Reviews (page 2 of 8)
4.5 stars rounded up
I wore grooves into my vinyl pressing of this album. Simply awesome ensemble playing. Sorry for the folks who simply diss prog bands - but goodness gracious, these guys were amazing technically proficient musicians. This music continues to amaze me after all these years.
Hell yeah baby. Tarkus is a wild ride start to finish. Honestly this album goes so many places and throws so much at you it's hard to full wrap your arms around it. A Time And Place rules.
One of the best prog albums of all time. No notes.
The best albums I have listened to in a long, long time!
Really like a 4.5 but rounding up for being such a clear inspiration on final fantasy music
I wasn't expecting to like this, I've never really liked excessive prog rock stuff....and while I can see why some people liked it, to me it's only real benefit was to be one of the reasons that punk came into existence! That being said, this was a really nice album that engaged me fro start to finish.
Is Prog Rock Jazz a genre? Awful album.
I like ELP very much. This is one of my favorite albums. Masterpiece. Thanks for listening it again.
Um dos sons mais malucos que já ouvi aqui. A começar pela duração das músicas, a primeira é um opera rock, com mais de 20 minutos de duração e várias secções com títulos/subtítulos; enquanto todo o restante das músicas não chega a 4 minutos. Outra coisa que contribuí para maluquice é que apesar de ser progressivo até o talo, tem 2 músicas que fogem completamente da temática principal: a que vem logo depois do opera rock, com um piano meio ragtime (tipo aqueles de filmes de velho-oeste) e a última, um rock and roll completamente caricato dos anos 50. Eu não sei se foi para afirmar algo como "nós também sabemos tocar músicas sem polirritmos e escalas esquisitas" ou se funciona como uma espécie de "limpador de paladar" para te trazer de volta à realidade. O que eu sei é que achei genial. 5 estrelas e foda-se, não sei se voltarei a ouvir mas definitivamente foi uma experiência.
Twenty minute title track. It sounds like demented boss battle music in the best possible way. You could drop parts of this into Chrono Trigger and it would work. I think it's the organs and the bass. The Moog synths do a lot of work too. Super fucking cool. Eventually, we fade out, and then back for a dramatic finale. On side two, Bitches Crystal is more of the same from the title track with aggression and delicate keys. Sounds like ragtime piano. The Only Way and Infinite Space is a interesting two parter with a moody instrumental. The last two tracks don't hit the heights but it doesn't matter.
i feel like such a pretentious hipster for saying all the time "I LOVE PROG ROCK I LOVE PROG ROCK" but it's so true. when the first track is a gigantic 20 minute rock symphony you already know it's going to be the album of the year.
Perfect music to read Guardians of the Galaxy with.
Every time I get a prog rock album on here I'm reminded that there's a whole genre of cool music that I've yet to explore. This album was awesome
One of my favorite albums from the 70's! Love listening to this on vinyl. Glad it made it on the list.
5 wonderful weird stars.
holy fitta, det först låter är så fucking amazingsk. jag dansar på manisk, manik fitta dansarna. infathomable lyriken ''scattered on the ashes of disgrace'' jag fucking gråta bror... uppa när med bästa låtar jag aldrig höra. annan 1971 magnifikisk experimentalisk album. tack.. oföränderlig = muuttumaton (du verta från mitavittua o-prefix...) (translate if dont förstå) tarkus
Definitely love the synth and the vocals. The lyrics remind me of certain Iron Maiden songs in a way that sounds like a legend is being told. Also reminds of of King Crimson in the structure of the whole album. This is a strong strong 4.5 that I was really looking for something to push it into the 5 star realm. Then I saw the album cover again after finishing.
The perfect marriage of complexity and appeal.
From the odd time signatures, to the 20+ minutes opening track, to the armadillo-tank hybrid on the cover, this is everything that is wrong with 70's prog rock. "The "Tarkus" on the front cover is made from whitened bones from the skeleton of a devoured lizard".
Two words: Armadillo tank. Lavish, virtuous and complex. Emerson, Lake & Palmer are pillars of 70’s prog.
I have no idea what this is. Great music though.
Good vibes, vraiment bien aimé
Star reviews suck
Great album. First song of 20+ mins. I loved it
C’est pas leur meilleur, mais c’est pas mal proche. D’la grosse musique d’opera boosté par le rock progressif d’ELP, ça peut juste être bon. EDIT DU FUTUR: Y’ON PAS MIS BRAIN SALAD SURGERY LES TABARNAKS, I GUESS TARKUS TU VAS ÊTRE LE PORTE ÉTENDARD DE MON AMOUR POUR ELP
Outstanding album.
rockzao progressivo, muito criativo, agradável de curtir
I love Emerson, Lake & Palmer!!!!
A true prog rock classic. Though not as well-known as Brain Salad Surgery, Tarkus is one of the best albums of the prog rock era. It has everything the prog rocker wants - sweeping and grand, album-half compositions (Tarkus), long-form storytelling, incredible synthesizer work, and serious musicianship. Even the smaller pieces such as Bitches Crystal, The Only Way (Hymn), Infinite Place (Conclusion), and A Time and a Place, suggest a story arc rather than just a bunch of songs. The album even holds together better than Brain Salad Surgery which starts with a bunch of smaller pieces that do not relate to each other or Karn Evil 9. The only songs that don't match the rest of the album are Jeremy Bender, story about a western outlaw driven by a barroom piano, and Are You Ready, Eddy? The latter especially seems out of place, given its prosaic theme of 50s rock and roll. It's not a bad song; It just doesn't belong on this album. Tarkus is a masterpiece of prog rock and one of the highlights of the ELP catalog. While Brain Salad Surgery is the natural starting point for the ELP newcomer, this should be the next waypoint on the ELP journey.
great old recording they invented prog rock
Круто!
I think this is the first album on this list that I’ve genuinely been amazed by, to think this came out in 1971 is insane considering how complex and futuristic some of these songs sound. The only way I can describe the sound of this album is a mix of Black Midi and Tame Impala with some old western piano and some classic guitar rock thrown in, it is such a mix of genres that even this vague idea of sounds doesn’t do it justice. I’ll start with the opening title track ‘Tarkus’ which is a 20 minute, 7 part mash of sounds and energy that’ll leave you stunned. It is equally chaotic and yet so well put together it almost feels like a journey when listening to it, the more chaotic parts of this track help you really appreciate when it slows down and the lyrics come in patterned with a smooth instrumental in the background. The next 2 tracks, ‘Jeremy Bender’ and ‘Bitches Crystal’ are just filled with this mesmerising western style piano as if you’d just entered an old Texas bar in the middle of a fight in a movie, but the accompanying guitar and drum work in both songs bring it down a notch to a more classic rock style at points. The following track ‘The Only Way (Hymn)’ takes a completely different turn with some beautiful vocals accompanied with what I can only guess is a church organ bellowing in the background. The final 3 tracks definitely don’t disappoint either with more of the same sounds, some hard guitar on “Time and a Place’ and some fast paced rock n roll on the final track ‘Are You Ready Eddy?’ to close off the album. Not only is this album incredibly enjoyable but it ticks both boxes for creating great songs but also being unique enough that the listener can’t forget the sound when they finish listening. One of my favourite first listens so far, would highly recommend. 5/5
this album is UNHINGED beautifully chaotic prog rock 10/10
Brilliant from very early seventies. The cover art was pretty amazing too.
Another very positive surprise on the list. I have listened to the album twice already and it looks like I'm going to spend next weeks discovering Emerson, Lake and Palmer playlist. In few words, I would call Tarkus a much more progressive "Echoes" by Pink Floyd, with a very climactic vocal by Lake, on par with Gilmour, with prominent Hammond organs by Emerson and excellent drumming virtuoso - how come I didn't hear too much about Palmer before? I can blame only my ignorance. Side A of the album is filled with an epic 20-minutes song "Tarkus". Unlike the aforementioned "Echoes", the composition is less linear - it looks like ELP were experimenting with different styles and moods on this song, jumping from a very progressive and chaotic "Eruption", to much more chilled and atmospheric "Stones Of Years", for example. The song keeps you interested for the whole duration of the track and the multiple changes of tempo allow you to rediscover it once again. Surprisingly, I like the B side even better. Six short songs, by comparison, with instrumental "Infinite Space" and entertaining "A Time And Place" make it a great successor to the artful Tarkus. I really liked the album, even though it might be a little too "proggy" at times for my liking. But because it was my first experience with ELP, I will give it a round five bags of popcorn.
Prog masterpiece! Not very accessible, but very rewarding!
One of my favorite Prog album of all time. Huge ELP fan. Album cover - Wow. Story - Awesome. Drum - Incredible. Keyboard - Amazing. Everything is there - MASTERPIECE.
I'm really surprised that this album is part of the challenge, I find it very "proghead only". In any case, it remains a great, complex, but somehow catchy record. Carl Palmer's drumming has always impressed me on Tarkus. He created a percussive musicality full of creativity. Keith Emerson's organ is full of virtuosity, as usual, but there is also good research in the sounds. Some have aged badly, but it gives a charm. On the side of Greg Lake, we find his more tragic singing, which comes to him from his previous group King Crimson. And it feels good. It brings the more personal and emotional aspect through all this musical complexity. Ok, to me, it's a masterpiece.
Really excellent. Great bass tone. Some iffy singing.
Another album I have in different media from different eras.
A very fun early prog album that packs a lot of depth into its short runtime ((the opposite of many other prog works). I like space jazz
really fun, super listenable, this is my new favorite album to listen to while working.
Absolutely perfect. The title epic-length track holds up, I could listen to it forever despite its length. Some of my favorite instrumentation on a prog song!
nice
tarkão brabo
Какой же это офигенный альбом! Просто супер. Главное, он практически на едином дыхании слушается, песни неразрывны, несмотря на наличие полотна в виде самой композиции Tarkus.
Classic alert! Although I've never actually heard this one before.. The best kind of prog rock: great chord progressions, creative songwriting, nice melodies. Also my mum likes it which is a plus
It doesn't make the strongest first impression, but the first song (epic?) gets way better as you listen along. It's the main "song" of the album, and most of the B-Sides feel tacked onto it. All in all, though, it was an enjoyable experience. I really enjoyed the keyboard, but I think the bass lines could be better. Favorite track: Tarkus (last quarter)
Although being one of the more pretentious progressive rock albums of the seventies, I believe this one still holds up as one of the best with a fresh take on the genre that was greatly picking up speed. Tarkus can stand up there with most of the Pink Floyd and King Crimson's discography as well as being one of the longer pieces in that catalogue. While other ELP projects were more successful, Tarkus remains my favorite. Simplistic in nature, complex in execution (which is where I think a lot of modern progressive bands, The Mars Volta, Airbag, Porcupine Tree, and Tool go wrong). Highlights: 1, 3, and 4.
so good!
Straight fire
Cool prog rock album! The organ is on point. I love me a 20 min. opening track. I may have become a fan of ELP.
Pretty sure Motoi Sakuraba ripped off this album for Star Ocean: Til the End of Time's OST.
Excellent on all accounts. A bold musical experiment that was very successful! The first song being 20min long surprised me but I didn't even mind because it was so intricate and clearly told a story. Interesting song titles and good lyrics :)
Now this is some good shit. One of prog rock classics. Not perfect, but really fucking good. Debut album is a bit better IMO, so a 4.5 (also insert JoJo reference here)
song lengths look fun. i like the start! could be the soundtrack to an action scene in a weird trippy horror movie. tbh the only movie like that that i know is suspiria (1977) haha. makes me feel a little paranoid lol. i suppose with the slow down we enter the second part? REALLYYYY NICE VOCALS thank god! wow if it continues to be this fun it might be my second 5/5 (first one being an album i already knew and loved). okay, new guitar, change up, third part. yeah this is going to be the longest song in my playlist for songs over 7 minutes long. lyrics are really cool too im digging everything. UGH THIS IS SO FUN. so good. there's some sounds that remind me of pink floyd which is pretty much the only band ive listened to from the 70s so. this is from before their hits though. ugh im kinda sad the 20 minute song ended :( OH second song is quite different but still has the same flair. so funny that the follow up to the 20 minute song is 1:50 min long. im obsessed with the piano here. a lil unsettling. do you guys think these guys are just atheists or are they anarchists too. honestly i cant imagine this was very popular so shout out to whoever decided to include this, it was worth it to sit through 20 or so albums that felt absolutely pointless just to get to listen to this one. hopefully theres more like this in their discography :))
Hilariously over the top and ridiculous keyboard work throughout. The idea of a mecha-armadillo named Tarkus is just amazing. 9
nice prog snäppet över ambitiös men helt makalös
The opening track being so long threw me but it really got my ears jumping at about 8 minutes in. Fun listen!
Very enjoyable listen. Love the atmospheric transitions of the first song (lasting for 20 minutes) while the other shorter songs made memorable hooks.
Nice one
it was an interesting one
Funky
This album is the 20 Minute title track but the remaining do pretty well to fill the remaining half of the album out. That title track is fantastic, just as weird an armadillo tank as well. 4 stars
sounds like i’m fighting Kefka
Rock needs more organs and orchestral drama ⭐⭐⭐.51
There we go! Finally some good 70s music (hehe). Really enjoyed this, I can really see the influence of a lot of indie bands now really emulating this so it is always fun to hear the funkier roots of this. Nice one lads!
¿Volvería a escuchar su canción de 20 minutos? Absolutamente. Entre más viejo estoy, más amo el rock instrumental. ¿Estará relacionado?
Side 1 - 4 stars - apparently changed everything in prog rock. Not sure I understand that but I do think it captures ELP well. Side 2 - 3 stars - could have been 4 stars if they left "Are You Ready Eddy?" off. This is not there best stuff IMHO but I can see why it's on the list for its influence.
This album cover so perfectly fits the album. It feels impossible to put in a box. Every time you try, it re-shapes into a different thing. It feels like a lot of music was the sound you'd hear while traveling through a warp device in Star Trek. And I'm here for it. I enjoyed the whole thing; it felt unique and interesting.
I really enjoyed this album. It’s unique and pretty cool.
8/10
Fucking sick - love the organs/synths and the drumming on this album a ton. I don't have infinite patience for all prog rock but this one hits. Favorite track: Tarkus, A Time and Place
I genuinely like ELP, this is not my favorite work of theirs but it's a great album
First off, I would have this album cover up as a poster in a heartbeat. I battled to get though the first song, it was too squeaky and "bloopy" for my taste. I get why the album is on this list though. The idea that they were making music like this in 1971 blows my mind
Less weird King Crimson. Like that the first track is longer than the next 6 combined.
I didn’t know what to expect but it wasn’t prog. This rules.
7.5/10
Actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
I can't believe I'm giving a prog rock album a 4 but this was genuinely enjoyable! Really enjoyed the grooves, the fact that it was complex but always felt like a song rather than a technique exercise. Probably largely driven by the keys playing which felt more rooted in jazz than wanky rock. Drums also didn't overplay and the vocals reminded me a lot of Jethro Tull. All in all, way more human than I usually think of for prog rock
Now this album's a bit weird. The first track takes the most of it, being 20 minutes long, while the six others have a regular lenght. I used to dislike King Crimson for their oversized songs, but Tarkus keeps the same style (kinda) while making it enjoyable from start to finish. Great find.
I had a driving theory instructor who once saw me wearing a Pink Floyd shirt and asked, "Have you heard of Emerson, Lake and Palmer?" Nowadays, every time I listen to the band, I feel like failing another driving test. But the band is really good.
It was more fun and interesting than I thought! Plus the cover is SICK
Unlike most prog, this one clicked better than usual. The occasional vocal belt marks a bit of emotion and you can at time hear the basics for the rock epics of later years in metal and hard rock. The prog shenanigans were also kept to a tolerable level but the playing was still impressive. Respect ELP.
Outstanding work. Incredibly trippy and experimental for its time but certainly pays off as an excellent storytelling experience.
Loved this. Everything after the monster opening track does feel a bit flat, but the first 18 minutes carry the album. And what a cover!
+1 star for the amazing album cover. For a 20 minute song, it surprisingly keeps you hooked the whole time. Other than that, I thought it was a fun listen, but I’m a sucker for the keys. Likes: Tarkus; Bitches Crystals
Det er bra mye vas her, men det er umulig for meg å ikke bli sjarmert. A-siden handler om en Beltedyr-beltevogn i krig!! Burde vært full pott bare for det. B-siden er ikke like sterk.
4 out of 5. The opening track was kinda epic, maybe I incorrectly slept on ELP.
Very energetic... Rock & roll... Reminds me of beatles. One time listen. Best song: The only way
Prog rock is just for huge nerds who like making music more complicated than it needs to be. Now if you'll allow me to just put on my thick glasses and adjust my pocket protector, I'll continue to listen and compare these tracks to all the JRPG soundtracks I've enjoyed over the years. Bitches Crystal, Oh My Father and A Time And Place are all pretty great.
Side 1 is a masterpiece. Side two is… “eh, we got this goofy song just lying around. Might as well use it”
I came at ELP through their live album and remain convinced they were a live band, their studio versions are all kind of sterile in comparison. They are all virtuoso players and but full of life and energy in their classical-jazz-rock jam sessions on just about every song - check out any of their concert videos for what this album isn't showing.
I found this to be pretty cool. I kinda wish it was an entirely instrumental album because the first 3 mins of the opening track are especially cool. The music reminds me of retro video games and, at times, Chick Corea. As much as this would be a sweet jazz fusion album, the vocals do add to the listening experience and take it in a different direction. The different sections of that first track are really interesting and the rest of the album's tracks each have a unique flavour that I can appreciate. I was torn between rating this a 3 or a 4, but the robotic armadillo on the album cover is worth a star.
I’ve never heard this before but it’s quite ambitious and has some futuristic and fun directions— futuristic for the 70s; hasn’t aged completely well but I think that adds to the experience. Love the keys and organ parts. Also like how tight the drums are to the arrangements with all the changes. 3.9/5.0
Blind album and know the artist by name. Another artist I can check off the list that I told myself I'd eventually listen to. That time has come and I thoroughly enjoyed this beginning to end. Not the best but really really cool and interesting. 4.
It is good for this style of album, I am just not a big ELP fan. 4 stars or B.
One of those albums which really made me super interested in Prog and I owe it that, cover is beautiful and just for Tarkus title track this is getting 4, so I will spend some time today listening to side 2 for sure.
Album is bonkers. From the cover art to ripping a 20 minute track to start as the A side.
Musically great album
oh no I really enjoyed this :/
I'm worried I'm getting all the prog rock greats this week and I'll be screwed later. Tarkus is a fun trip, if you enjoyed it even a little give Trilogy or Brain Salad Surgery a listen. They are a bit more straightforward. The first song is a reach, it's high fantasy wrapped in a seven movement song. My wife looked at me a few times during side one. I enjoyed it. Side two is not related to side one, songs are more straightforward and relatable. Good stuff.
w album and w cover
4.5 tbh As with many prog albums first half carries. Tarkus (the 20 min song) always has a special place in my heart
Every ELP album seems to have that ONE song that just doesn't belong. Are You Ready Eddy? is that song here. Otherwise, it's a great record.
After so many three stars this was more like it. I loved the title track, it was bloody brilliant. Best individual song I’ve had from here in ages. There was a slight drop off towards the end which is what’s stopping it getting all five. A Time And A Place and Are You Ready Eddy weren’t necessarily bad but they didn’t do much for me. I could probably look past one and give it top marks but not both. Top Track - Tarkus
My first ELP album and a pleasant surprise. I was expecting boring prog rock but all the tracks rocked and I enjoyed the great musicianship. Will definitely listen again. Great cover too!
I'd listen again. Love this sort of thing
When I first bought Tarkus I had no idea who Emerson, Lake and Palmer were- I just thought that the creature on the album cover was cute. Upon hearing it I thought it was the strangest album that I had ever heard and up to that point I imagine it was. I hanged the album cover on my bedroom wall. Hearing Tarkus this morning years since the last time I heard it was a hoot. Half the album is about Tarkus the tank creature on the album cover. Does Tarkus come to the conclusion that war is a bad bad thing? Does Tarkus learn the value of patience? Is he forever transformed? I think so but I'm not 100% certain. You know what? He IS a changed beast! The other half of the album has six songs each one unique to the others, each one a treat to my pointy ears. There should be a concept album about how underrated ears are! Imagine if we had like 9 ears LOL Magical majestic stuff wildly different to other great prog albums of the time. Tarkus delivers. I loved almost every song (a couple were not the best but still good) and will go into heavy rotation as winter gives way to spring as the wind howls... Long Live Tarkus!
This was a surprising album as it is a prog album but about 30 minutes long, therefore easier to digest, as you can listen more times to get the idea. I enjoyed it, I think it was a gun listen and the instrumental changing, showing the multiple influences were cool. 30 mins were great because it didnt drag. 4/5
👍🏻Progresivo
Favourites: 1. Tarkus 2. A Time and a Place 3. The Only Way (Hymn) Least Favourite: Jeremy Bender
Rock the fuck on freaky armadillo tank. ELP is relatively low on my list of progressive rock acts that I key in on. I'm a Rush/YES/ELO/King Crimson type bloke. This was my honest first listen. Besides the hits on classic rock radio. I loved it will circle back to this in life.
20 minuutin instrumentaali avausraita vakuutti. Jos levyllä olisi ollut pelkästään se, niin helppo vitska. Valitettavasti levyllä oli myös muita biisejä niin nakataan tähän nelonen sitten
Aloitusraitahan oli varsin hyvää tiluttelua. Loput olikin vähän sekavampaa settiä, mutta kyllä nekin läpi kuunteli mielellään. Laitellaan neloinen.
Tarkus may be the most indulgent and most “Emersonian” of all ELP albums. It was widely hailed as a progressive rock masterpiece, and I’m very pleased to see it on the list when prog tends to get short shrift here and by critics generally. That said, ELP has other 20-minute plus song cycles that I like more for the storytelling (Memoirs of an Officer and a Gentleman) and many more popular short songs. So it’s not ELP’s best album, but it is undoubtedly their best album cover. 4⭐️
OK. So now I know what inspired Chrono Trigger boss battle music at least…
What is this, Final Fantasy music in my 70's album? Utterly bizarre and all over the place but boy I really liked it.
I don't listen to everything in my collection, and this includes all the prog that I bought some years back. I got it as a nod to the stuff that I listened to in the 1970s. So - I've got five ELP albums and almost never play them. Maybe once in every five years. When I do listen to them I still really like Tarkus. Side one - the "fantasy about a monster" as Greg Lake introduced it at a gig in the Empire Pool Wembley sometime around 1973 - is still good to listen to.
4.0 - Very Good
If you can't handle me at my armodillo tank, you don't deserve me at my red screamy man.
I don’t see this album is getting so much hate. I think this was a pretty fun listening experience. I don’t it’s the best but I was pleasantly surprised.
Interesting progressive rock of the 70s...it was pretty enjoyable, although a little odd at times
ELP is Boomer Tool
A bit up it's own ass maybe, but some really good stuff going on. The second side is a bit hit and miss though
Pretty nice album. Lots of different influence and rhythms. I'm more elo than elp but this was really good.
Tarkus is a killer opening track as it goes through a ton of different changes and swings. So far have really enjoyed this album. Have heard of ELP many times before but always thought they were more folky, but boy I was wrong. Yeah this was a great prog rock album prob an 8/10
A classic ELP album, with some great songs.
Ik vind prog in theorie leuk, maar dat gekloot met maatsoorten vind ik toch vaak wat lastig te volgen. Ga maar eens met je hoofdje mee zitten knikken als het (in het geval van Tarkus) van 9/8 naar 10/8 naar 7/16 naar 10/8 naar 6/8 gaat, met tussendoor nog 7/16 en een enkele keer één maatje 2/4e. Dat is gewoon onmogelijk als je er geen studie aan gewijd hebt en je de bladmuziek niet ter hand neemt. Ik raak dan altijd compleet de weg kwijt en dat gaat een beetje ten koste van m'n luisterervaring, want ik kom er dan niet heel lekker in. Ik zweef, als ik mezelf mag diagnosticeren, op z'n minst met minimaal één been boven het spectrum en ik hou juist van die duidelijke structuur die veel muziek heeft, waarbij alles neerkomt op patronen van 4 tellen of een meervoud daarvan. Dat allemaal gezegd hebbende: Het is wel een luisterervaring. De hoes vind ik ook heel vet. Na een hele hoop meh-albums de laatste tijd heb ik hierbij eindelijk weer eens het gevoel dat ik bezig ben met de lijst van de meest indrukwekkende albums ooit. Ook al kan ik het allemaal niet helemaal volgen, ik kan me voorstellen dat dit een top album is. Ik ga het dus geen 5 geven want dan doe ik mezelf te groot voor, maar een 4 krijgt het wel.
Amazing! The vocals and melodies - not so much, not so remarkable for me, but the instrumental parts (rhythms, mixture of classical, jazz and rock elements, organ and I think a very good keyboard player) 4,5
I like big (armadillo) tanks and I cannot lie.
Fun album! I listened through twice. It reminded me of Yes + Jethro Tull. It's like if Tull had electric organ. 20 minute intro song is a choice, but one I agree with. 3.75/5
Disgustingly prog but I liked it. It feels if Tarkus was released today they’d just put out the title track without padding it to an album length with the other songs that do feel really throwaway. The main event was exhilarating though; wonderful stuff.
King Crimson if they made good music post In The Court... ....wait a minute
really enjoyed the Tarkus suite as the opener, was very epic and well made, i did also like the less serious back end of the record, but my attention faded more towards the end, overall it was good
4 estrelas, um pedra fundamental do progressivo
Fricken radical dude. Fricken synths are radical dude. The Flanger on the vocals is radical dude. Math rock is super radical. Nah, really loved this weird ass album. Normally not down for 20 min song, but I'll let it slide for these guys. Jeremy bender for president. The tape colour on this track is so pleasant, coupled with the childlike sing song keys composition, slightly off with the tape slowdown and warping. Really really enjoyed it. Fun, playful, tongue in cheek type shit. Really wasn't what I was expecting from the first 20 min track. This album is tilted as fuck. If the beatles leaned more into jazz and early math rock- this would be it. Integration of synths is radical (as previously stated). The pitch bending is also fun. Motherfuckers going absolutely nutso on the keys on Bitches Crystal. Riot. Also these synth brass sections and detuned keys- technicolour dreamscape. The warm mids and upper lows in this mix are excellent. '6 million jews' line in 'the only way' tho. Really blindsided me with that one. In the context not controversial, just was really NOT expecting that. Breakdowns pretty cool, nice shift. Genre mix was all over the place, super strange. I dig that. 4.5
i liked it was like experimental jazz vibes but too experimental to be 5/5
I love this album and own a copy of it. I've listened to it many times and really enjoy it. The album artwork is top notch as well. The music is kind of funky psychedelic without being annoying. It's well composed and I love listening to the album as a whole. It's pretty chilled out but still has some catchy beats. I'm sure I will listen to this many more times.
If i had gone in blind to this it would probably been pretty low. but in my highschool time i had 2 20min songs that i listen to: Tarkus and 2112. I really understand people would not like tarkus but i almost remember all sections by heart. so it is a bit nostalgic for me. Best i can describe it is as organised chaos, and you might have to hear it multiple times. I probably had given this low if i hadn't heard it so many times. the rest of the album... i never listened to. But it is good easier to process and showcase Emersons amazing playing. I never heard of a pianist so dedicated that he rather die than dissapoint his audience (might be a exageration made by his wife, we'll never know). It's not a 5 but i bump it up from a 3 beacuse of tarkus.
Very very good. Prog rock greatness.
liked it, but HATE when a track is 20 Minutes. BREAK IT DOWN
Mér finnst síðasta lagið leiðinlegt. Restin er ekki beinlínis skemmtileg, en hún er ansi mögnuð á köflum og hún vex með hverri hlustun. Hætti eftir þrjár.
A bit of a weird prog rock album occupying a very specific Time and a Place in music history. The individual performances are fantastic and showcase some true virtuoso-level musicianship (Carl Palmer might be the most criminally underrated drummer of all time), but the sound itself feels so dated that it's harder to appreciate 50 years after it's release. ELP is the one prog band that has aged the least-gracefully with their overall sound. Still an excellent listen (especially the title track), but there's a lot that feels stuck in a very specific era of music that has been entirely left behind. The B side also suffers from some afterthought tracks that pale especially in comparison to the A side. Top tracks: Tarkus, Bitches Crystal, A Time and a Place
saw album is 36 mins and was surprised. 15 mins into the album i realized the first song is 20 minutes long. love me some prog like this and def will save. great production. one of the forefathers of prog as a whole and a really solid album
I am very partial to 20 minute prog rock songs
Awesome groovy progressive rock! 🤘
Very good prog rock album, the first track is great but the rest isn’t very memorable
This sounds so timeless
This was epic I fear
wow this kicked mega ass lmao
Prog, etwas anstrengend
My hair grew 5 inches longer after listening to Tarkus melt my face
I think I fought Tarkus in Donkey Kong 64
Very fun. Much of the title track resembled video game music which is neat
This album is a great example of when exaggeration is seen in a positive light. The organ solos are incredible. Emerson Lake and Palmer was one of the bands that introduced me to this crazy musical universe that is progressive rock.
Yes
So from my very limited knowledge of these guys, this is not what I was expecting. I thought there were an acoustic trio and I’m getting some funky jazz electronic prog rock. Very pleasantly surprised! Oh yes. This is good. What an opener! 20 mins 😂 and I’m all for the right of self-indulgence (as long as I like it, of course) and just when you think it’s finished it’s comes back from the dead! Not too sure about ‘The Only Way’ but otherwise pretty consistently bonkers and I’m all for it. Also enjoy the norm core ending too. Just to fuck with ya! Good album
Great stuff.
Good prog rock people like to hate.
Although not everything works for me in the 20 minutes long title track, it is a great listening experience overall
7/10
much like an armadillo turning into a tank, this is a terrible idea, but I'm here for it
This was most certainly a journey. Awesome prog rock record especially it being from ‘71
tiring
The opening track is like the final boss music to a Final Fantasy game. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing would be to personal taste. It’s then followed up with some standard, not particularly profit rock tracks, then gets back into the prog for the closing quarter. A worthy entry.
I love prog, and this is a good example of the genre... though I prefer Pictures, Brain Salad, and their live album to this.
Would listen again
kinda cool
fun album. obviously, the highlight is the epic title track, but there's some other great stuff on here to. now i have come to expect that every emerson, lake and palmer album is going to have some weird kitschy song on it that sounds like a ragtime. but i mean talk about three dudes firing on all cylinders. the musicianship is insane.
Good memories of late nights after work
Great Prog album but probably not best choice for a “one off” challenge. Needs a handful of listens to fully digest
Such a cool album!
Good stuff. Will probably add ELP to my lists in the future. It is a bit high brow and somewhat condescending.
Deeply uncool, but I am very open to some prog noodling nowadays,
Can’t say that I totally get it but these cuts are obviously super talented musicians. Prog can sometimes feel impenetrable.
Interesting
"Tarkus" is the second album by English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP). Progressive rock is the only Wiki-listed genre. They go into other areas like ragtime and 50's rock on the second side. The album is centered around a concept of the futility of conflict on side one with side two being a number of unrelated tracks. ELP is Keith Emerson (Hammond organ, pipe organ, piano, celestial Moog synthesizers), Greg Lake (vocals, bass, guitars) and Carl Palmer (drums, percussion). Commercially, the album did very well reaching #1 in the UK and #9 in the US. Upon release, the album received mostly unfavorable reviews but is now considered a quintessential prog rock album. Side one is one song "Tarkus" with seven parts. It tells the story of an armadillo-tank hybrid spawned from the mouth of a volcano who defeats a number of foes until it is defeated by the Manticore and cast to sea. The overarching theme is the futility of war which has gotten us nowhere. I have to admit that information is all researched. Lake's lyrics were cryptic to me. The strength of this song is in the music. The first part "Eruption" highlights include a jazzy 5/4 drum rhythm, a thumping bass and a loud synth. The middle parts alternate between songs with Lake vocals and instrumentals. Lots of speed change and I think Emerson used any and every organ, piano and synth he could find. They go "Meddle-era Pink Floyd in "Battlefield" and it works. The finale "Aquatarkus" features very impressive drumming by Palmer and quirky-sounding synth and organ. Drama builds throughout this epic. Side two opens with a rag-time piano and handclaps in "Jeremy Bender." A happy sounding song telling a bizarre story of a guy who becomes a nun, goes to a nunnery and eventually leaves the nunnery. All sorts of sexual innuendos; I know there's a deeper meaning. Keith Emerson played the pipe organ at St. Mark's Church in London on "The Only Way (Hymn)." Religious themes as Lake questions God with six million Jews killed. "A Time and Place" was influenced by Led Zeppelin. The most rockin' song on the album and Emerson pulls out the Moog. The album closer "Are You Ready Eddy?" is a 50's style rock song with a rollicking piano. A fun song named after their engineer Eddy Offord whom before they would start a song would yell "Are you ready Eddy?" I was fully expecting to hate this album. Some prog rock, including the rock radio ELP, I find completely boring. I was also not a big fan of their subsequent live album "Pictures at an Exhibition." But you know what? I really liked this album despite it all including the horrible album cover. The musicianship is absolutely exceptional with every member contributing. I liked the changes in rhythm and instruments and vocal/instrumental variety in the epic first song. It was a tale of two albums sides. The second side also kept it interesting mixing up ragtime, 50's rock n' roll, 70's rock, jazz and prog rock. This is a case in point of listening to something before making a final judgment. Recommended for any prog rock or 70's rock fans.
This album art is sick as hell. I enjoyed this, but I wouldn't call it a masterpiece or anything
Its weird, but its my kind of weird.
Always thought this would yacht rock. I enjoyed it. 3.5-4 stars.
Oh, Emerson, Lake & Palmer. If prog rock ever had whipping boys... Like, believe me, if there's any group in the world that represents the platonic idea of everything the average person would hate about the genre, I think they'd be imagining these three. Y'know, with all the long-ass songs, and the classical music influence, and the how they seem to value showing off their technical playing proficiency over everything else. I mean, goodness, these guys have a live album adapting a classical piano suite, PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION. All that, and they don't even have the decency to have any big hits to ease themselves onto audiences like Genesis, Yes, King Crimson and Pink Floyd do. If there's any band to point to for why punk rock happened... And, I mean, I don't have the experience with ELP to necessarily defend them against any of that. Before now, I've only heard, like, one album of theirs (BRAIN SALAD SURGERY), and besides that and this album, the only other ones I can name are the Modest Mussorgsky adaptation and stupid LOVE BEACH. I'll admit, as much as I do love myself a bit of prog, their reputation has kept me from wanting to dive too deeply into their catalogue. Y'know, why take a chance on a band routinely clowned on like this, when Pink Floyd and Yes are right there? But still, prog is far from a bad word for me, so I think it'd be worthwhile to give these guys their due. After all, I **did** like BRAIN SALAD SURGERY the one or two times I've heard it — I can't imagine this album falling anywhere too far below that that I'd call it "bad," y'know? What do we have here, then? Well, in the vein of albums like Rush's 2112 and Pink Floyd's ATOM HEART MOTHER, we have a record primarily focused on the title track suite presented on the first side and backed with some random others on the B. Y'know, where Rush have "Something For Nothing" and Pink Floyd have "If", ELP have "Are You Ready Eddy?". It's a set-up that's worked before, so on the onset I couldn't imagine ELP doing anything that terrible within it. Let's take each side as they come. "Tarkus"... Well, it sure is a prog rock suite alright! It's long and has all of the keyboard-based noodling I've come to expect from such things. Listen to Emerson go! He can sure play a lot of notes fast — and in complex time signatures, too, I'm sure! Like, I already sound like I'm underplaying this suite; I'll be clear: I don't dislike it. It comes across as typical prog to my ears, but it's still proggy goodness. I can't say I'm not satisfied by it, even if it doesn't excite on the same level as, like, "Close To The Edge" or any of the songs off of SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND. Ultimately one of those "it's not the first thing I'd reach for, but it'd do in a pinch" deals. That'll take us to the B-side of the record, and... Yeah, like I said: it sure has "Are You Ready Eddy?" That's the easiest one to pick on by a margin and half, but, y'know, it's fine, honestly. It's a bit of goofy fun to close the album on, and I don't think I can be that hard on it. And, y'know, "fine" is how I'd describe the rest of the side, too. Nothing's bad; it's just... I'unno. I can't act like I'm too crazy about any of these songs in particular. I will say, though, that it **does** solidify for me how much I enjoy the keyboard focus of the group. I love myself some good keys, and while these ain't the best ones I've ever heard, but they do good. So... Yeah, that's TARKUS, I guess. A very enjoyable prog album, but far from one I'd rave about as an all-timer. Like, I'unno, if you're the kinda person who'd rate "I HATE" on a Pink Floyd shirt, this'll do the opposite of convince you not to. For someone like me who eats it up, though, well, I feel like I could do worse than ELP, and I mean that as the biggest compliment I can.
Weird prog with some good moments.
The ever expanding forefront of progressive rock just got a sick armadillo tank. Hell yeah. Love the multi-movement 20 minute A-Side followed up by a collection of oddities. This style of album is just fun and makes different statements than fully cohesive ones. Some real catchy moments and a good time for dissonance.
Wow, who would have thought I could enjoy ELP when they don't muddy their tracks by having the synthesizer blow out the rest of the audio with ridiculous space invader noises. Structurally similar to 2112 as an album, though I think the areas I appreciate the two vary from one another. I liked a majority of the title song here and was able to vibe a lot more with the absurdity on display compared to our previous ELP album. I'd say that definitely puts me in the camp of actually enjoying this stuff. That part referencing the holocaust was a bit out there
I have heard progressive rock described once by a ragebaiting music journalist as 'the whitest genre of music'. If I recall correctly (I'm not gonna search for this) they were specifically talking about Yes and ELP. Regardless of the melanin content here, this is a very solid album. A departure from the ELP that I have been exposed to before this project, mainly just listening to their debut album. Emerson's keyboard work is the foundation on which the rest of this album lies upon and with so much emphasis on it, any lesser of a songwriter/keyboardist would have turned this into 40 minutes of semi-experimental slop. Side A is a wild ride, Tarkus as a track took me multiple listens to properly digest. I would compare it most to Shine On You Crazy Diamond in that the parts very much so blend together and don't have divisions that are clear on a first listen. Side B is mostly good with some odd creative choices that don't quite land for me (The Only Way, Are You Ready, Eddy?) but it's a nice palate cleanser after the marathon Side A. If Side B were more tonally/creatively consistent then I could seriously consider giving this a 5. Overall, a very novel album made by a very talented group but not without flaws. A thoroughly entertaining and lush listening experience that is weighed down by some flat tracks that take me out of it. I am glad I enjoyed this as the last ELP album (the live one) made me seriously consider whether or not I actually lime prog rock or I'm just the world's biggest Pink Floyd glazer and refuse to call it space rock for some reason. Highlights: Most of Tarkus, Infinite Space A Time and a Place
Another enjoyable prog album with a ton of ideas crammed in. It's very piano/organ/synth heavy. The Tarkus suite is epic but not something I'd want to listen to every day. The rest of the tracks show some diverse influences and were all pretty good too.
I'm a prog fan, but when people complain about prog's excesses, ELP is almost always the first band that comes to mind. They were so over-the-top, and their albums are primarily a showcase for Emerson's insane keyboard playing. However, I'll give credit here, Tarkus is a powerful album and the title track is seriously impressive, both from a compositional angle and the musicianship. And, credit where credit's due, ELP rawk a lot more than most prog bands. It's understandable how they could sell out arenas in the 70s (no way could a band like this become huge today. Take of that what you will). Taking away one star for excess. Favorite tracks: Tarkus, Bitches Crystal, A Time and a Place.
I had a good time with this. I wasn't expecting this album to be this complex musically, it's jarring in places with how much they are trying to do. This is maybe a good example of what makes Prog rock different than regular rock. The first track is a big undertaking but the rest of the tracks are also very good. I was a little disapointed there wasn't any(?) rad guitar work and it was mostly keyboard and other instruments but I found it super solid regardless. I'm excited to revisit this album. I also really like the album cover. It looks like a pokemon. I'm giving it a 4 now but it could move into 5 territories the more i revisit.
This is a great example of prog. The cover is bananas. The skill is through the roof but for almost no one in the way it is expressed. It's impossible to defend that this isn't a passion project for those who want to make it. If this was meant to be popular you'd change almost everything. I heard a Keith Emerson quote on a book once. He had broken his ribs while playing a solo and the doctor asked if people usually break ribs playing the organ. Emerson replied "it depends how you play them". That's summing up prog. It takes it to places no sane person would and it's almost for no reason, but that makes it pretty incredible to hear. Makes sense to be on the list, makes less sense that it exists. Fourth star is sheer bravado and the cover.
Me gusta más el primero, pero este es muy representativo de su estilo y posibilidades
Saw the first song was 20 minutes and almost skipped it. Glad I didn't. Listened to it twice more after. Definitely new to me and enjoyed this!
Good, but i am not sure this is the best of ELP. They should be on the list somewhere because of being one of the pioneers of prog rock and their enormous talent
I was not familiar with this since it doesn’t contain any of their mainstream hits. I eye rolled a little when I saw the first track clocked in at 20 min. I was at about a 2.5 most of the way through, then “Infinite Space” sparked my attention and I gave it a full second pass. The musicianship is great throughout, particularly the keys and tempo changes. I can hear the progression/ connection to some of the sounds and styles of “Court of the Crimson King”. I appreciated much more on the second pass. Props for the album cover. 3.5/5
GOOD AS FRICK‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ OMG 10
Very good.
Liked the classical flare.
INSANE. Super underrated and such a rollercoaster to listen to. 8.5/10
Groupe connu, et second album proposé par le générateur. Je ne connaissais cet album là que de nom. Un vrai plaisir après la semaine de disques moyens / mauvais que je viens de subir ... Le morceau Tarkus est un morceau vraiment intéressant, j'apprécie toujours autant les impros et les longues plages instrumentales. Les autres morceaux sont beaucoup plus courts, et même si certains sont moins réussis, j'ai vraiment bien apprécié l'écoute. Cet album est bien plus créatif et surprenant que toute la soupe que j'ai dû subir ces derniers jours ! Je ne lui met pas la note maximale (je préfère les albums Trilogy, mon préféré du groupe, et Brain Salad Surgery, plus homogène), mais pas loin. =>4.5/5
Enjoyed this album.
4/5
This was sick! The synths??! Guitars?? Weird lyrics and movements. an only 38 minutes??! What a fun time. I loved this.
Kansi on niin ruma ja outo että se on jo hieno. Kelpotaiderokkia. Voisihan tätä kuunnella enemmänkin 4/5
Toimiva progelevy. hieno kansi! 4/5
Already in my library.
Super
Was an interesting listen. Kind of all over the place. The song Tarkus obviously being the main attraction. Badass cover art! Armoured Armadillo would be proud
Such an eclectic album - some was very good, some less so
*Tarkus*, the second studio album by the English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP), was released on June 4, 1971 [1]. The album is known for its ambitious, conceptual title track and its blend of rock, classical, and jazz influences [1, 2, 3]. **Background** Following their debut tour in 1970, ELP entered Advision Studios in London in January 1971 to record *Tarkus*. The album was produced by Greg Lake with Eddie Offord as engineer [1]. The recording process was fraught with tension, particularly between keyboardist Keith Emerson and bassist/vocalist Greg Lake regarding the direction of the music [1, 2]. Emerson was determined to pursue his complex musical vision, while Lake was initially reluctant [2, 4]. However, the band ultimately compromised, and Lake contributed to the title track, writing lyrics and composing the "Battlefield" section [1, 2]. The album cover art was designed by William Neal [1]. **Music** *Tarkus* is split into two distinct sides. Side one is dominated by the 20-minute title track, a conceptual piece divided into seven sections [1]. This suite is characterized by its complex rhythms, shifting time signatures, and virtuosic instrumental performances [3, 4]. Side two features a collection of shorter, unrelated tracks, showcasing diverse styles [1]. * **"Tarkus" Suite:** The title track is a musical tour de force, driven by Emerson's keyboard work. The piece moves through various sections, including "Eruption," "Stones of Years," "Iconoclast," "Mass," "Manticore," "Battlefield," and "Aquatarkus" [1]. The suite's complex rhythmic structures, often shifting between 5/4, 7/8, 9/8 and 10/8 time signatures, and atonal harmonies make it a challenging listen [3, 4]. Emerson incorporated a "fleeting run of one bar" from Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 [1]. Palmer's drumming provides a constant flow and seamless continuity to the piece, while Lake's bass playing offers a solid foundation for the music [2]. * **Side Two:** The second side of *Tarkus* presents a mix of styles [1]: * *"Jeremy Bender"* is a jaunty track with a honky-tonk piano feel. * *"Bitches Crystal"* is a hard-rocking song with acerbic vocals from Lake and a jazz waltz feel [2]. * *"The Only Way (Hymn)"* is a more reflective piece with church organ and vocal harmonies. * *"Infinite Space (Conclusion)"* is a short instrumental piece. * *"A Time and a Place"* is a driving rock track influenced by Led Zeppelin [1]. * *"Are You Ready, Eddy?"* is a rockabilly-inspired track, recorded as an impromptu jam [1]. **Lyrics** Greg Lake wrote the lyrics for the title track, which are open to interpretation but generally explore themes of conflict and revolution [1]. The lyrics are cryptic and ambiguous, adding to the suite's mysterious and menacing atmosphere [4]. Lake stated that the song is about "the futility of conflict" and the "hypocrisy of it all" [1]. The lyrics also touch on the idea of revolution and its aftermath [1]. The lyrics on side two range from the cynical "Bitches Crystal," to the reflective "The Only Way", and the lighthearted "Are You Ready, Eddy?" [1, 2]. **Production** *Tarkus* was produced by Greg Lake and engineered by Eddie Offord [1]. The production is generally considered to be clear and well-balanced, with each instrument having its space in the mix [2]. The album makes effective use of stereo, with instruments often panned across the soundstage to create a wide and immersive sound [1]. Emerson's use of synthesizers, particularly the Moog, is notable, with the "Aquatarkus" section featuring a sound meant to resemble a snorkel tube [1]. **Themes** * **Conflict and Revolution:** The central theme of the *Tarkus* suite is the futility of conflict [1]. The lyrics explore the idea of revolution and its aftermath, questioning its ultimate purpose [1]. The armadillo-tank hybrid character of Tarkus and its battle with the manticore visually and conceptually represent this theme [1, 3]. * **Hypocrisy:** The album also touches on the hypocrisy of politics and religion [2]. Lake's lyrics often criticize the established order and its abuse of power [2]. * **Individual vs. Collective:** The album can also be seen as an exploration of the tension between individual ambition and collective goals [2]. Emerson's desire to pursue his musical vision clashes with the other members' ideas, mirroring the larger theme of conflict [2, 4]. **Influence** *Tarkus* is considered a landmark album in progressive rock, influencing numerous artists in the genre [2, 3]. Its ambitious scope, complex arrangements, and virtuosic performances set a high standard for progressive rock albums to follow [3, 4]. The album's use of synthesizers and incorporation of classical music elements also had a significant impact on the genre [1, 2]. The album may have influenced bands such as Queen and Rush [3]. **Pros** * **Musical Complexity and Virtuosity:** *Tarkus* showcases the band's technical prowess, particularly Emerson's keyboard work and Palmer's drumming. * **Ambitious Composition:** The 20-minute title track is a remarkable achievement in composition and arrangement. * **Thematic Depth:** The album explores complex themes of conflict, revolution, and hypocrisy. * **Production Quality:** The album is well-produced, with a clear and balanced mix. * **Diversity of Styles:** Side two offers a variety of musical styles, showcasing the band's versatility. * **Conceptual Cohesion:** The album is conceptually driven, with a narrative arc that ties the music and lyrics together. **Cons** * **Lack of Hooks:** The album's complexity can make it challenging for some listeners. The absence of traditional hooks can make it less accessible than other rock albums [3]. * **Self-Indulgence:** Some critics accuse the title track of being self-indulgent, with its focus on instrumental virtuosity over melodic accessibility [3]. * **Inconsistent Side Two:** While side two features some strong tracks, it is generally considered less consistent in quality than the title track [4]. * **Length:** The length of the title track may be daunting for some listeners. **Conclusion** *Tarkus* is a complex, ambitious, and influential album that showcases Emerson, Lake & Palmer at their most virtuosic. While its complexity and lack of traditional hooks may not appeal to all listeners, its thematic depth, musical innovation, and production quality make it a landmark album in the progressive rock genre. It represents a significant achievement in rock music and continues to be a topic of discussion among fans and critics alike [2, 3, 4]. The album's exploration of conflict and hypocrisy, combined with its technically demanding music, makes it a challenging but rewarding listening experience.
Instrumentals were great. "Are you ready eddy?" was a fun track to finish with
A lot of instrumental especially in the beginning of the album, but didn't mind at all since I enjoyed its progressive rock sound. The album cover is pretty cool too.
I do love me my prod rock.
First introduced into prog rock as a teenager and a truly inspiring album.
I enjoyed Tarkus! Kind of funky and heavily weighted toward the title track, but still interesting.
Sounds nice
Garbage name but great background music
An electronic exploration. Don’t need to listen to it again
Classic ELP. Loved it
Music to be sad in lab to…
I actually really enjoyed this
interesting prog rock
Boomeralert! Er is weer progrock in aantocht en met name Emerson mag helemaal los gaan op zijn toetsen, in welke vorm dan ook. Dat maakt het ergens enorm gedateerd, maar net als tijdgenoten zoals Pink Floyd en Yes (even snel degene die me te binnen schieten hoor), kan ik het toch prima waarderen. Wat me vaak opvalt is niet zozeer de composities of het gepriegel op de toetsen, maar meer de dofheid van de drums. Wordt tegenwoordig alles digitaal geremasterd of bewerkt, was de opnamekwaliteit minder goed (ongetwijfeld) of konden ze de ruis minder goed wegwerken? Ik heb daar te weinig verstand van eerlijk gezegd, maar het valt me gewoon op. Het is dan ook al meer dan 50 jaar oud natuurlijk, de techniek is doorontwikkeld, maar mooi om te horen, dat de muziek nog steeds buitengewoon sfeervol is en staat als een huis wat mij betreft. Het is niet van die muziek die ik iedere dag op zou zetten, daarvoor heeft het te weinig radiohitjes. Meer een echte albumexperience, met van die lang uitgesponnen nummers van 20 minuten. Leuk om te horen, met recht een album dat je een keer gehoord moet hebben.
Fav: Tarkus Least Fav: Are You Ready Eddy? Strange of them to end a prog rock album with a rock n roll tune
Should have just called it after the first song, with how good it is. The rest is decent but the seven-part Tarkus is just fantastic. Love the silly armadillo tank Tarkus he's just the coolest. 7/10
Nice
I like this a lot
Prog
Good but not their best
Nice album, not really my thing but a Nice ride
I found this quite enjoyable and I do like a 7 part 20 minute track. The closing track is a curveball that just seems to show they were having fun making this album.
Yeah, when I think of "prog", this is what it sounds like - and the album cover is a cut above! I'd barely listened to any other EL&P so this is serving as a useful gap-filling exercise. Fave tracks - the title track is great, especially the last couple of movements. Also enjoyed "Bitches Crystal". The comedy relief tracks, "Jeremy Bender" and "Are You Ready Eddy?" also had their charms, alarming lyrics notwithstanding....
Des fois je pense que je suis complètement devenu désintéressé des trucs super progressif qui me paraissent de plus en plus comme de la masturbation d'instrument. En plus que ce que j'ai eu de ELP par la passé m'a laissé sur ma faim. Mais cet album est venu me prouver tout le contraire. C'est un excellent album de prog rock des 70s. Les compositions sont vraiment intéressantes et on sent qu'il y a un point et non juste essayer d'être super flashy sans avoir de substance. Définitivement à garder en rotation. 8.5/10
I went into this with no expectations and also no idea who this band was but let me tell you, this whole album is an experience from beginning to end
That was pretty epic! So good that I not only listened to it on my bike ride to work, but I listen to it on my bike ride home from work.
Progressive rock can be tricky. Done poorly, it’s a real mess. Done well, as ELP does with Tarkus, it’s magical and powerful. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-tarkus-by-emerson-lake?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Was pretty cool, haven't listened to this band before for whatever reason, but will check their other albums too. Don't know what Are you ready eddy is doing on here though. Will I listen to again: 80%
81% Best: Tarkus; Infinite Space (Conclusion) Must-Hear? Side 1 is a must-hear, side 2 you can go without (I don't dislike side 2, it's just not as good)
Pretty standard for prog rock. Very enjoyable.
A prog classic but I would rather listen to In The Court of the Crimson King or Meddle. All 3 can meander but Tarkus is a bit too much meandering. Greg Lake’s vocals save this album for me much as he did on early Crimson. I may have liked this better if they broke it up into more tracks where I could get a breather between parts. Just too much wanking off here but I cannot deny that they can play.
I don't want to eat Kit's lunch but this is an absolutely sensational album cover. The best one yet by a mile. I want it as a poster. I'd never heard of this album before! It's really good. We've had a few other albums that open with twenty minute songs and it hasn't gone as well as this did. The album is all over the place, tons of different sounds and interesting moments. I really love hearing piano and this album has it in spades. My favorite songs are "Tarkus", "Jeremy Bender", and "Are You Ready Eddy?". The run-time was great. The energy kept up and the sounds never got stale. There were a few songs that were only OK for me, so I think that keeps me from giving it a 9/10. This is a very strong 8/10. 8/10
I just can't bring myself to give this 5 stars, mainly due to the awful final track. It's almost as bad as Benny the Bouncer. The rest is certainly overblown and a pale shadow of King Crimson, but it's entertaining enough for 4 stars.
Always been a fan this is a good album. Very prog tastic :)
What's more proggy than prog ? This apparently
ELP were one of the rare bands that were heavily keyboard-oriented - Keith Emerson was a fantastic keyboardist. And this made them unique. On top of that they got their influences from so many genres, including classical music. I'm into prog rock so this album is for me but I understand if many people can't get into such music that demands a lot of attention because of its complexity. Anyway, this is a good album, one of the best in their catalogue. Shame about the last song which was unncesssary though.
Hørte ikke helt når albumet ble ferdig men var nice
Pretty solid prog rock, not something I listen to a lot but I like it.
Is this the first prog rock album to explicitly mention the Holocaust? Has to be a short list, right? Anyway, love ELP, I'm actually surprised this is our first from them, I'd probably put another album on this list. Very cool prog album, love the long, multi-part suite that is "Tarkus," the heart of the album. After that, you get some loosies that veer into just bog standard rock, and they're mostly good too. It's a great album, probably not my favorite from ELP but it's a classic! Also have to take a quick beat to once again call out that doofus in the reviews for Common's Be who claimed to not get hip hop because he's a STEM major (and also saying people with humanities degrees think prog rock is for losers). Prog is dope! As is hip hop, you buffoon, grow up! Favorite tracks: Tarkus, Bitches Crystal, The Only Way, A Time and a Place. Album art: Definitely one of my favorites of all time, ever. Iconic, unforgettable. An armadillo tank just ripping through a rainbow field. The art style is spectacular, I love it so much. I actually bought this album a couple years ago, a picture disc just because I love it so much, I don't even think I'd heard it before that point. 4/5
Never heard an Emerson, Lake and Palmer record before, but I am a big fan of king crimsons work. But even then I can still hear the influence bleed all over this record. The opener is a 20 minute multi-fauceted banger. Kept me thrilled start to finish. Bitches crystal has one of the best triplet flows I've heard on the drums in a long time. Their use of effects on organs and pianos create some of the most unique sounds I've heard in a long time.
I really liked the 20 minute track, which surprised me. It was constantly fresh. The last half of the album wasn't nearly as good.
I love ELP & this album!! I don’t know if it’s my favorite album but the song Tarkus is an all time classic. They might not have the mastery in lyrics and concept but they make up for it musically. This is more of a 4.5 for me, wish I could do half stars ugh
7/10
1. 8 2. 7 3. 8 4. 8 5. 4 6. 9 7. 6.5 7.2/10 3.6/5
Interesting
First side good weird interesting. Side 2 not as much but they went for it
How delightfully bizarre. Although it became a bit to discordant for my tastes in places. Also, Ready Eddy did not seem to fit in at all.
-THIS IS SO COOL I love long chaotic instrumental intros -THE WEAVER IN THE WEB THAT HE MADE!!! -The instrumentation def takes center stage in pretty much all of these songs, specifically the keyboard. Kind of reminds me of Tago Mago at parts -Favorites are Tarkus (Eruption and Mass) and Bitches Crystal
An old favorite, the cover art and title track kick so much ass
ELP has been pretty iffy to me before. Just very dense and inaccessible stuff. Tarkus makes me think of Rush's 2112 for fairly obvious reasons. Despite the super prog of both records, Tarkus is much more enjoyable to me than other ELP records have been.
This album has a giant armored armadillo with tank treads and cannons as the album art. At least a 8/10 for that alone.
Prog rock with organs and synths is almost an instant win
Quintessential prog rock. Multi dimensional. Not for everyone but with patience comes the reward.
The opener is a self-indulgent prog rock (is that a tautology?) epic. Many Floyd-esque moments, though (or maybe Floyd had ELP-esque moment?). "The Only Way" is excellent, though. Very odd album overall, closing with a kind of a rock and roll kick.
Greg Lake has the perfect voice for this genre, and the production/arrangements/instrument choices on here are all I want from a prog record. 4/5
Great album. The songs Tarkus and Bitches Crystal are the best for sure. Jeremy Bender and Are You Ready Eddie? are a bit out of place. All around a great listening experience, but not a perfect album. 3.5/5 -> 4/5.
Don't get too much prog on here so this is nice, I usually have issues with this album format though. It's always one long song that is a raging banger, then a bunch of short songs that leave no impression. Luckily some of the shorter ones here aren't too bad. The huge title track is insane, Emerson's wild jazzy keyboard playing carries the whole thing, he's a madman on this album. Was a nice change of pace from the other stuff on the list.
very good prog rock album, seems to have had some jazz influences.
1971 Progressive Rock Standouts: Tarkus 3.75
So cool, title track was ambitious but a great listening experience
I, as a fellow Atom Heart Mother lover, feel bad that I've never listened to this album before. It's phenomenal.
I bit of Prog Rock Weirdness. Starting off side A with a 21 minute song with 7 movements like a movie soundtrack conveying the whole story. Side B seems to be 6 unrelated songs that veer between Prog and Rockabilly. Solid musicians but it is like 2 different albums. THAT COVER THOUGH!!!!! That cover is a 5!
I liked it. Not 10/10 prog rock but very good and very early in the scene.
Synth offended Joseph
Prog!
I liked the parts that sounded like a Final Fantasy Boss Battle Theme.
Loved it! Except for the last song. I’ll still give it a four star.
Very cool
Musically so much fun. Lyrically, hit-or-miss. The first time the lyrics kick in, on the title track, it's unpleasantly jarring; later in the same track, though, they're entertainingly weird.
Good jam album but not good if u are tired
So solid and open. The truth from the era of 70s prog and exploratory jams.
One of the best prog rock albums of the 70s
Звучит сыровато. И не особо понятно, что там со смыслами антивоенными в итоге. Но как работа над переработкой классики - звучит хорошо. Все вот эти органные приколы, смены ритмов... математично же.
been meaning to get into these guys for a long time now and they definitely came through. looking forward to listening more
Never heard this album before today Heard a little Floyd, Beatles, CSN is their music. Good Stuff. Art -rocky like early Genesis
To know the essence of progressive rock, you need to dig into the twenty minute track. And such a track, which starts off the second offering from Emerson, Lake & Palmer, is what Tarkus is hung upon. Multiple movements, resembling a classical composition, building worlds both possible and improbable. The fact that it is followed by several smaller length, unrelated parts that end with a rock and roll rave-up feels kind of funny; as though it were a weight taken off the shoulders after a strenuous climb to the top. And the top is where ELP will be, for a time, having rolled through like the tank. Favorites: Tarkus, Jeremy Bender, Bitches Crystal, A Time and a Place.
Interesante y progresivo, muy bien, un 4
Uninhibited creativity
Kinda weird but I'm into it
Enjoyed this more than i expected
Have listened before. Very solid
It's short and fairly unique. Jazzy prog jam rock with psychedelic sounds and lyrics.
I love the journey prog takes you on with its weird timings and instrumentation. Its not for every day listening but every now and then it's great for a listen.
Best album so far, nice prog music. Has some great percussion changes.
Very good. I'll add it to my repertoire
My submission for great album cover ever. Also gotta love an album where 1 song is half of the length and lives up to the epicness that Tarkus brought with it's multiple parts. I am an absolute sucker for early Prog Rock and I have never really listend to Emerson, Lake, and Palmer outside of a song or two. The electronic piano that goes along with the high tempo guitar and drums just keeps me going for the whole album. Please bring me more of them to this list, hopefully Brain Salad Surgery just because of the name.
First off, this is a sick album cover and I'm now fully expecting some batshit heavy prog rock. This first song is incredible. Classic prog rock and gives me random Floyd moments, especially with their Pompeii show. Some really good instrumental stuff here. I could've gone without "Are You Ready, Eddy?" though. Great album but can't go into the 5 range with this one as much as I like it.
It took several listens to get a grip on this album. I like all the songs a lot except the last song ruins it for me.
I spent all morning looking forward to that nice, relaxed, chilled out folk vibe of Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Then I realised I had them muddled up with Crosby, Stills and Nash. I’m not sure if I’ve heard EL&P before, so let’s add them to my brain! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Tarkus, Are You Ready Eddy? I really enjoyed this album, but I could completely understand if someone told me they’d found it awful. The opening track, Tarkus, is a whopping 20 minutes long with crazy key changes and odd time signatures. Once in my life, I’d certainly have found it really annoying, but being as ancient as I am has increased my love of prog and the offer music in general. This was my kind of weird. Definitely very different to Crosby, Stills and Nash.
Fun prog rock romp
20 min banger and transhumanist hymn. this one is a keeper