BRAIN SALAD SURGERY

This was the first ELP record I ever bought, and, by far, the best. Someone I knew in high school told me how much he liked it, and when I first saw the cover, I knew it would be something I'd really get into. This was twenty-seven years ago, and I have yet to get tired of it. "Karn Evil 9 " is the apex of this band, and you have to hear the whole "Karn Evil 9 " suite (First Impression,1 and2), followed by the second and third impression as one to fully expreience it. This is why I was so glad to find it on CD, you get an uninterrupted reading of the whole piece, and to the uninitiated listener, this assault on your senses, is one you won't soon forget. Broken down by titles: "Jerusalem" - not an original composition, but they deliver it with such authority, you would think it was. "Toccata" - likewise, adapted from someone else's body of work, but so what? This is a KILLER piece of music. "Still...You turn me on" - The lyrics are morbid, yet it is such an elegant sounding bit, the arrangement goes from the frail sounding, to the sensual, back and forth, the delicate touch this behemoth needs to keep from whisking you away. "Benny the Bouncer" - A violent story about a violent man, but such a silly song, excellent rag-time piano as well. "Karn Evil 9, First Impression, (parts one and two)" - This segment has so much energy, such dense arrangements, you have to remind yourself that this is only a three-piece band. The original record cut this in half, but cleverly, split it right at the point that where you flip the record(or cassette) over, it welcomes you back, hence, the "Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends..." introduction, and they just blow the listener away. "Second Impression" - They keep going strong, and the synthesized steel drums have to be heard to be believed. Nice quiet piano in the middle. "Third Impression" - Once again, you have to hear it to believe it, the arrangements are gargantuan, and when this cycle ends, the listener is exhausted.

"LOAD YOUR PROGRAM, I AM YOURSELF!"