TARKUS

The composition "Tarkus" is so complete. It defines progressive rock and contains all of what I love with prog rock music. That only track by itself is better than ELP's first record. But, the record "Tarkus" has also a B-side which is not at all as good as the A-side. To be rough do I feel that it just sounds like bonus track, well quite good bonuses. "Tarkus" is Emerson, Lake & Palmer's second studio record from 1971 and the cover shows a strange tanks animal coming against us. I think the cover is powerful. The line up here is of course Keith Emerson on organs, piano, celese and moog, Greg Lake on song, bass and guitars and Carl Palmer on drums.

As a wrote, the magnificent composition "Tarkus" is a hell of a masterpiece. It summarize the prog genre and the vocals here are so precious as well as Emerson's organs which rock every house they approach. If I could give it more than 10/10 I would have done it, because this track is what prog is, a good example and one of the best. I have given the same rating to another track on the record, the very much shorter "A time and a place" which I love. Beside these ones, the record is well done but not marvelous. The fact of being so weak next to "Tarkus" is devastating for the experience of the others. "Jeremy Bender" is a short and joyful rock'n'roll song(7/10) as well as the catchy "Are you ready Eddy"(6/10). "Bitches crystal" is dedicated and progressive(8/10) as well as "Infinite space"(8/10). "The only way" is also very good with deep lyrics, even if they feel a bit forced(8/10). This make of course a very good record as a whole even if it's not even. The first side is so much better than the second side!

These two sides of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, the extravagant symphonic freaks firstly and the playful rock'n'roll guy secondly, makes Tarkus a typical ELP record. It is not their best, BUT it contains their BEST composition in the first track. Four strong stars!

Share this EMERSON LAKE & PALMER review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to DrömmarenAdrian
• Report this review (#1126912)
• Buy EMERSON LAKE & PALMER music online with PA partners
• Show all EMERSON LAKE & PALMER MP3/Stream
• Go to EMERSON LAKE & PALMER page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Tarkus page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for EMERSON LAKE & PALMER related discussions