TRILOGY

A much more even and sharp album then just about every other ELP release, "Trilogy" features dynamic songwriting and very crisp performances from all members; it's easy to hear that they put more effort into making "Trilogy" good from start to finish than on those prior albums; even the rowdy songs sound good.

"Endless Enigma" is a brilliant, textural beginning which concludes in typical ELP bombast, although Lake's vocals are a little too dull to make it a masterpiece. The quality of the three other big songs are, I think, a mater of taste: if the listener likes the sound of Emerson's gigantic keyboard/organ, they're in for a treat; if not, then they're likely to find "Trilogy" a painfully repetitive exercise (with the amazing exception of "From the Beginning", which may not have the typical prog sound, but is my favorite song on this album regardless).

Songwriting: 4 Instrumental Performances: 3 Lyrics/Vocals: 3 Style/Emotion/Replay: 3