TRILOGY

This is a very fantastic album. If you are an ELP fan, like me, you must own this disc. The only reason it is a 4 and not a 5 is because of the fact that it is not a "masterpiece," but it is a very good addition to any prog collection. ELP was the band that got me into prog, and I believe their best disc is Brain Salad Surgery.

The Endless Engima (Part One) - Fugue - The Endless Enigma (Part Two): This song is one of the classic ELP tracks. No ELP fan should be without this song. Emerson's fugue in the middle nicely separates the two parts. Lake's vocals, I think, shine on this song.

From the Beginning: One of my favorite all-time Greg Lake ballads. I love how it gradually builds, and the keyboards show up at the end of the song. As good as Lucky Man for me.

The Sheriff: Many might consider this a throwaway. But it isn't. It's a fantastic song, especially the piano outro. Perfect.

Hoedown: Another classic ELP song. Taken from Aaron Copland's Rodeo, it is the perfect example of Emerson showing homage where homage is due and making the piece his own. People may consider it pretentious, but I do not.

Trilogy: Probably my favorite song. Period. I love it so much, I learned it on the piano. I play all the way up to about the 3:30 mark, when the bass kicks in (which could be my favorite riff ever). Perfection in 9 minutes.

Living Sin: Another small one that people consider a throwaway. Although not as good as The Sheriff, it is still very good. It has very different vocals than normal for ELP, but they are great once one gets used to them.

Abaddon's Bolero: Now, people really knock this song. I won't knock it as much, but it is probably responsible for making this a 4 star album instead of 5. A bit too long, I do enjoy the song, but sometimes, it drags. (For those of you who don't know, Abaddon is the term for the devil, used in the Bible. What its significance here is, I don't know.)

Overall, I love this album, and if you like ELP, you will like this too. Absolutely, buy it. Highly recommended. 4 stars.