TARKUS

Ah, my personal favorite Emerson, Lake, and Palmer album. And what a great album it is. It has my second favorite ELP "epic" on it (right behind Karn Evil 9). Before I get into the track by track review, I'd just like to say that it is a shame how much the second half of this album is underrated and overlooked. You've got sone great songs on there such as Bitches Crystal and Infinite Space. And as far as the reissue goes, the sound quality is pretty good but the liner notes are nothing special. Just some sort of interesting variations of the cover artwork and a description of the album that sounds like it was written by a 5th grader. It doesn't even tell you what the thing on the cover is.

1. Tarkus 10/10- Still one of ELP's longest songs to date, this track is probably my favorite. From the moment it starts it's incredible. This song proves what an great band these guys are, insanely progressive and tight playing throughout. The best part is when Lake says: "The weaver in the web that he made!" You know what, you just have to hear it for yourself, its amazing.

2. Jeremy Bender- 7.5/10- Just a short two-minute song, ELP always has to throw some sort of story-telling song in there (hence "Benny the Bouncer and "The Sheriff") and this was the first one of these. It's pretty good.

3. Bitches Crystal- 10/10- Definitely the hidden gem on this album. I mean what an incredible song, I've gotta say it comes really close to Tarkus as my favorite track on the album. Very upbeat, progressive and everything. It's a shame it's so underrated.

4. The Only Way (Hymn)- 6.5/10- I don't know, I'm not really such a big fan of this one. Its the first part of a sort of mini epic. It's got some good parts in it, but really nothing special.

5. Infinite Space (Conclusion)- 8.5/10- The piano groove throughout this song is really great. It's kind of a piano instrumental and solo (in a way). You've got some really impressive playing by Emerson going on here.

6. A Time And A Place- 6.5/10- Once again, really nothing too special. For some reason, this just sounds a stereotypical ELP song and I don't enjoy it that much. Not that its bad by any means.

7. Are You Ready Eddy?- 8/10- A good way to close the album. It's pretty lighthearted and funny. It gives you a good break from all of the seriousness going on. Sounds like a 50's song and it reminds me of Mother's Lament by Cream. Good stuff.

So anyway, this album is definitely worth checking out and make sure you pay just as much attention to the second side as you do Tarkus (the song).