TARKUS

Tarkus ? 1971 (3.4/5) 11 ? Best Song: Tarkus (not because it's amazing, but because it's better than side two) This album, along with a few others by this band, and a few other bands doing basically the same thing at the time, have been heralded as masters of their craft, true wizards, and I gotta step in and say 'hold on, mister, I ain't got nothing against me no prog rock, but don't you think praising Tarkus is a little silly?' It isn't that Tarkus is any worse than their debut. In some ways it's a tiny bit better. Emerson's keyboard playing has finally grown enough to make Banks' genesynths totally useless, and Palmer will always be a great drummer in my book. So what? Well, the so what is how they've completely forgotten to have a personality this time around. The journey to Mordor is harsh, and one runs the risk of destroying himself if he takes it all in one burst. Some bands wait years to write a long-ass epic (Tull took four or five and it turned out amazing), but here we have a sidelong epic, 'Tarkus', on their second go. True, each member is a master of their respective instrument, but this album is what forces me to rate them lower than say Pink Floyd: They sold their soul for pomp and roll. In exchange for 20 minutes of trotting battle music, they have given up their very spirit. Oh, it's a great, monumental rocker, but it does go on, the longwinded beast. I guess giant armadillo tank monster manticore battles are allowed to be boring, go figure. But I don't hate the album. Side two is fun on the bun (yes, there IS a side 2). 'Jeremy Bender' is damn near pop pleasantry. So, I am forced to rate the beast as 'adequate to a positive degree'. Have a fun time in the park, Jeremy Bender.