What I like about ELP

ELP is a band that is often disliked even among prog fans. Even people that used to love them seem to not be the biggest fans anymore. The common charges I see is that they're "bombastic", "pompous", and "excessive". The issue I take to these is that I don't think any of those adjectives is a bad thing and in fact, I often seek those traits often in music because it's uplifting to me to hear such a grand and expansive sound.

Another common thing I hear about them is that they sound "dated". And while I agree they do have a different sound that is more alien compared to modern music than other prog acts of the time, I think this "dated" sound was because of how unique the band was and the technology of the sound. I mean, how many bands sound quite like ELP? I can't think of many, even in prog. The combination of their talent, group synergy, and technology made a lsound that was so unique that it sounds dated today, a unique sound I happen to enjoy.


The last criticism of ELP and the most true, is the amount of filler in their albums. My personal solution to this issue is to make a playlist of their albums that omits the filler tracks. When you shave those off, I think you get quite flawless albums, or hald of a flawless album (*cough* Tarkus *cough*)

I tend to treat listening to ELP almost like listening to some kind of artful electronic music, almost like an experience rather than a normal listening session. Knowing their goal was to make a grand art piece out of a rock template I reckon that's the way the band would like you to listen to it anyhow, it's all in perspective.

Another thing I like about ELP is that Greg Lake is an amazing singer and when he's at his best be it on Karn Evil 9, Tarkus, or on TCOTCK he really shines. I think his vocals really help solidify ELP as a truly unique band.

But anyway, I can't say enough praise of this amazing band and I'll probably always love them on the same level of Genesis, Yes, KC, ect... maybe even more on some days. Not bashing those bands though, I love them too. But ELP doesn't get enough love so I thought I'd make this thread.

What do you like about ELP?

I love early  to mid 1970s ELP. I am one of these "stuck in a seventies time warp" kind of guys when it comes to rock music, so in fact if something is seen as "dated", it is more likely that I will be drawn to it.

The Anders wrote: Tethro Juul wrote: The common charges I see is that they're "bombastic", "pompous", and "excessive". Well that's what prog usually is. So I would assume the criticism mostly comes from people who don't like prog. I like ELP. Not a big fan, but I like them.

Yeah prog haters will often use that for prog as a whole, but ELP in particular just gets blasted with these criticisms.... not that it's all that critical in my eye because I love excessive and bombastic music.

Dellinger wrote: I do like a ELP well enough, though I do agree with the filler thing... yet that is not exclusive for ELP, but almost any band I like... and I do use that solution, with playlists. Yet, there are still bands with more songs that I like more than ELP.

Sacro_Porgo wrote: (I love most of side 2 of Tarkus for example)

Oddly enough, as a mega fan of the so called beg six, ELP is my least favorite group. I definitely appreciate Tarkus and Trilogy but have never been gaga over them. Perhaps it's because Greg Lake could only play live while perched on top of a $5000 Persian carpet. Did he think it could fly?

Edited by SteveG - August 19 2021 at 04:33

Big fan. Through BSS, ELP were the perfect band.

JD wrote: yogev wrote: What I like about them is that each one of them is very different then the other. you can see it on Works Vol. 1, Emerson bring the classical side with a lot use of Synthesizers. SAY WHAT??? There are NO synthesizers on Keith's side. It's just Piano and orchestra.

If Lake was that worried about electrocuting himself, he would have used a rubber mat like any other musician of the era. I've been around famous musicians all my life and even they laughed at Greg and his rug.

Edited by SteveG - August 19 2021 at 08:55

I mean still, rug or no rug the music slapped. That was ELP'S schtick. Big songs, big shows. It was all in service to giving the audience a good time, and they did.