BRAIN SALAD SURGERY

I absolutely don't understand why anyone could not like this album, and definitely at the same time look at this as a work of prog art. As far as I'm concerned, it's probably the most perfectly balanced I've bought in a while. Of course the music is not all too diverse (and even less so the sound, what with keyboards being featured in all songs) but it boasts a great pallette of colours, from the slow "Jerusalem" to the comically speedy "Benny the Bouncer". On the note of comedy, when I came to Benny, I was immediately entertained, and also confused at how incredibly rediculous it was, especially mixed in with the seriousness of the rest of the music and lyrics. But a song like this was absolutely nesecarry on this cd in order to stir up feelings in such a manner. "Toccata" is a great interpretation of Contemporary Classical music, and I absolutely adore the percussion feature. "Still...You Turn Me On" is just another beautiful ballad by lake, with personally catchy lyrics, and a very awesome WAH on the chorus. As previously stated, "Benny the Bouncer" is a very unfitting song, but incredibly entertaining, with one of the most amazing ragtime piano solos I've ever heard (Apart from Dream Theater's very prog ragtime jam on "Dance of Eternity") and show's off Emerson's incredible dexterity even more. The Karnevil Trilogy is quite an amazing 'Epic', and a GREAT feature of the B3 Organ. His solo on the first impression 2nd part is droolable.

Whether you like ELP or not, I'd say this is a very amazing album, and worth your purchase.