BRAIN SALAD SURGERY

This album is considered one of the best albums of all time in the progressive music scene. Then why am I so disappointed? I was also disappointed in most work of KING KRIMSON, except for a few excellent songs like "Epitaph" and "In the Wake Of Poseidon". Maybe it would have been better for me to keep away from ELP.

1. Jerusalem (2:44)

Did we end up in a church here on a Sunday morning? I have nothing against Christian songs, but with so much organ it feels to me I'm in a church and I don't like to go to church very much. Therefore I don't like to listen to this kind of music at home either.

2. Toccata (7:23)

An adaptation of Ginastera's 1st Piano Concerto, 4th movement. I'm not really into classical music even though I can listen to light classical music. This piece is basically to heavy classical for me. It's very cinematic and I suppose it would do great in a movie theatre while we are watching a "big car chase", but other than that I don't like to listen to this "just for the fun of it". In a while all the noises just get on my nerves. Definitely not my cup of tea. 3. Still... You Turn Me On (2:53)

This is a nice acoustic ballad, but sounds a bit to "smooth" to be progressive. Aren't progressive songs supposed to last a bit longer than 2:53 ?

4. Benny The Bouncer (2:21)

In this case I'm happy the song only lasts 2:21 because this song is just too simplistic to be on a "masterpiece of progressive rock".

5. Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression - Part 1) (8:44) 6. Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression - Part 2) (4:47) 7. Karn Evil 9 (2nd Impression) (7:07) 8. Karn Evil 9 (3rd Impression) (9:03)

I suppose you could reduce tracks 5,6,7 and 8 just into 1 long track of almost 30 minutes and this is the only track worth while buying this CD for.

Another reason to buy the CD is for the great artwork by the Swiss surrealist H. R. Giger, creator of the terrifying life forms and their otherworldly environment in the film classic ALIEN, for which he received the Oscar in 1980. Painter, sculptor, designer, interior architect, Giger extends his artistic vision into all domains. Fundamental to the nature of his work is his Biomechanical aesthetic, a dialectic between man and machine, representing a universe at once disturbing and sublime.

Final score: 2 stars for Karn Evil 9 and the sublime artwork from H. R. Giger.

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