BRAIN SALAD SURGERY

While the highs of this album are high indeed, it has its low points. It starts off with a great organ driven adaptation of a hymn called Jerusalem, which features great vocals and melodies. The second track, Toccata, is an adaptation of some contemporary composer's fourth movement in his 1st piano concerto. It is the least accessible song on the album probably and will take a good many listens to get into. It can get a rather boring as well. Still...You turn me on is great Lake ballad, featuring excellent vocals mingling with great guitar and Emerson's vast multitude of instruments: accordian, moog, electric piano, and some other synth. Great great song. Benny the Bouncer is the worst on the album. Its good for a laugh the first time, but you will probably never want to listen to it again after that. Terrible vocals from the otherwise superb Lake, and terrible vaudeville style piano. Although the bridge part is not terrible, it is more melodic.

Ahh, Karn Evil 9. The opus of this great album. It starts off with some great electric piano licks and then goes into some cool melodies and vocals. After a while, another melody kicks in, one which is happier, and very catchy. It is the min melody of 1st Impression part 2, which tells of a show in which they display all kinds of weird things. The whole thing is mainly about people being taken over by computers I think. Part 2 is instrumental, and like toccata will take a few listens to get into. It may also bore you a little bit. Part 3 features pretty much great riffs and licks, great melodies, vocals, and lyrics, and its just all aorund great.

So this album had its highs and lows, although the highs out number the lows. Highlights include: Jerusalem, Still... You Turn Me On, Karn EVil 9 part 1, and Karn EVil 9 part 3.