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Love Beach vs St. Anger (Albums)

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Poll Question: Which album do you prefer?
Poll Choice Votes Poll Statistics
21 [77.78%]
6 [22.22%]
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    Posted: April 26 2023 at 08:09
Both of these albums have an infamous legacy for all the wrong reasons. I can see merit for both albums upon a deeper listen. But, these two albums have some major flaws to say the least. Out of these two "controversial" albums which do you prefer?

Edited by Prog Network - April 26 2023 at 09:15
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (2) Thanks(2)   Quote Cristi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 08:28
I can't believe you made me vote for Love Beach LOL
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jared Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 08:36
I can't vote. because... and I don't know whether you'll believe this, but I have actually never listened to Love Beach... and I really don't want to. My listening experience with ELP finishes with Works Vol II (and EL Powell).. I just don't want to go any further.

I heard St. Anger when it first came out and thought it was a pointless noise with few redeeming features. 20 years later, my view might possibly have changed, but in view of the fact that I didn't like Hardwired either, I somehow doubt it...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cristi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 08:42
Originally posted by Jared Jared wrote:

I can't vote. because... and I don't know whether you'll believe this, but I have actually never listened to Love Beach... and I really don't want to. My listening experience with ELP finishes with Works Vol II (and EL Powell).. I just don't want to go any further.

I heard St. Anger when it first came out and thought it was a pointless noise with few redeeming features. 20 years later, my view might possibly have changed, but in view of the fact that I didn't like Hardwired either, I somehow doubt it...

Well, I think Hardwired... was their best since the Black Album. Death Magnetic is better than St Anger. But that just goes to show how bad St Anger really was. One of the worst metal albums ever... 

I struggle with both Works albums, an uneven mess. 
ELPowell was good. Even 3 was decent IMO. Smile


Edited by Cristi - April 26 2023 at 08:44
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Prog Network Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 08:49
Originally posted by Jared Jared wrote:

I can't vote. because... and I don't know whether you'll believe this, but I have actually never listened to Love Beach... and I really don't want to. My listening experience with ELP finishes with Works Vol II (and EL Powell).. I just don't want to go any further.

I heard St. Anger when it first came out and thought it was a pointless noise with few redeeming features. 20 years later, my view might possibly have changed, but in view of the fact that I didn't like Hardwired either, I somehow doubt it...

Honestly, if you stop at Works Vol II you aren't missing much in my opinion.

But there are only a couple decent songs that appear later in their career.

- The Score (9:08)
- Desde La Vida (7:06)
- Memoirs Of An Officer And A Gentleman (20:13)
- Changing States (6:01)


Edited by Prog Network - April 26 2023 at 08:50
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jared Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 08:50
Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

I struggle with both Works albums, an uneven mess. 
ELPowell was good. Even 3 was decent IMO. Smile

At the risk of going slightly off topic, I think Works I is quite underrated. It's going to be uneven, given the nature of the writing, but Emerson's PC is quite superb. The weakest parts for me are Lake's meanderings which continued onto W II, which is at best, pleasantly diverting but nothing more. I just couldn't cope with the notion of 'ELP goes AOR' on Love Beach.. it's a car crash I choose not to watch in real time.. Ouch
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Cristi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 08:53
Originally posted by Jared Jared wrote:

I just couldn't cope with the notion of 'ELP goes AOR' on Love Beach.. it's a car crash I choose not to watch in real time.. Ouch

I don't know if I'd call that AOR. There are some easy listening songs indeed, the problem I have these days are the bad lyrics, rather than the music/instrumentation. 


Edited by Cristi - April 26 2023 at 08:53
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Prog Network Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 09:01
I actually believe "Memoirs Of An Officer And A Gentleman" is an underrated track. I'd even go as far to say it's a top 10 track for the band.

There are also various covers of "St. Anger" online that show these songs actually have some merit. I believe the biggest problem is the album's terrible production and sound choices.




Edited by Prog Network - April 26 2023 at 09:27
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cristi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 09:03
Originally posted by Prog Network Prog Network wrote:

I actually believe "Memoirs Of An Officer And A Gentleman" is an underrated track. I'd even go as far to say it's a top 10 track for the band.

However, there are various covers of "St. Anger" online that show these songs themselves actually have some merit. The real problem in my opinion is with the album's terrible production and sound choices.

It's not just the production, but also the song-writing, poor lyrics, James's worst vocal performance, no solos, poor performance/drumming from Lars. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 09:12
I'm voting for Love Beach for all the right reasons (mainly for the Beach Gees album cover), even though I've never heard of the Metallica song. Embarrassed

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - April 26 2023 at 09:13
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Prog Network Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 09:13
Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

It's not just the production, but also the song-writing, poor lyrics, James's worst vocal performance, no solos, poor performance/drumming from Lars. 

I agree, but I consider the production to be the biggest culprit. At least with better production these poorly written songs would be an easier listen. LOL

However, like you said, this album doesn't just have one problem it has numerous.


Edited by Prog Network - April 26 2023 at 11:56
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (2) Thanks(2)   Quote JD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 09:29
Let me take you to the BEACH !
Thank you for supporting independently produced music
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote verslibre Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 09:51
Love Beach has its moments, whereas St. Anger shoulda been scrapped.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Hrychu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 11:59
At least Love Beach doesn't have that POS snare sound.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mellotronwave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 13:56
None sorry
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Awesoreno Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 22:21
Ok, Love Beach is underwhelming at best, but how can it always come up in conversations on "worst" albums when In The Hot Seat exists?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Manuel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2023 at 22:43
Love Beach. Not as bad as many people rate it, at least to my ears.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hugh Manatee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 27 2023 at 00:35
Originally posted by Jared Jared wrote:

Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

I struggle with both Works albums, an uneven mess. 
ELPowell was good. Even 3 was decent IMO. Smile

At the risk of going slightly off topic, I think Works I is quite underrated. It's going to be uneven, given the nature of the writing, but Emerson's PC is quite superb. The weakest parts for me are Lake's meanderings which continued onto W II, which is at best, pleasantly diverting but nothing more. I just couldn't cope with the notion of 'ELP goes AOR' on Love Beach.. it's a car crash I choose not to watch in real time.. Ouch
 

It appears to me that within the fandom of ELP there seems to be a split between those who prefer Emersons contrubutions and those who prefer Lakes approach to their output.

Personally, I fall into the Lake camp. I listen to ELP mostly for Lakes meanderings, on "Works" and across the rest of the ELP catalogue, whereas a lot of Emersons work leaves me cold for the most part.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Cristi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 27 2023 at 00:48
Originally posted by Awesoreno Awesoreno wrote:

Ok, Love Beach is underwhelming at best, but how can it always come up in conversations on "worst" albums when In The Hot Seat exists?

so true Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jared Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 27 2023 at 01:22
Originally posted by Hugh Manatee Hugh Manatee wrote:

It appears to me that within the fandom of ELP there seems to be a split between those who prefer Emersons contrubutions and those who prefer Lakes approach to their output.

Personally, I fall into the Lake camp. I listen to ELP mostly for Lakes meanderings, on "Works" and across the rest of the ELP catalogue, whereas a lot of Emersons work leaves me cold for the most part.

Greg has a superb voice and I personally think both Lizard and Islands would have sounded better for their inclusion. I am sure their co-writing on the first 5 albums brought out the best in each other and when they distanced themselves for Works, they both suffered but for me, Lake's side of the disk is fairly forgettable, sorry. 
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