster finale compared to the albums that preceded and followed this one. Therequisite rock & roll number, "Poker," is a quicker tempo than anything previously heard from the band, theguitar is pumped up louder than ever. And "Down Home Town," an experiment in achieving acountry & western sound, is fresh at this point and more interesting than the equivalent material ofOut of the Blue.