TARKUS

I suppose I do agree with most reviewers here at PA about ELP´s sophmore studio release, in some aspects. There seems to be little doubt that the title track is one of their best - if not their very best - epics. The Tarkus suite is a stunning combination of fine songwriting, clever and tasteful arrangements and superb performances. One fo the few groups that were talented enough and skilled enough to produce a 20 minute opus and make it sound as pleasant and interesting as a three minute song. There is not a single boring moment in the whole seven movements (the band had yet to get into their self indulgente period). A real masterpiece of prog music and astonishing achievement for such young group. Greg Lake have never sang so good and the band is reaching their pinnacle as a team efford. A real classic that never seems to age.

However, I disagree with most of the other writers about the record´s second side. While nowhere near the accomplishment of side one, it is still quite good. I guess anything would pale when compared to Tarkus, but the short stuff is not filler in any way, as far as I can see. The group was accused of being too serious and forget the basics of rock, i.e., good fun. Well, they had their humurous stuff too. Jeremy Bender is a nice piece of fun among other more ´straight´ material. Even the obviously simple Are You Ready Eddy (their homage to engineer Eddie Offord) is not a throway song, thanks largely to Emerson´s elegant piano and the band´s great technique. When somebody tells me ELP has nothing to do with rock´n rall, I show them this track. Besides, I always thought that A Time And A Place, Bitches Crystal, The Only Way and Infinite Space were very fine songs on their own. Not up to ELP´s best stuff, ok, but that doesn´t mean they are bad or even weak. They are good, just not great. And quite versatile. People do expected too much from them!

All in all, Tarkus is a terrific album. The band proved they were no fluke and they came to make an everlasting impact on the musical scene of the time. Maybe its impact was not as great as their first album, but it was a milestone in prog music, no less.

Final rating: 4,5 stars. Highly recommended!