BRAIN SALAD SURGERY

I still think this is the most exciting prog album I've ever heard and I'm amazed at its continued low ranking on this site. It combines the heaviosity and aggression of peak period Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple with the dynamics and intriguing complexity of the best in prog. Result = best of both worlds. The standout tracks are obviously Karn Evil 9 and Toccata - the latter being (along with The Babarian) Keith Emerson's best classical adaptation. As for the former, I think Yes' Awaken is the only other epic that can match it for sheer number of shiver-down the-spine-moments. If you haven't already got it, do yourself a favour - ignore the nay-sayers, turn up the volume and open your mind to some incredible music.