L.E.O. (band)

Last updated

L.E.O.
L.E.O. logo.png
Background information
GenresAlternative Rock, Indie Pop
Years active2006
Labels
Members

L.E.O. is a 2006 project by Boston musician Bleu and collaborators which produced Alpacas Orgling, a 2006 album of original songs similar in style to Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), the Traveling Wilburys, and 1970s AM radio pop music. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Formation

In 2002 Bleu was chatting with the former frontman of Semisonic, Dan Wilson. [4] [3] Wilson retold details from producer Rick Rubin about Jeff Lynne's studio methods and techniques. [5] [6] [3] Bleu, interested in these techniques and ELO in general, [4] wanted to make songs similar to Jeff Lynne using his studio methods for fun. [7] Gradually those songs would develop in to the album Alpacas Orgling. [6] Mike Viola joined the project after an onstage cover of ELO's "Telephone Line" by Bleu and Viola at the Paradise Lounge in Boston. [1] [7] [3]

The name "L.E.O." is based on the letters in "ELO". However according to Bleu, the letters in L.E.O. could stand for "Little Electric Operas", [4] or "Little E-mail Operas". [5]

Alpacas Orgling

Their debut album, Alpacas Orgling, features major contributions from Matt Mahaffey of Self, Andy Sturmer of Jellyfish, Hanson, Mike Viola, and members of Chicago. [8] [9] [3] The album was remotely recorded by the musicians over the course of 4 years in 12 different studios. [10] [4] The album's name is an acknowledgement of alpaca farmer and Extreme's bassist Pat Badger, who previously gave Bleu a place to live. [5]

Bleu would go on a release tour for Alpacas Orgling, tour venues included T.T. the Bear's Place. [11]

The album was well received. Alpacas Orgling was number 8 on Entertainment Weekly's "must list". [12] Brian Mansfield of USA Today said, …"Bleu McAuley's supergroup side project does the Electric Light Orchestra better than Klaatu did The Beatles". [13] In his 4 of out 5 star review, Stewart Mason of AllMusic wrote, …"Alpacas Orgling is the single best album any of its major participants have ever taken part in". [9] CityBeat gave the album an A−, praising Bleu for infusing his own "creative spark" with "a timeless pop era". [14] Prefix Magazine dismissed the album as a "terrible idea". [15] In January 2007 "Ya Had Me Goin'" peaked at 57 on the Tokio Hot 100 in Japan. [16]

Discography

Studio Album

TitleAlbum details
Alpacas Orgling
  • Released: October 17, 2006 (US) · January 24, 2007 (JPN)
  • Label: Cheap Lullaby Records (US) · Victor Entertainment (JPN)
  • Format: CD

Music Video

YearSongCreatorAlbum
2007"Goodbye Innocence"Beth Jean [11] Alpacas Orgling

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References

  1. 1 2 Sullivan, Jim (September 25, 2006). "Boston music news: September 29, 2006". The Phoenix. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  2. ↑ "E.L.O.のインスパイア・バンド、L.E.O.デビュー！Bleu、A.スターマー、ハンソンら参加" [E.L.O.'s inspiring band, L.E.O. Debuts! With Bleu, A. Strumer, Hanson, and others.]. CDjournal (in Japanese). December 5, 2006. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "L.E.O. Full Story". notlame.com. Not Lame Recordings. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Baker, Brian (November 27, 2006). "Mr. Bleu Sky". Amplifier Magazine. Archived from the original on October 29, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Anderman, Joan (November 11, 2006). "Hoping to shine a little love on '70s pop-rock band ELO". The Boston Globe . Archived from the original on November 19, 2006. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Sullivan, Kate (November 1, 2006). "E.L.O. Is For Lovers!". LA Weekly . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Biography". AirPlay Direct. October 18, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  8. ↑ Orzeck, Kurt (October 16, 2006). "NEW RELEASES: DIDDY, JOJO, XZIBIT, C-MURDER, RUBEN STUDDARD & MORE". MTV . Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  9. 1 2 Mason, Stewart. Alpacas Orgling at AllMusic
  10. ↑ "Bleu's L.E.O." The Phoenix. October 6, 2006. Archived from the original on November 12, 2006. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  11. 1 2 "L.E.O." bleutopia.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2007. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Ten Things We Love This Week". Entertainment Weekly . October 27, 2006. Archived from the original on November 28, 2006. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  13. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (October 31, 2006). "This week's playlist". USA Today . Archived from the original on November 5, 2006. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  14. ↑ Breen, Mike (October 18, 2006). "L.E.O. -- ALPACAS ORGLING (CHEAP LULLABY)". CityBeat . Euclid Media Group . Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  15. ↑ Ingber, Greg (November 27, 2006). "Alpacas Orgling". Prefix. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Tokio Hot 100". J-Wave . Retrieved January 1, 2021.Select 2007 in the 年 field. Select 1 in the 月 field. Select 5 in the 回放送日 field and then click GO.


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