IN THE HOT SEAT

I'm about as open-minded as any prog rock fan can be (heck, l enjoy many of the releases that are often blasted, such as Yes' "90125", anything by Starcastle, and ELP's "Love Beach"), but this album is a sad denoument to a truly influential career by these three amazing musicians.

The opening track "Hand Of Truth" has some parts that gave me hope that this would at least be as good at Black Moon was, but it's pretty much all downhill from there. Greg Lake's voice sounds terrible on this album; the key is still as low as it was on Black Moon, but the production or effects must be different. The keyboard parts could be played by any college keyboard player, and certainly do not do a true legend of the instrument credit. The same can be said for Palmer's drums--or lack of drums! All of those programmed instruments and loops from a guy who can do a five minute snare drum solo live that will keep guitarists interested!

There are only two reasons that you would want to get this album:

1. You're a completist.

2. You want to hear the updated version of "Pictures." This is pretty good. Even with Lake's changed voice this works very well. It's also on the "Return Of The Manticore" box set, so if you have that avoid this.

This is easily one of the five worst albums by prog rock artists that I've ever heard. "Love Beach" might as well be "Trilogy" next to this.

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