ELP missing from PA Top 100 Choices

ExittheLemming wrote: ELP are certainly a band that either attract unbridled adoration or complete antipathy (there just ain't no middle ground with this trio)

Edited by Ivan_Melgar_M - May 01 2009 at 20:41

Negoba wrote: In the beginning the 6 string talisman gave power unto its holders, powers of influence over others, powers to move and shake the land. Soon enough had heard its call that new realms of music and fresh ways of thinking spread across the land. The world was ripe for change, led by the curvaceous beauty of the instrument.   And then came a proud group of musicians who instead worshipped an instrument of their own making. And still the 6 string blessed the ones that kept it in their midst. But then ELP came along, spurning the magic item that allowed their profession to exist. Turning away from some devout 6 string disciples, they invoked a curse upon their kind. Even the ungracious ELP was given rewards when the talisman was included, money and fame floating in their lucky laps.   But finally they rejected the master completely, and were left to rot on a humiliating beach to wither in the sun.   Let this be a warning to those who disparage the disciples of the 6 string, for lo, even now those disciples rule the PA, much to the chagrin of some. Do not follow the ways of the proud ELP.

Very good point and entertainingly expressed. I have no (cough)..axe to grind and do not use the term 'hippies' in a pejorative sense (or wish to undermine their integrity), but I have always detected both they and the prog community at large, viewed ELP with a reserved cynicism. It's almost as though they suspected that ELP were wearing suits under their stage outfits (like plain clothes policemen at a 'happening')

Hey ho....

I would have thought that at least 50% of people who like Yes and Genesis also like ELP.

ExittheLemming wrote: ELP are certainly a band that either attract unbridled adoration or complete antipathy (there just ain't no middle ground with this trio) It should of course be taken on board that the charts on this site merely reflect a broad consensus (and ain't it funny how those individuals who would otherwise embrace democracy, abhor same in the arts when it contradicts their own tastes ?) I love ELP to bits, but would say that those interpreting the charts as a reliable measure of  a band's historical contribution to prog are at best, misguided. The charts are a dynamic phenomenon, i.e. they're gonna mirror contemporary developments in prog like tech/extreme metal etc. I also share the belief that ELP as a band did not sit easily with the hippies that continue to ensure CTTE, SEBTP, TAAB etc ride high in the charts and this must have contributed to their being chosen as prog's sacrificial offering to the Punk monster, (as an embodiement of everything the latter held to be repugnant about the genre).  The irony of this choice of victim will not be lost on you, as ELP were blamed for the lazy compositional indiscipline that steadily encroached into the work of Yes, Jethro Tull and Genesis. (before all three idealistic hippy combos became full time pop jingle writers rather than compromise their integrity yes ?)

ExittheLemming wrote: ELP are certainly a band that either attract unbridled adoration or complete antipathy (there just ain't no middle ground with this trio) It should of course be taken on board that the charts on this site merely reflect a broad consensus (and ain't it funny how those individuals who would otherwise embrace democracy, abhor same in the arts when it contradicts their own tastes ?) I love ELP to bits, but would say that those interpreting the charts as a reliable measure of  a band's historical contribution to prog are at best, misguided. The charts are a dynamic phenomenon, i.e. they're gonna mirror contemporary developments in prog like tech/extreme metal etc. I also share the belief that ELP as a band did not sit easily with the hippies that continue to ensure CTTE, SEBTP, TAAB etc ride high in the charts and this must have contributed to their being chosen as prog's sacrificial offering to the Punk monster, (as an embodiement of everything the latter held to be repugnant about the genre).  The irony of this choice of victim will not be lost on you, as ELP were blamed for the lazy compositional indiscipline that steadily encroached into the work of Yes, Jethro Tull and Genesis. (before all three idealistic hippy combos became full time pop jingle writers rather than compromise their integrity yes ?)

  Very good points but I don't think Ian ever steered Jethro Tull to the pastures that 80's Yes and Genesis grazed in.

ELP is not in the Top 100...oh well. I still love them (gave ELP a 5 and will review the rest of their early albums: thinking a Tarkus- 4, Trilogy-5 and BSS-3) and really don't lose sleep over that kind of thing

ELP are certainly a band that either attract unbridled adoration or complete antipathy (there just ain't no middle ground with this trio)

It should of course be taken on board that the charts on this site merely reflect a broad consensus (and ain't it funny how those individuals who would otherwise embrace democracy, abhor same in the arts when it contradicts their own tastes ?)

I love ELP to bits, but would say that those interpreting the charts as a reliable measure of  a band's historical contribution to prog are at best, misguided. The charts are a dynamic phenomenon, i.e. they're gonna mirror contemporary developments in prog like tech/extreme metal etc.

I also share the belief that ELP as a band did not sit easily with the hippies that continue to ensure CTTE, SEBTP, TAAB etc ride high in the charts and this must have contributed to their being chosen as prog's sacrificial offering to the Punk monster, (as an embodiement of everything the latter held to be repugnant about the genre).  The irony of this choice of victim will not be lost on you, as ELP were blamed for the lazy compositional indiscipline that steadily encroached into the work of Yes, Jethro Tull and Genesis. (before all three idealistic hippy combos became full time pop jingle writers rather than compromise their integrity yes ?)

The T wrote: It's funny how it's always the new guy who has been here barely one day who decides to tell us what's wrong and what's right and blasts PA's current status-quo...

It's funny how it's always the new guy who has been here barely one day who decides to tell us what's wrong and what's right and blasts PA's current status-quo...

Edited by The T - May 01 2009 at 12:53

crimson87 wrote: SgtPepper67 wrote: I completely agree but I think this have been discussed many times. At least 4 of ELP albums definitely deserve to be in the top 10, it's a shame they're not appreciated while there's a lot of bands that I think are overrated here.   We need more prog reviewers like SgtPepper67!!!   Honestly , while I agree that Brain Salad surgery is a top 1 album I think that the top 10 should be diverse enough and including 4 ELP albums would be quite the opposite. But then some people may find weird having 4 ELP albums in the top , but what about Genesis and Pink Floyd??? Those bands put together had 6 of the top 10 albums some months ago.   To the one that created this thread , I suggest sending your ELP reviews to the site as I did.   Anyway , don't feel bad if your 5 stars rating gets crushed by a 1 star review from a Collabaorator/ ProgReviewer saying: " Oh , this band is so bombastic and over the top , synths are so cheesy , loads of filler... Id rather put Moonmadness blah blah blah."

Sorry, I meant top 100 actually, and I forgot about Pictures at an exhibition, so it makes 5 albums that deserve to be in the top 100. But anyway, I think any of those albums wouldn't be out of place in the top 10.
I think there's a lot of people in the forum who aren't really that much into the classic prog bands and more into metal/tech/math/whatever it is called wich I don't like at all, and it's ok, but that would explain my disagreement with many opinions and reviews on the site. I'm mainly a big fan of the classic symphonic, hard rock or psychedelic prog bands like Floyd, Jethro Tull, Rush, Genesis, etc, and although all those bands except ELP have some albums in the top 100 I feel there's s lot of people who doesn't have much respect for them apart from a few of their albums, probably because most of them moved on a bit from prog or evolved to make some different music.


Edited by SgtPepper67 - May 01 2009 at 12:06

ELP do belong to be there. Debut, Trilogy, Brain Salad from my standpoint.. Yes, it's a shame they have not done any really great work post their early period, but in their day they were amazing.  I don't listen to them a lot these days, but  once in a while I still enjoy their work. Keith Emerson was THE best keyboard player in his day, and has always been able to write circles around Wakeman. Currently Jordan Rudess seems to emulate Emerson more than anyone else- he has the chops and certainly more speed than Keith ever had, but not the originality.   Hey, maybe in another 20-30 years when they're gone opinion's will change.