Simple - I don't like their music.
One of the biggest problems I have is this "Virtuosic keyboards" thing - Keith may play as if he's a virtuoso, but I've heard real virtuosi - and Keith is not one. He's about Grade 6-7 - and I state that as someone who has done all the keyboard grade exams and the teaching diploma, then studied music with piano as my main instrument, but also played church and concert hall organs - so I'm familiar with technique.
It's kinda like the whole Satriani/Malmsteen thing - yes, they play fast and loud, but it's pure technique.
The biggest difference between Emerson and the latter is that Emerson at least puts passion into his playing, and is full of original thought and approaches to composition.
The second biggest difference is in the precision in execution. I wish Emerson would take off the boxing gloves every now and then!
Emerson improvises, but it's not good improvisation, and he tends to re-use material far more often than not (and I suspect that much of this is not conscious), bringing a predictable, cloying feel to just about everything, as well as a very amateurish style - which is a pity. With real hard work on the dots instead of the flash, he could have written more great stuff - because there are great moments in between the layers of murk coming out of those boxing gloves.
Keith is NOT the virtuoso that ELP fans would have us believe - it's nearly ALL mouth and no trousers. And I'm not inviting comments from TF here, really I'm not... 
That intro on the Royal Festival Hall organ is just despicable - total bluster and no structure, all party-piece and no real music. It's as bad as rap, from that point of view.
When Greg and Carl get it together in a bass/drum groove, there is something seriously good going on - but invariably it ends up in a messy heap with Emerson on top.
I find it hard to ciriticise Palmer, not because I'm not a drummer, but because I feel some pity that he has to work with such a cacophony, and admiration that he still manages to pull off some great grooves and licks despite it!
Finally (for now...
), Greg's singing.
Oh dear.
The voice is not my cuppa tea because it's just too "precious". He can put a good edge to it - "ITCOTCK" and other places, but generally, Yuck!
And he sings flat - particularly in that gruesome rendition of "Jerusalem", which ELP fans seem to love - but I hate with a very similar passion. I much prefer the version by Mark Stewart and the Maffia (try tracking that one down ).
Just my opinion 
Edited by Certif1ed
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So why do so many of you hate ELP?
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Jim Garten wrote:
And then she'll probably have a bad day! Wish this thread was not started.
from those joining up.
