BRAIN SALAD SURGERY

Brain Salad Surgery is not only the most popular album from ELP, but probably their best. If it weren't for some sections of Karn Evil 9 and Benny the Bouncer, I would have given this album five stars. Keith Emerson's keyboards and playing ability are at a peak on this album, and this is the most keyboard-heavy album not only for their catalog, but for that era (except for some Kraftwerk material). However, the heavy keyboards don't slow this album down. In fact, I like that they gave Emerson more time for keyboards, because this album shows how much he can do. Just listen to the second impression of Karn Evil 9. Who was playing like that in 1973? The only person that could come close to him in '73 was Rick Wakeman. The weird thing about this album is that despite the heavy keyboards and very little use of guitar, this album still produced a hit song that made them even more famous than they were (Karn Evil 9, First Impression part 2). Then again, the early 70's may have been the only time in the history of rock music where you can be a band like Kraftwerk or ELP and still have a large following. Toccata is a great cover (yes, it is a cover, look it up) from Alberto Ginastera's 1st Piano Concerto and they do a great job keeping along the lines of the original piece. Jerusalem is an interesting way to start the album. In fact, ELP wanted it as a single, but conflicts with BBC Radio (I believe) kept them from releasing it, and they eventually opted not to release it. Still... You Turn Me On, although good, sounds like it shouldn't be on this album. It is a light, acoustic love song that Greg Lake (of course) wrote, and is his only solo contribution to the album. Benny the Bouncer isn't that good, and is the weakest track on here. Only a few problems bump the rating of this album down to four stars. This is ELP's greatest album, and I would recommend it to any prog fan.