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Emerson Lake & Palmer - Emerson Lake & Palmer CD (album) cover

EMERSON LAKE & PALMER

Emerson Lake & Palmer

 

Symphonic Prog

4.24 | 2366 ratings

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OpethGuitarist
Prog Reviewer
3 stars Maybe the most "normal" of the ELP "elite" records.

Take that comment as you wish. Some will praise this record for maybe being the most sane, others will complain because it wasn't pompous enough. For me this has a very significant connection to King Crimson's first work primarily because of Lake's presence during the time period (released in back to back years).

This album was surprisingly heavy, to me anyways. It's also got plenty of moments of virtuosity, which although might not be thought as such by some of today's elite, but certainly was for its time. The biggest problem I have with the record is a lack of balance and lack of identity. I hear ELP catering to many different audiences, as if to attract more listeners, but no definitive sound throughout. While such decisions may have helped them reach a broader audience, I am of the opinion that they are wasted and dull tracks which only serve to hurt the impact the record might otherwise have.

For example, the rhyming lyrics in The Knife is pain to listen to, it's just awful poetry; maybe Ian Anderson could have helped them with some snazzy lines. I would say Three Fates is the best listen here, along with Barbarian. ELP certainly was one of the most experimental of early prog bands, and an extremely innovative band. This is a nice little start, and would be the best place to begin for those more accustomed to the other "big" symphonic prog acts.

OpethGuitarist | 3/5 |

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