Tarkus

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”

02/05/2026 20 minutes for a song just isn't right. The album was a bit of a stinker. Spotify listeners: 1.3 million

To me, Tarkus is one of the weaker foundational prog epics. Yes it's good, but much like ELP in general, it serves as a display of musical virtuosity. Side 2 is better than I expected, given that people seem to find it significantly weaker (which it is).

Weird, not my favorite, but not the worst thing ever. The 2 star rating is purely based on starting the album with a 20-minute song for no good reason

Crappus.

I guess it's alright, not something I'd comeback to

The old prog nerd in me rejoiced for Side A, but Side B was a bit more of a patience exercise. Still OK, and certainly influential to prog bands to come that I dug (e.g. Dream Theater).

Before this, I knew ELP by name, but I'd never heard any of their songs before, so I sat down, put on my headphones, and tried to focus on listening. Luckily, it didn't feel like a complete waste of time, and I didn't get particularly annoyed, although this kind of music normally causes annoyance. The mammoth title track is clearly the most interesting song, and I also liked the "Infinite Space" instrumental, but the rest of the song material didn't seem very strong. "Are You Ready Eddy?" made me think that the album was over and Spotify had randomly selected some shitty boogie band to play.

Back when I was at school someone borrowed me a copy of pictures at an exhibition, it blew me away. I never listened to anymore ELP till today. Wow, it’s just terrible, it’s everything that gives prog rock a bad name

I was born missing the prog receptor in me brain so this sounds like noise. Kinda like being at a battle of the bands where all the bands play simultaneously. I realized that Pictures at a Exhibition was not a one off, this is the legit sound.

Komme der nerveus van...

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.

Could be a higher or lower rating. It was on in the house. But I was very distracted hanging with Callie.

Interesting one, I feel like id need to listen to this one more times to give a better more complete review. But tbh I dont feel like listening to this again.. it had its moments but didnt feel very cohesive as a whole. First song felt like it could been 7 different songs. Debating giving an extra point for the wierd awesome album art, but I honestly think this concept could been executed better. Like if I were to draw an armadillo as a tank, I think id come out with something cooler, or maybe Im delusional lol. 7/10

Pretty good.

Prog rock album. First track is almost 21 minutes. Overall I’m not a fan. There’s some interesting stuff but for the most part I think it’s a little juvenile in a way? Wouldn’t seek out, kind of turns me off of the band all together.

4/10 Best songs: Are You Ready Eddy? There's something really good about this album, but you kind of have to dig for it - it's hidden behind the frequent atonality, discordant instrumentals, and lack of hooks/interesting lyrics at all. I think I'd like it a lot more if it had been made in the last 20 (or even 30) years - I feel like they would've been amazing with a few dance beats or the use of any computers at all. As it stands, the music just doesn't quite work for me... With the exception of the final track, which is a complete tonal shift and sounds like it's coming from a different band all together.

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

В дитинстві мені це не заходило)

The Good: We get an armadillo tank! The Bad: Seems the armadillo is not so powerful… The Ugly: This kind of Prog Rock…. I tried… the music snob in me is crying… this. is. difficult. to. sit. through. I figured out why I don’t like it, and it is the god awful sound of the Moog Modular synth. I know that there are people with tattoos on their body, showing their love and appreciation for the Moog Modular… me, it is synonymous with the thought “where is the skip button?” Needless to say, I can’t give this album a much higher score than 2* and I should also add that I have nothing additional to mention...

I’m more of a prog metal guy myself but I’ve come to appreciate prog rock more. The fact that a 20 minute epic opens the album to be followed by a quick, tongue in cheek track immediately afterwards was pretty funny. Also interesting that it’s checking in under 60 minutes as a prog album. This deserves an additional listen and I am rate higher because I had to listen while on the road. But nothing stood out on the first couple listens

nope

A Prog Rock staple.

This album made me think about the Jeff Goldblum quote from Jurassic Park about scientists being so desperate to see if they could create dinosaurs they didn’t stop to think if they should. Well, the band really should have thought about whether or not the world needed a twenty minute opening track about a cybernetic armadillo that sounds like a promotional video for an 80’s leisure centre. The answer is no, and it wasn’t really helped by the weird grab bag of other tracks

I’m not against a ~20 minute track but I didn’t find the cohesion across that length to find the journey worthwhile. Would I relisten?? Probably not, but on writing this review I feel I need to relisten to understand my conflict upon trying to give it a score… … overall 2.25/5 a bit too experimental for me I think, but on another day I think I could see myself anywhere from 2-4

This was homework

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.

Im not prepared to this music. Not for me

Technically it's all there but it's seriously lacking in any kind of feel. I hear Pink Floyd comparisons but it lacks the biting aggression of Waters and the blues-soaked soulfulness of Gilmour to get anywhere close. It all gets a bit dull about 5-10 minutes in and I largely lost interest until A Time and a Place, which was decent.

Hoe begin je een album met een tune van 20mins haha, los daarvan heb ik wel stukjes gevonden die ik chill vond om te luisteren, progrock is over het algemeen niet voor mij.

Boel herrie met hier en daar een geinig stukje

Liked it very much. Interesting record.

It is good music but too incoherent

Great A-side. Very meh B-side. Unfortunate, but I was never a big ELP fan, so no love lost.

Prog Rock! Not a genre I have spent much time with, and the closest I have come to getting into it is my love of Primus (including Claypool's favorites like Rush and King Crimson.) I know I'm familiar with the NAME Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, but can't remember a single song title. Maybe I'll recognize one of these tracks? This is OK, sounds almost kind of jazzy at times. "Aquatarkus" got a little ridiculous at times. I did not recognize any of it. I might give it 2.5 stars, maybe, but definitely not 3.

Apparently Tarkus is a large armadillo-tank that was born on an erupting volcano, fought a number of enemies, was defeated by a Manticore and was finally superseded by an aquatic version of Tarkus called Aquatarkus. And this piece of work is a reflection on the futility of war. So, I only got the sense of what Tarkus was from the album cover. I get the sense of a battle taking place from the marching beat in the middle of Tarkus. And the rest I would have only been able to glean from the subtitles. Overall I like the idea of the narrative, but the work is so ambiguous that if you heard it on its own, it could be about anything. It is a frenetic, synth free for all that feels very 70s performing arts piece. Do I like it... maybe. I'm not 100% sure. I think I would have preferred a bit more definitive structure in the nutritive and a little less repetition of the music motifs. Would I listen again... probably. But I think that I would prefer to be high. Side two, or the other tracks as we now call them with the advent of using digital music devices, is a collection of musically diverse songs ranging from the short and sweet rag-time "Jeremy Bender" to the tongue in cheek rock "Are you ready Eddy?". It is absolute prog rock and I enjoyed it. (3.125)

Not as bad as the reviews make it to be. Would I go out of my way to listen to this record again? No. Would I enjoy listening to it in the background? Yes.

Tedious - possibly the single reason why punk happened .

W.T.F. The cover didn't instill much in the way of promise. The opening frantic keyboard masterbation gave me dread. Then the lyrics start and everything is a direct rhyme like being back in primary school. Then we haven't finished the first "song" or suite and we have had the obligatory leaps to fit the soloing in, regardless of song structure. There is the odd passage where you think they are on a track, but they have to leap off and spoil it. The top positive on here as of today gives the old chestnut argument for prog about engaging in the music over whatever else. Masterbation as music isn't engaging in music it's trying to show of. It’s that old prog arguement that you're too dumb if you don'tlike, but this isn’t exactly engaging with the music. Go listen to Bach for that argument, where there is the technical mastery, structural complexity AND emotional depth, and a bloody great tune or 2 to boot, which being fair, most can't be Bach, but this is just how many notes I can fit it, and jump around to. It has zero emotion and zero narrative thread. It's batshit bombastic, which can go either way, it likely influences bands like early Queen, but unlike ELP they could manage structure to songs. I guess it's not shit, they have obvious ability to play, they have some promise but are too eager to jump off the cliff, so to my ears it is a steaming turd, so 1 star.

I like ELP, but this one wasn’t too exciting for me…

I was assuming this was going to be really bad just from my pre conceived notions on 70s psychedelic music. But it wasn't a terrible listen. It was interesting.

In general I am not a huge fan of some of the stuff people label Prog Rock or fusion. It feels emotionless. Lots of good musicianship but it feels the worst of rock and jazz rather than the best This album hasn’t changed my mind

Weedeley weedeley wawawawawa. I'm glad you've trained yourself to the point that you can display such uncanny skill, but when you're cramming seven times the notes of your average Neil Young guitar solo into every three seconds of riff, making me listen to seven minutes of it feels like a violation of my basic human rights. For fuck's sake. Blegh.

It’s prog rock. I entered with skepticism. I stayed to enjoy the noodling.

Omg I fucking hate this. Burn it with fire. 1/5

Soundtrack for panic attacks.

Listenable but not for me

First half of the album (so the first track) was cool! The second half didnt wow me.

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.

Good

Prog off

How have I never seen this cover? This cover should be way more famous. Okay, and now that I’ve listened to it, I see why the cover isn’t more famous. What a damn shame. Poor tank armadillo thing…

Thoughts before listening: It's been a while since I've gotten some 70s prog on here. ELP are one of the biggest offenders of the over the top cheesy side of prog rock, so that's what I expect here. Review: I mean this thing starts with a 20 minute, multi-part drums and keyboard freakout. Someone mentioned in another review that this is why punk started, and I can't argue with that. I'm a jamband guy (but also a punk guy to be fair) so I'm no stranger to long songs, but this is maybe a bit much. Still though I get that this is classic stuff here so I'll add it to my playlist. Now once this 20 minute epic ends, there are still 6 more songs which fly by in 18 minutes total. Of these, my favorite is probably "Bitches Crystal" with a couple songs leaning toward almost a Kinks doing twangy country sound. All in all this is the epitome of over the top prog, and while I want to hate it, I think it's fine. 3-stars

A bit of a nothing burger and sounds a bit dated. The best song is “Are You Ready Eddy”

Fuck dude this shit is giving me anxiety! I can't do organs. Had to skip it 20 fucking minutes long!? I didn't like this album.

This is a good, not great progressive rock album. Not ELP's best -- I think Brain Salad Surgery should be on the list instead of this one. That said it definitely shows the range of influence that this band was built on, going from classical through to rowdy rock and roll.

PROGGGY. The final song took my by surprise given the rest of the album as did the line about the holocaust because I was not listening very carefully before that.

Pas fini trop chelou

More old white man shit

Mooooom Can I PLEASE take the Tarkus to town?? I ate all my human chow!! What do you mean I have to feed the Tarkus if I want to take him?? He loves the road, it's all the food he needs. I know he sort of shoots that weird slime from his snubnose Armadillo face when he's hungry but it's not THAT poisonous. Oh that was one time, the case is closed. Well we're in recess. Ok, I won't say armadillo again, jeez, sorry, Tarkus. Great, now he's powered down. I should've bought a less sensitive animal based war machine. Maybe that new Borgus with the hippo head and body of a B-52 bomber would take me into town to pick up my small order of ferrets who juggle. 2.5 HIGHLIGHTS: look at them go! They're juggling.

3 Can't believe they went with that holocaust line

Escucharlos me generó como alegría, no es mi estilo pero la experiencia fue linda.

Écoutable mais pas mémorable

This is exactly the kind of excess that works. The title suite isn’t just long for the sake of it, it actually justifies its structure with constant movement, shifts, and ideas that feel stitched together with intent rather than filler. It’s messy in places, sure, but it’s the kind of mess that comes from reaching too far, not playing it safe. The rest of the record doesn’t always hit that same level, but it doesn’t really matter when the centerpiece is this strong. It’s the sort of album that reminds you why prog can be so addictive when it commits fully.

having a song titled Bitches Crystal is pretty funny, but everything else here was wayyy out of my enjoyment. Tarkus is 20 minutes of noise, and dont get me wrong, I love this era of experimental rock, especially when they come up with something pretty special. I guess Prog rock is just not my thing, its a little too on the weird side for me. I guess I wish it were a little more coherent across the whole listen, also the length doesnt do it any favors.

Jeremy Bender threatened to fist his sister I guess

1.5

Some of the best ELP.

I wanted so bad to like this but I am just confused. I was expecting rock but there's a lot of disjointed jazz. The organ on The Only Way was pretty sick.

Musically great album

This album definitely happened. I liked the first track, but then the album drifted off into just being noise in the background. I don’t even remember when the album actually ended, just noticed at some point it was quiet. 2.25 / 5

Har svårt för väldigt progressiv rock, det här var inte heller min grej. Några bra låtar och partier men på det stora hela ganska osammanhängande och ointressant. 2:a.

album cover does not match the album's vibe 3

Niet mijn ding. Erg rommelig om te luisteren

Love the energy and the experimental nature of this album.

Slightly disappointing as my last album, but I MADE IT GUYS!!! Prog for the sake of prog.

266/1001 Emerson Lake and Palmer - Tarkus Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❎ Prog rock with a keyboard fronted sound, is decent enough, but it seemed as though all of yhe song structures were exactly the same throughout. Cool album art though.

First of all this outing really requires you to be beyond comfortable with listening to A LOT of electric organ which has never been one of my favorite tones. Second there’s the decision making to blame. It’s apparent that the musicians are dripping with instrumental ability and musical talent but there’s no sense of any critical self-editing to give this stylistic grab bag some thematic backbone. They can do anything, so they try to do everything. The effect is mostly gratuitous. Lastly, there is the disparity in artistry between the sprawling title track which is at least ambitious, the unforgivable “Are You Ready Freddy?”, and everything in between, both in the track list and quality. It has impressive moments but it’s a dramatically uneven affair.

Equal parts self-indulgence and bullshit, this record wants to be prog so badly, and may even come close in places, but it’s just such a meandering mess that none of the songs really work. There are some very good technical performances here, but they fail to complement their tracks.

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.

la portada ta wapa, lo de dentro ya tal

turra

I only partially enjoyed the second half of the album. Favorite track : The only Way

This was ambitious in terms of the sounds they tried to incorporate, but it just didn't do anything for me.

Terrible cover Terrible opening track inspired by cover. 20 minutes of random wibbling. Next song is about a man who pretends to be a woman in order to enter a convent to get laid. Where he gets off with another man who has had the same idea. I think it was written by JK Rowling. The music is oh Susannah repurposed for that reason it’s the best song on here. More noodling follows. Then the obligatory boomer boogie woogie chug-a-lug rockabilly stomp that blights some many early 70s LPs on here has added pretension. It sucks big time and is the second best track on the lp. Mercifully only two sides.

The worst of pro rock.

I think ELP won the race to the first side long track with Tarkus in '71. A tale of 2 sides with most of the strong ideas on the first and a mix of tracks including some honky tonk filler on the second. Forgot how much Emerson dominated the mix in this early days. Not as polished as Brain Salad Surgery but the sound is quite live which adds to the prog energy.

Title track is an epic that very clearly inspired every 90's JRPG boss fight soundtrack. The rest of the album is entirely forgettable.

Awful, unlistenable nonsense

- Did not enjoy the opening minutes-long cold, dated synth jazz intro on a 20-min song... but it got better at the fake xylophone section and when the warmer vocals came in. - I'm still on "Tarkus" as I write this - There are some interesting instrumentals from clearly talented musicians, but they feel more manic and jazzy than I like. They kind of melt into more accessible moments, but the experimental moments of grate on me because they sound fun for the musicians, but less for me listening, and I don't feel like they fit the rest of the song. Please, let it end, already - it's just noodling without an enjoyable direction. - I'm on the shorter songs now, and I only really like the singer's voice. The keyboards are just so in your face - it's too much. We get it, Emerson, you like to fuck around on the keys. - The lyrics are similarly uninspiring. - I can definitely see why so many people describe this as pretentious.

w album and w cover

This did not age well

4.5 tbh As with many prog albums first half carries. Tarkus (the 20 min song) always has a special place in my heart

I was looking forward to this but wow. A 20 minute song that went too long, a holocaust rhyme and poor vocals.

I’m just not there yet with prog rock

Inspirational!

The fewer the words, the better.

Well, given that this album seems to top many people's lists of the best prog rock album ever, I can say with a high degree of confidence that prog rock is not for me. (Although I must say that I've enjoyed Rush's earlier work for a long time, and I'm struck by how similarly structured Rush's "2112" is to ELP's "Tarkus" (epic saga on side one, unrelated songs on side two), and I've *never* had the kind of visceral reaction to "2112" as I did to this album, so maybe there's hope for me yet.) I can kind of get why the title track has a cult following, even down to the album artwork, but aside from the somewhat interesting time signature changes, it seemed far more turgid than insightful to me. And the second side's collection of ditties are nothing special. I'd kind of hoped this album would redeem them after listening to "Pictures at an Exhibition", but I'm beginning to think that I don't like ELP much at all (at least their earliest stuff). I can see why this album was included, but I don't have to like it.

Nah, I tried but I just can't. Too much brain and too little ass.

These keys definitely have a level of pretentious "look-at-me-ness" usually reserved for saxophone. And to be fair, prog is inherently pretentious - you don't pick up an instrument and declare you're about to try to redefine music unless you're an insufferable wanker - but I couldn't work out what they were trying to do besides showing off and stroking their own egos. As interesting as the suite is, it doesn't say anything and doesn't make you feel anything. And if a conventional pop song can do both in a sixth of the time, maybe prog as a concept just fails. Also definitely losing marks for lyrics.

Very unexpected. I liked the first song a lot with its weird time signatures and "sounds". Rest of the album was alright. 5.4/10

makes me think of dream theater in a way

I actually really like the first track. A crazy, wandering prog exploration with lots of energy. After that the album is listenable, but lacks the experimental intrigue of the first song.

The Little Richard-style Are You Ready Eddy? is such a balm after all the prog rock wankery, but it's very out of place.

She Emerson on my Lake till I Palmer.

Favorite songs: Tarkus (i. Eruption), Tarkus (iv. Mass), Jeremy Bender, Are You Ready Eddy? Approximate starting points for the 20:59 Tarkus suite: i. Eruption 0:00 ii. Stones of Years 2:43 iii. Iconoclast 6:26 iv. Mass 7:42 v. Manticore 10:57 vi. Battlefield 12:51 vii. Aquatarkus 17:04

Sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe shit.

Wow

When you listen to ELP you realize how poppy and catchy Steely Dan actually is. Look, I’m not sure who the first track is for? Honestly. The only reason this gets a two and not a one is “are you ready eddy!”

I have immense respect for what ELP does, but try as I might, prog just usually isn’t my thing.

picks: tarkus, bitches crystal

Prof Rick that was probably interesting in its day but isn’t so now

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.

Well, that was terrible.

For a “super group”, there was definitely nothing super about this. Just below average 1970’s rock with way too much keyboard

Strange album, 1/3 of it was the title and first song Tarkus. It was actually pretty solid and would give it another listen

Really far out there, would definitely appreciate it more under the influence of psychedelics. 2.5 rounded due to lack of accessibility and because I like their other stuff more.

It's cool stuff but not something I can listen to repeatedly

I thought it was pretty fun. Not particularly noteworthy, but it was an enjoyable listen.

The classic rock sounds aren't my thing, but the big song was interesting at least.

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!

Jamais écouté avant. Du prog à claviers probablement révolutionnaire en son temps, mais qui a terriblement mal vieilli. Reste la virtuosité, l'audace et une pochette aussi laide qu'iconique. Top : Tarkus Flop : Jeremy Bender

Favorite Song: No

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!

An okay album, I liked Jeremy Bender the most.

dorkus

I may rock, but I guess I don’t prog

Nope, second day in the row of this band won't make me like prog rock

Decent listen.

I always thought I loved prog rock. Then I embarked on this listening challenge.

Good

You know you’re a damn good musician when you can get away with putting an 18 minute track as your opener on a record. I had always heard this was a great album, but I’ve never actually taken time to listen to it. The opening song Tarkus is no doubt a huge jump in prog-rock. With exceptional musicality and a fusion of rock and jazz ELP really took music into another level in 1971. This is definitely not radio-friendly. It was impressive now on The Only Way (Hymn) they switched from organs to piano to Hammond. I don’t know if I can say I had a favorite song because it was all so rich and intricate I feel like I missed a lot and need multiple listens with really good headphones and no distractions to take it all in. The only real downfall (which was still a good song) was Are You Ready Eddy? Simply because it feels so misplaced in the scope of the album. Otherwise: Impressive.

Random thoughts: * I have never really explored much of ELP beyond Brain Salad Surgery. So was kind of excited to listen to this one. * It had some of the elements from Brain Salad Surgery that I like, the weird prog rock meets machine sounds like on the lengthy first track. * I realized this was future prog music, the scifi alternative to the medieval/fantasy music of this era. They are a stones throw away from each other but eras apart. * This also had the weird vaudeville influenced music as well too. Which is a weird concept to add to prog rock. * I didn't particularly love this one the way I love Brain Salad Surgery. * Final Note: It is a massive error that Brain Salad Surgery is not in 1001 but this album is. I can't understand the reasoning.

After seeing the cover art, I expected something much more exciting. Instead, this ended up being a pretty boring listen overall. It never really lives up to the wild promise of that artwork, and the whole experience feels more tedious than engaging.

Deep complex

I don’t like it Busy music

Never heard of album or band. Not sure what to expect. First song is jazz done by a white guy. Rock instruments just thrown together. Doesn’t work quite as well as normal jazz but not horrible. Very experimental. Guitar riff at 7:50 is really good. Wish there was more of that. I can’t believe how long it is. 13 mins rocks. This is the best part so far. Final four minutes is fine. I’m realizing it’s super ate songs all in one 18 min song. Not a fan of Jeremy bender. Too goofy. Bitches crystal is definitely better, but I think just a little too much going on. Well written, too may instruments in the background. Sometimes less is more. This album is not less. The only way feels dark and scary. Lyrics are crazy. What an interesting addition. Infinite space is pretty good. I like the piano. Much simpler as a whole which I was looking for. A time and a place is really cool. A lot going on but works better in this one. Are you ready eddy is very 60s. Not a fan. Very different from the rest of the album. I hate that this is the last song. Bad after taste. Cool album cover has to be mentioned. Fine album. 2.4 stars.

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

Love this. It's from my era. Wish I had listened to ELP more when I was younger.

The wankiest of overwanking. Oh god, no.

👍🏻Progresivo

I absolutely loved this album! I was nervous seeing that it was prog-rock, but it did not disappoint. So good!

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.

Music for people who wear capes unironically

I believe this is our second and mercifully final Emerson, Lake & Palmer album, and I can’t say I’m heartbroken to be closing the book on them. The journey hasn’t been awful, exactly — more like a long, winding lecture delivered with a cape and a Moog synthesizer. I’ve come to accept that I’m probably just not built for English prog rock in its purest, most self-indulgent form. Tarkus makes its intentions clear enough: it’s anti-war, it’s grand, it’s Important. I’m on board with the message. I’m just not convinced that the message needed to take up an entire 20-minute opening track on Side A to get there. At a certain point it stops being a song and starts feeling like an endurance test. I did enjoy this more than Pictures at an Exhibition, which felt like attending 70s English Prog Rock Church — except no one bothered to tell me which rock hymns we were singing. I was left frantically flipping through the hymnal in the pew in front of me, pretending I knew the liturgy while everyone else nodded knowingly at a 12-minute organ solo. Tarkus is slightly more welcoming… but not by much. In the end, this album was satisfactory at best. And “satisfactory at best” is just a polite way of saying I will never, under any circumstances, voluntarily seek out another ELP record. Why? Because I don’t care.

English prog rock just never does it for me no matter how many times I have to listen to it.

Dawg I love this album so much, but what the hell is it doing on this list

Too much keyboard noodling for my taste.

I do not like prog rock. However, this is pretty much acceptable to my tastes. I'm not sure why. Maybe because despite all the musical masturbation, they still seem pretty grounded. Also armadillo tank record cover is quite cool. ELP is my favourite prog rock band so far - this doesn't mean much, but there we go.

The main fault of this album is very obvious—half of it is complete filler. I wouldn’t call the songs outside of the title track bad necessarily, but they don’t feel like they’re from the same album. It feels very jarring to hear 18 minutes of just mediocre short songs after the epic that is Tarkus. But I honestly don’t really care that much. The title track is so fucking awesome and exciting, I’m almost willing to grade this album based on it alone. Tarkus is such a playfully fun track, and its technical complexity makes it even more enjoyable to listen to. Prog in general feels so refreshing in the sea of basic and predictable music. This particular album definitely sounds old and outdated, but it’s a rare example of outdated not meaning bad. It falls more into the “old school cool” category, and I love it for that.

2.5

This was a dense, heavy, and perfectly executed chunk of prog rock! Hit the spot for my lazy Saturday. Gotta listen to more ELP.

I dislike this in the same way that I dislike Van Halen’s guitar wankery, but instead of someone flexing on guitar and playing as many guitar notes as possible, it’s a bunch of guys flexing weird time signatures and playing as many synth and organ notes as possible. Somewhat bizarre complaint from me as I usually love artists experimenting and exploring weird time signatures, but there’s just so much going on in each of these songs that it takes me out of it. I think this comes down to the Jeff Goldblum quote from Jurassic Park, “[they] were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

2.4 To paraphrase Spinal Tap. There is a fine line between prog and wanking. Cool cover though

I actually really like the cover. 20 minute songs however, I don’t appreciate

Cool old psychedelic experimental stuff. First track is way too long though to keep me totally hooked.

This is a couple of kids playing with the settings on the keyboard more than it is cohesive music. What do you call this style, AV-club-core?

I'd already had the 'pleasure' of listening to their other album on this list in November 2024. THat was pretty bad, and this was more of the same. There are some enjoyable parts, but in the most part it is the musical equivalent of watching someone have a wank, and (trust me) that is never pleasurable.

I wish the music was as good as the cover. Solid for 1971, but it gets old and repetitive. Very dated.

Their second album. Prog Rock. Some Prog albums on this list have genuinely surprised me and I've enjoyed them. This one not so much. Yes they can play overly complex music but none of these tracks feel like songs. This album makes me feel like a passive consumer of the music when I'd rather be an active participant, i.e. Punk.

Not a fan...can't see the cultural significance or the appeal. Also WHY do they need multiple albums on the list?

#858. The first song is 20 minutes long, and sounds like the musical equivalent of a schizophrenia induced panic attack. And it doesn't get any less unhinged from there. 4/5: fantastic

3.5

zasnęłam

This cover reminds me of I Robot, probably one of the most genius albums of all time. 5/5

Wow that first track is WILD. It will probably turn like 90% of people off cause it’s so wacky and all over the place and i wish i could say it did the opposite to me but the truth is it was alittle of both. The first track is such an insane rollercoaster that I don’t even remember if I liked the other tracks on the album cause they totally get lost in the shadow of TARKUS. Seriously it had moments where it was winning me over and it had LOTS of moments that really put me off to the whole thing. Honestly I can’t hate this album cause this is a great example of you have to walk in order to run, and this feels like psychedelic rock walking/crawling so that one day King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard could RUN! But yah this is a stepping stone that’s meant to be passed over for sure.

I wasn’t that keen on this one

Good

Besser als erwartet. Im Zentrum steht natürlich der epische Titeltrack, der den Großteil des Albums ausmacht und anscheinend irgendeine wirre Geschichte über den Armadillopanzer erzählt, welchen wir auch auf dem Albumcover betrachten dürfen. Statt Gitarrengegniedel gibt es massig Keyboardgedudel, was mal was anderes ist. Teilweise sehr coole Sounds, schöne rhythmische Breaks und interessante Melodiebögen. Die B-Seite wirkt ein wenig zerfleddert und gerade den unpassenden Closer darf man ruhig ersatzlos streichen. Kein Meisterwerk, aber durchaus unterhaltsam und gut gemacht.

What an exhausting load of old shit.

Inte så farligt, men inget speciellt

A quirky fun album. I sent Jeremy Bender to Jeremy at work heh.

Nyt oli melkosta settiä eikä välttämättä sillä hyvällä tavalla. Mukana on joitain ihan kivan kuulosia juttuja mut muuten menee melkoseks sekameteliks

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.

Jes nyt ollaan pieruprogen ytimessä. Vähän jopa yllättää, että tää on näin varhanen rieska ja näin rajua nussimista. Nussiminen yltyy välillä jopa niin rajuks, että taitaa olla munatkin tiellä. En tiiä onko wigut hassutelleet freddie are you readynsa kanssa tän levyn vikan biisin innottamana. Noh oli miten oli, niin en tiiä meneeks tää semisti liikaa suorittamisen puolelle. Viihdyn kyllä ihan, mut nää rajummat kikkelilevy vaatis varmaan aina viikon kuunteluajan ja sit vois ruveta vaan ärsyttäänkin. Mennään sillä ajatuksella, että tässä genressä ja jopa tälläkin pändillä on parempia julkasuja kuin tää. Eli ei lähetä hullutteleen vaikka tietty kaikki pippelöinnit vois ansaita vitkunkin.

Aika vahvasti tuli Jussi Pattitussi ja Kikka Korea mieleen. Jollain perverssillä tavalla myös nautin tästä levystä. En sillain sen enempää mitään tästä oikein osaa sanoa, muutakun että oli kyllä kovaa ajoa.

Nice bit of pomp rock.

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⭐️

Kak

Bitje orgel op nen zondagmorgen is wel toepasselijk...

Progrock

I'm not much of a prog rock guy, but this album had some fun moments

There was a moment somewhere in the middle of the sprawling 20 minute opening track where I thought maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. It was a fleeting moment.

35

OK. So now I know what inspired Chrono Trigger boss battle music at least…

This was a slog of prog. Too may different keyboard instruments in the same song. The 21 minute opening track is all over the place. At least Floyd and Rush have the decency to somewhat organize their prog epics into movements or chapters. This was just everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The fact that it is 3 minutes longer than every other song on the album combined really tells you something.

What is this, Final Fantasy music in my 70's album? Utterly bizarre and all over the place but boy I really liked it.

3.1 1x

The first track is horrendous, and made me think I was listening to the Mario Kart Soundtrack. This is what I imagine my old uncle loving, "this is the real shit dude" and it's not a compliment. It is dated and lazy.

Utterly boring, I've got to admit... :/

The first song is really pretentious and over the top. The rest is a little better. Never been into ELP and this one confirms that.

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.

I think it is safe to say i do not like prog-rock. I do not like ELP and some of yhe songs here have not aged well. Even Are you Ready Eddy’s more straight rock approach comes across as just pointless and is only of note, due the handbrake turn from most of came before

With the first track being 20mins long, this was doomed from the start.

So many 1970s prog rock synths. Sigh. To me, this sounds like a bunch of disparate notes thrown together with little to no concern for musicality (or repeatability - there's no way they ever managed to duplicate all the notes played on this album). I would say, at least it's short, but it REALLY doesn't feel short while you're listening to it. I don't think that's at all helped by the a-side being a singular track in 7 parts. Also, the lyrics! Good god, the lyrics! "Can you believe god makes you breathe? Why did he lose six million Jews?" Also, when he sang "Sleep in a dream of butter milk cream, You dance on a beam, dancing on a beam" I genuinely thought he was singing dancing on a "bean". How the first track and last ended up on the same album is baffling. The album cover is genuinely astonishing though. 1/5

call me old fashioned, but I think if you're going to do a 20 minute prog suite about a half-armadillo tank fighting a mythical creature, you should at least have something in the music or lyrics to indicate that's what's happening.

step. away. from. the. organ.

Not for me 1/5

Pufff!!! ¿Demasiado snobismo musical? No llena para nada. Pero por la leyenda y lo icónico de la banda...

🎶Why did he lose SIX MILLION JEWWWWSSSSS🎶 Yes that's a real lyric. Should tell you everything you need to know about the album.

This is an album that I just don't think is for me, I don't really get it, and that's fine. I enjoy the drums throughout the whole album, very clear, good sound. The keyboard and organ is just a little too much. And a little too much going on. Sections I liked didn't last long and they were already onto another sound. Experimental, weird, and probably influential, but not for me.

Cool sounds but why this over Pink Floyd or Rush... not totally sure. Didn't resonate with me.

This album feels like something that somebody way cooler and more knowledgeable than me absolutely LOVES. Not in a bad way necessarily, there is something here, especially on the first side, that is inherently cool. It feels like an epic, albeit only 20 minute long, adventure. But as far as my music tastes go, this one probably won't be in the rotation. Which is a shame because the album cover is simply fantastic.

# Album Name: Tarkus # Artist: Emerson, Lake & Palmer # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Didnt enjoy this at all. Typical progressive crap. Not the worst thing ive heard on this list though. Certainly wouldnt come back to it. # Top Tunes: None # Would I listen to it again? No

Liked it a lot but you really have to be into prog rock to love it.

Bombastic, overworked passages built from blaring Hammond organ runs, rigid rhythmic shifts, thunderous drums, and declamatory vocals move this progressive rock album like watching an overlong mechanical parade float—impressive in sheer construction, yet so stiff, self-important, and exhausting that the spectacle wears thin long before it reaches the end.

I love Tarkus so much. I've been an ELP fan for quite some time. I love the blend between rock and classical music on this track, the focus on keyboards and synthesizer (instead of guitar for a change) and the wacky concept. Maybe some lyrics are weird. Maybe some tracks on side B aren't as strong. But Tarkus is a masterpiece to me.

No thanks, even the artwork is terrible, there’s really not much from this album that is redeemable for me. The last song was okay? 1.0/5.0

At best it was shit, at its worst it was unlistenable prog slop. Best Track: Anything after the twenty minute one

4.0 - Very Good

If you can't handle me at my armodillo tank, you don't deserve me at my red screamy man.

Meh. Prog rock at it's best is still just a 3 for me.

Well that was a bit of a carnival fever dream, a bit all over the place. 2/5

There are parts of this soundscape that still feel really futuristic. There are also parts that bring a kind of metaphysical sword and sorcery to mind.

This is very for the fans of this group. For everyone else this is relentlessly dull and self absorbed. Attempts at humour fall flat and the overall effect is one of puzzlement

I’m partial to a bit of prog now and again, providing I’m in the right mood for it. However, this album falls into the category of having far too many notes for my taste, with the opening section of the 20 minute title track being a dizzying jazz freak out that’s all over the place. Apparently the keyboardist Keith Emerson wanted to write a piece in 5/4 time which just sounds like being clever for the sake of it, and it was so divisive that it nearly split the band. It does calm down a little after the start, but there are other problems with this album. The general rule is that you shouldn’t judge something by its cover, but in this case it tells you a lot. The illustration of an armadillo crossed with a World War I style tank is exactly the sort of thing a teenage boy would doodle in the back of his physics textbook, and unfortunately the lyrics don’t rise much above this sort of adolescent level. Indeed, the track ‘The Only Way’ on side 2 features a line so egregiously awful that I almost switched the album off at that point. Your mileage may vary.

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.

A 20 minute epic of keyboard prog rock describing the volcanic birth of a tank-armadillo hybrid and subsequent life, battles, death, and water rebirth as Aquatarkus, opens the record. The composition sounds like a blur between a college drum line and the bumper music from The Price Is Right (prog, dude) The unpegged time signatures and shifting between the left and right channels makes the listener feel off balance. The track contains all the sounds and the messaging can’t help but seem ripped from This Is Spinal Tap. This is big, over-the-top sound. There’s also a side B full of questionable lyrics and messaging, but it’s… fine.

Hell no.

Truly terrible

I dont remember...

The cover art is goated🔥 6/10

I've never appreciated this album.

If I could give this negative stars I would

WOOOOOOF

There is just no appealing part of this music

I can see this influencing a lot of modern artist, and a lot of progressive music being made that took this as an example, It has some interesting and complex changes. It’s not really my style but I can appreciate the talent.

I'm a big a fan of Greg Lake era King Crimson(or pretty much any era King Crimson) his voice is just soo great on these records. SO GOOD! I also did not know that Keith Emerson, the keyboardist, did motion picture soundtracks. He, unsurprisingly, did Inferno, one of those nonsensical italian B movie, I suppose he was remplacing Dario Argento's regular band of choice, Goblin for this one. This is the first of two sequels to the classic Suspiria (1977) btw if you didn't know! Also it sucks! Back to ELP! I heard Tarkus before and I like it, Greg's voice carries some of the songs tho I think. And it's not that the songs are bad, but the constant keyboard solos get a bit redundant. I've tried Trilogy and other ELP records, but Tarkus is the only one I've enjoyed so far(kus). 3 1/2

I couldn't name an ELP song if my life depended on it. The first part of "Tarkus" sounds somewhat familiar though. I can hear the influence of this album in newer prog I've listened to - Dream Theater comes to mind in particular. Some of the keyboards make me think of DT. "Tarkus" and "Jeremy Bender" are pretty solid but most of the rest of the album falls a little flat for me. It's fine but a little meandering, the type of music where it feels like they're playing crazy stuff just to play crazy stuff. No feeling.

This is a tough one! On the one hand, it sounds like 3 extremely talented dudes showing off with their technical amazingness and on the other, it sounds like a massive steaming pile of pretentious wank. I'm giving it three stars, mostly because I love listening to Greg Lake sing!

If bubble and squeak was music (derogatory)

Interesting progressive rock of the 70s...it was pretty enjoyable, although a little odd at times

Hasn't aged well.

A concept album about an armadillo-tank hybrid named Tarkus that fights a manticore, ends up in a river only to emerge as Aquatarkus? Surely this will be pretentious and hard to listen to? Yes. Yes it is. All the same the title track grew on me as it played and a couple of tracks on the second side are decent (even if the rest are throwaway). I’d listen to this again.

ELP is Boomer Tool

electronic; not for me, but not a total assault on my ears--2 stars?

Enjoyed this, listened to it while working, funky but also chill.

4/10

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

The more I listen to prog, the less I like it. Some of the songs made me physically revolt. I had to stop listening to the title track 15 minutes in because it was painful to listen to. Some of the shorter songs were ok.

Not my thinh

This is a violation of the Geneva Convention against torture. The cover artwork is like "Zuma" on crystal meth. Complete shite.

wow….wow

Pretty nice album. Lots of different influence and rhythms. I'm more elo than elp but this was really good.

Got this as a blind buy in the early 90’s back when we didn’t have the opportunity of a first listen sample. Keith Emerson needs to settle down with his classical keyboard antics. Tend to enjoy the songs written by Greg Lake.

I do like my prog. But there must a limit. This is the extreme end of the spectrum. While their technical prowess and complex compositions are undeniable, I missed a bit of heart and some rawness to match some of the lyrics. It's better when progressive rock does not sound like robots masturbating in sync. Except the last song 'Are you ready Eddy?'. They sound free and like they were actually having fun. Ah well...

Oh hell yes. I've always wanted to listen to this album due to that absolutely beautiful, amazingly terrible artwork. Like what the hell even is that, haha. Almost tempted to give this album a 5 purely for the armadillo tank, despite knowing going in I won't like the album. And yeah, I don't like it. But as one of the greatest philosophers of our time, Taylor Swift, said, "It's me. Hi. I'm the problem. It's me." This might have been an album I enjoyed in my teenage years when I was heavy into prog, but once I discovered stuff like punk, post-rock/metal, and atmospheric/ambient black metal (music that either gets straight to the point or vibes, two things prog is openly hostile of doing), I couldn't go back to most prog music. Especially prog like this. This is prog in all of its masturbatory glory, for better or for worse, and unfortunately, for me, its for worse. On this album, ELP want you to know exactly how much they jerk the keyboards off. There's no tender loving here. It's a furious jackhammer trying to fit in every position in the kamasutra. But at the very least, they slow down from time to time to allow some good Pink Floyd-esque guitar solos and the vocals to come in and not completely overshadow them (the vocals). SO THATS JUST THE FIRST SONG. Then we get the comparatively basic next six songs which are simple addition compared to the 20 minute opener's calculus. Jeremy Bender is a kinda nothing Beatles-esque silly track with an almost Whose Line Is It Anyway? hoedown/Irish drinking song-like jig (in that it is a repettitive riff you could easily improv lyrics too). Bitches Crystal is back to the prog, just manages to keep itself in check instead of cramming a million different songs into itself. And it kinda just continues with that bite-sized prog on the rest of the songs. I'll give it something though, Are You Ready Eddy? taking a 50's greaser jig and periodically perverting it with 70's prog was pretty cool, even if it's not good. But it's shocking how exhausted I am after listening to this given that its only 38 minutes long. There's just way too much going on that it wears you down. You can't vibe with it, it DEMANDS attention, Clockwork Orange, eyes-forced-open style. So yeah. I'm sure this is a fantastic album. It's just a type of music I am incapable of appreciating anymore. My idea of good music is diametrically opposed to everything this album is. Unfortunate, but hey, that's taste for you.

The Tarkus portion (first 20 minutes of the album) was really good. The rest was just a bunch of nonsense. "Can you believe, God makes you breathe. Why did he lose six million Jews?" Whatever the hell that means.

Very proggy. Great playing, weak songs, pretentious and some cringy lyrics.

at no point did i enjoy this album, such a mess

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

This one surprised me, kind of reminded me of a more upbeat organ based Pink Floyd.. kind of

***an ok album, easy listening

2.5 als ich gesehen habe, dass der erste song 21 minuten lang war, wollte ich erst nur den rest anhören. ich habe dann trotzdem das ganze Album angehört und der erste song war tatsächlich der beste. manche von den songs waren auch echt anstrengend, von daher kein wirklich gutes album

Excellent, innovative with real musical instruments.

I don't understand prog rock, I think it's official. 4/10

It's prog rock

it’s here. for no great reason.

Insufferable and lazy

First song a bit too long but i like their sound!

This would be great if I was on drugs

Noodle-y noodle-o’s followed by banging on. Organs and then banging on pianos and then a screaming guy and THEN a fifties rock song played through a boombox at the end of a tunnel.

I've never heard of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, but I do enjoy me some prog rock! Tarkus is a bit of a mixed bag. The title track is a masterful display of musical prowess (which takes up the entire first half of the LP), while the others are relatively listenable, but often come across about as compelling as a condescending 13-year-old atheist – the “Check out this dissonant chord progression while I tell you why you’re a sheep for believing in God” kind of energy. It’s certainly not beating the pretentious allegations, but I can definitely see myself revisiting the title track in the future and there’s enough good material in the back half to save Tarkus from the two star club. Side note, but the artwork for this album is great. It looks like something you'd find on the sixth page of a SEGA Genesis instruction booklet explaining a game's bosses, while the actual boss doesn't even remotely resemble the artwork. Great stuff. Highlights: Tarkus, B**ches Crystal, A Time and a Place

Talented. Early pioneers of the E-organ, Prog burst. Still reminds me of my brothers. Not an everyday listen at best, but I might hunt down a track every now and again.

I have never heard of this band or album before, and I also have not listened to much prog rock so I am excited. Track 1, I am realizing about a minute in, is 20 minutes long. There is no doubt this is inspired by King Crimson. So far it is very groovy, just not something I would willingly put on when I typically listen to music. The mix of electronic, electric, and acoustic sounds reminds me of video game music. I just got to the first sung line of the song and I like the vocals and the harmonies. Now that the song seems to have really begun, I like it a lot. I am excited to hear the shorter songs. I also am realizing the first song is seven different movements: Eruption, Stones of Years, Iconoclast, Mass, Manticore, Battlefield, and Aquatarkus. Honestly, I might take back my prior statement of never willingly putting this on. It is growing on me, however, I still wish it was broken up into different songs. I feel like songs this long and with multiple movements are best appreciated by those with taste in classical compositions. The last couple of minutes feel so long knowing you already listened to so much of it. I like that the last minute or so brings you back to the sounds of the intro of the song. I am really liking track 2 so far, it reminds me of The Beatles. Track 3 is catchy but I wish it was a little more melodic. No lyrics for track 4 so I am assuming it is all instrumental. I was wrong there are lyrics. It has a very dark vibe to it, but it is a hymn so I am not surprised. I am very shocked at how similar vocally this group sounds to The Beatles. Track 5 also does not appear to have lyrics, but my laptop could also just be lagging. This one is entirely instrumental, so far it is probably my least favorite track on the album. It is not bad, just boring. Immediately, track 6 is a good song. They seem to have a more unique sound in this song, which I like. It is more upbeat and has lyrics. The same goes for track 7. It has more of a bluesy-pop sound to it, more like Elvis Presley. Overall, this album was something I don't typically listen to and I did not hate it but I was not exactly changed by it either.

I enjoyed this album fine! I feel like I’m still getting into and used to prog rock but I feel like this was a good album overall. Some of the songs were long and repetitive but overall I had a good time listening to this album at the gym and would give it another chance in the future.

Based on the cover of your album for January 1st, 2026, what type of year is 2026 going to be for you? Exciting The music - not as much. Prog jams are better left unrecorded imo

Annoyed me

The cover art was my favorite element. I usually find their songs pretty pleasant but feel like they wander aimlessly. The progressions in these songs are always lost on me. Rating: 2.0

A classic ELP album, with some great songs.

The best part about this album is Tarkus, the mechanic armadillo and the dystopian war-torn universe it inhabits. The title track is 20 minutes of insanity and surely drug-fueled songwriting. The rest of the tracks, albeit short and arguably more digestible, are nonetheless boring. Interesting concept album and I am glad I listened to it.

MUCH better than I feared it would be. That said, I'm starting to resent this project for not having half stars. this is a 3.5 for me.

Slightly jarring

Absolute gratuitous prog rock wankery, as is ELP's wont... A near 21 minute "Tarkus" movement is the introduction to this album and it's just so goddamn long, the rest is serviceable for a knees up, though.

12/24/25. Cool progressive rock, definitely up my alley. Thought it was a little inconsistent after the first, main song, but there's awesome moments throughout.

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.

This was an odd journey. Felt pretty psychedelic, a bit like Pink Floyd-lite. Just odd enough not to be completely pants

Forgettable

If I were 10 years older there's a good chance I might have listened to this as a teenager and, as a result, be the sort of insufferable wanker who votes this on to lists of classic albums. I like a bit of prog – early Genesis and classic Rush will do me nicely. I can even put up with Yes in small doses. But this is just aimless noodling I'm afraid.

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.

I liked this ELP album a bit better than Pictures at an Exhibition. Still not something I'm going to return to often, but this made for a fun listen. 3.4/5

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

This was amazing, love prog rock and this is some of the best

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.

Not for me

Sounds like a toddler w a toy keyboard demanding to his parents "Look what I can do!" "Yes, Honey, that's VERY nice..." *drink

Really didn't enjoy this. The pretentious is real.

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

The musical equivalent to having one of those hibachi chef's make you a bad-tasting steak; sure, it was quite the show, I ooh'd and ahh'd a few times. But I didn't enjoy the taste of the beef, I won't care to remember it long from now. A 20 minute opener is cool in concept but when the synths/keys get super shrill at minute 18 and there isn't a ton of melodic themes to latch onto then it kinda just whirls right by. Just make them separate songs instead of one big song with 7 mini songs in it. The concept can still remain all the same. For things to go from that hectic opening song to something as twee as "Jeremy Bender", then back to some frenetic but impressive instrumental work on "Bitches Crystal" is a lot for me. I don't need albums to be super cohesive, but this all too much. Then a whole bunch of proggy craziness only to be ended with a rockabilly cut? I'm tired. I take issue with one of the more popular positive reviews this album got. It says "There is a thoroughgoing prejudice against prog in the critical community, probably because it forces critics to engage with the music instead of discussing influences, lyrics and personalities." I disagree with this wholeheartedly. I simply don't care to listen to something that's being overtly intentional about hitting me with yet another new motif or time signature every passing minute. There is SO much to marvel at on the technical side of this project, that it glazes over conveying a sense of humanity in my opinion. I wish to hear more songs with heart and soul, not songs of the brain and fingers. Strong 2/5