LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

With now many years of progressive rock experience, and classic albums behind them, Emerson, Lake and Palmer began to deviate from the traditional epic and grandiose style of progressive compositions. Instead, they exercise a simpler, often blander, type of "pop prog", and were, agreeably, one of the earliest prog rock giants to sell out. With Works, Love Beach, Palmer's decision to depart, whose actions' consequences were a string of ELPowell releases, Palmer's inevitable return, and the disappointing come-back effort Black Moon: ELP have officially, unofficially, personally, universally, and with every other adverb thinkable, have become one of the most hated names in progressive music. Will this live album mark their return to a former glory?

No.

However, it is a half decent effort, which is worth much more attention than some of their other recent live efforts. The concert's setlist, to begin, is missing much material from these commercial or later, if you will, albums. It is full of the epics and the classics that made them famous and important: an hefty excerpt from Tarkus, being the most prominent. However, even during these older, more musical songs, the sound quality is questionable, and the sound of the instruments and quality of the concert itself is dreadful. Carl's electronic drums are atrocious, Keith's washed-out keyboards do not make up for it, and Greg has hit us with a double kill: his voice has left him, and his bass is synthetic and unwholesome.

It is probably a safe bet to say that this release may not even please most ELP die hards, and is very unsatisfactory as both a live album and a symphonic album. If you were to heed me, you would steer clear of this release until you've run out of things to buy and have money to burn.