TRILOGY

Unlike many ELP albums, Trilogy stands out in that it does not contain a bad song. Some others have reference "The Sheriff" as this album's "throwaway track," but it hardly lives down this moniker in the way that a "Benny the Bouncer" or even "Jeremy Bender" does. It in fact is probably ELP's best "story song," as I like to call them, a format that, even though it is obviously their weakest sort of song, they feel compelled to do anyway. This time alone, they pull it off. This sets the stage for a superb album on all fronts.

Two epic sequences exist on Trilogy, the Endless Enigma and the title track, Trilogy. The former is a sprawling 11-minute song spread over 3 tracks, interrupted by a fugue, of all things. This track clearly shows ELP's mastery of their music and is for me personally second only to Karn Evil 9 in the sheer poetic beauty of the lyrics. The Endless Enigma is not a ballad-esque track by any standards, but a slow progression nonetheless. Trilogy begins in much the same way, seeming to be a slowly building track, but it is then interrupted by a very highly ear-pleasing riff on the synth.

"From the Beginning" is a true ELP ballad, and widely considered to be their best, though for my money "Take a Pebble" (from their debut album) is better. Both are outstanding, however.

The two remaining tracks close out the album. "Living Sin" was perhaps one of my most hated ELP songs the first time I heard it, but it hasn't stopped growing on me and now I consider it one of my favorites. Greg Lake lowers his voice to a very uncharacteristic low growl for the verses of this song and for at least that respect is unique in the ELP archives. "Abaddon's Bolero" is the album's weak spot, if it has one. It builds too slowly when compared with the rest of the album that preceded it, and seems to collapse in on itself at the end, which makes for a somewhat awkward conclusion. However, for an album full of ups and downs it fits in suprisingly well even given its odd ending. All in all, this album is varied and adventurous, yet still surprisingly solid and it makes for a great introduction to the wonderful world of Emerson, Lake and Palmer.