BRAIN SALAD SURGERY

Brain Salad Surgery is self-indulgent and flamboyant. It's an over-the-top exercise in synthesized musical dabbling. However, that's not to say that it doesn't work. It does, and it's majestic and marvelously anthemic when that happens.

"Jerusalem" and the first 2 impressions of "Karn Evil" are what hold this album together. The former is the epitome of the anthemic ELP sound. The latter - the first 2 impressions of "Karn Evil" - are spread out across three tracks and it brings a mix of the ELP signature flamboyance. It combines elements of jazz and rock all molded in a majestic ball dripping with synth (except for that beautiful and jazzy piano instrumental to begin impression #2). It's the great harmonies and potent energy on these tracks that make them rise above the rest and fell this album afloat as a good prog rock album.

The other songs unfortunately hold the album down. In the midst of the first tracks I mentioned, the other songs merely pose as forgettable fillers. The tailend of "Karn Evil", in my view, isn't necessarily bad, but it pales as comparison to this epic's other parts. This fact makes the album end on a low note.