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Emerson Lake & Palmer - Trilogy CD (album) cover

TRILOGY

Emerson Lake & Palmer

 

Symphonic Prog

4.14 | 1830 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Keetian
4 stars The first time I heard this album, was at the movie house on base when I was in the service. I bought the record and took it to the show with me. I asked the gunnery sargeant if he would play some of it before the movie started. I was pleasantly surprised that he was willing to do so, since he was in his late thirties and didn't like rock music very much. It really sounded pretty cool, at least what I heard that night. Very fresh and original. Of course he only played about six minutes of the first side before the movie started. Other enlisted men there asked what band was playing because they had never heard the music before.

The first part of the album sounds like something very spacy. Then for the next twelve minutes or so, we have some very good music coming out of the speakers. It is just a great follow up to "Tarkus." After that, we return to the second side of "Tarkus' and have to endure "The Sheriff" and "Hoedown." I wish that ELP would have left those two songs off the record. It really takes away from "Trilogy," in my opinion. While not bad songs, they just don't belong here. The song "Trilogy'' should have been on side one to complete a masterwork of true artistic expression in prog. It is so beautiful that one must listen to it to get the full effect. This song starts as a wonderful classical piece, then it progresses into a monster wreaking gorgeous havock on the listening ear. It is ELP at their absolute best, no doubt about it.

The next song "Living Sin" sounds like "A Time and a Space" from "Tarkus." Greg Lake is trying for a bassy sound on the vocals, but it never really works that well. His higher pitch sounds so much better, that this was a real turn off for me. I didn't like it at all.

The last song "Abaddon's Bolero" also disappointed me. IT was about 5 minutes too long. I say that because Keith kept repeating one theme, each time adding another voice as he went. It could have been much better than it was, if Emerson were to add a little more "Trilogy" to it. I thought it started sounding monotonous after about four minutes, and I couldn't wait for it to end. For shame ELP!

If I were to judge this on technical merit, I would have to give it 5 stars, but it is a matter of listening enjoyment that I judge all music. IT has enough good material to make it worth buying, but I can only give it three and one half stars for content. In any event it will get 4 stars for progarchives.

Keetian | 4/5 |

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