EMERSON LAKE & PALMER

Emerson Lake & Palmer

Symphonic Prog

4.24 | 2365 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

This is probably the best overall effort by the then newly formed super group Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. I bought this record some time after I had gotten "Tarkus."

There are no weak tunes on this and I remember after the album had ended, I wanted to hear more. That is the mark of a good recording! It just seemed to short to end when it did. This is funny since "Take a Pebble" is over twelve and a half minutes long. The shortest song is over four minutes in length. So there is definitely some chemistry going on here.

"The Barbarian" is a great way to open the set. It engages the listener right away and doesn't let up until the last note is ended.

Then comes the time to get your breath. "Take a Pebble" is just simply beautiful to hear. Very graceful and elegant. Emerson at his best! Greg Lake sings so visually and the lyrics can make you grieve. He also does some tender and foot stomping solo guitar in the middle of this mini epic. Carl Palmer is also right there pounding away in ear pleasing tones.

"Knife Edge" is the "B" side to "Lucky Man." It is a strange and scary tune. Greg Lake definitely knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat lyric wise. He is just a great singer! Keith Emerson throws in some wonderful soloing that is original and interesting.

Speaking of interesting, "The Three Fates" is something else! Keith almost sounds like a madman on the beginning organ solo. You have got to hear it! Then he goes into some of the most beautiful piano music ever recorded by anyone. The last part is outrageous. The whole band is beating your brains out and your loving every minute! I had never heard anything like it.

"Tank" is a chance for Carl Palmer to get his licks in and boy does he do the job! This is a futuristic sound for the boys and they are on top of their game. The music itself is very visual and stunning to hear!

Last, but not least we have "Lucky Man." Very good and sarcastic. I didn't get the last verse right away, but when I did, I had to laugh. Greg is a talent. I really enjoyed the solo by Emerson at the end and I still do. The notes make it sound like you are watching the end of a great block buster epic. It is genius at work!

I consider this to be essential listening for anyone who wants to hear plain good prog. It gets 5 stars!

Keetian | 5/5 | 2010-4-16

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