Tarkus

You know, I had heard of Emerson, Lake & Palmer but I don't think I had ever heard a song from them. If you had asked me to guess what to expect from them, it would not have been this. Even with the progressive aspect, I just found this to be messy and dull. I did NOT like this.

3/5. Clearly, the highlight is the title track. If they just dropped that and walked away, would be awesome. However, they attached 6 just okay songs that make me want to stop before I even get there. I do like Crystal and Time and Place but it really does feel like B-sides. I love prog don't get me wrong but there is just not enough her to make a great album, it's good as long as you only listen to the first song. Best Song: Tarkus, Crystal, A Time And A Place

Okay album.

I don't know what I expected when I saw the armadillo tank album cover, but it wasn't this. 2/5

this album was an experience, but was not an experience i enjoyed.

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.

I remember buying this on vinyl in like 2004 or so for like one or 2 dollars (that era is long gone RIP) I was really interested in prog at the time so I bought up all I could. This album never especially thrilled me. I think it suffers from the "all or nothing" approach some of these bands took when they would make an album with 1 massive song on one side and a few shorter ones on the other. Rush killed it with 2112 but ELP stumbles here. I just don't think the title track is worthy of filling an entire side of a record. It's okay but not amazing. The shorter songs are more enjoyable but not classics.

One of the best prog albums of all time. No notes.

Always been a fan this is a good album. Very prog tastic :)

I really hate prog!

What's more proggy than prog ? This apparently

Is there such a thing as too proggy - this may be it.

6.5/10

I like the armadillo on the album cover.

Prog Rock... it's okay

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.

Good prog rock album. Not something I'd listen to every day, but has its place.

There's nothing about this that hasn't been done better elsewhere, IMO.

The best albums I have listened to in a long, long time!

Inferior version of the Final Fantasy VI soundtrack.

The tunes were varied but actually not bad

Really like a 4.5 but rounding up for being such a clear inspiration on final fantasy music

this fucking sucks ehhhh its okay

I was very much into ELP having bought their first album and seen them live two or probably three times locally. I was a big fan of The Nice and King Crimson and to a lesser extent Atomic Rooster so ELP were ready made for me. I love the rock/classical crossover in music and my favourite pieces of music usually have a strong orchestral element in them. ELP were one of the first exponents of this type of music (carrying on from The Nice and Deep Purple) They were a fantastic band to watch live. Keith Emerson was very much a showman and his antics towards the end of a show, physically throwing his Hammond organ around the stage and producing amazing sounds will remain with me forever. So I bought this album on day of release and played it endlessly. I was away from home during the week and in these were the days when playing music remotely anywhere was still a fantasy, I remember playing the album until the last minute on Sunday evening before I caught a train so that every note would stay in my brain for as long as possible. The constant listening I did over 50 years ago has paid dividends because on today’s listen I anticipated just about single note of the long title track. It’s been a while since I listened in full so it’s testament to how a piece of music you really love can stay with you. My favourite ELP album is their first followed by Trilogy but Tarkus is an exceptional album which I will always love and cherish. 5+/5 7/8/24.

01) Tarkus - 3,0 02) Jeremy Bender - 7,0 03) Bitches Crystal - 6,0 04) The Only Way (Hymn) - 4,0 05) Infinite Space (Conclusion) - 4,5 06) A Time and a Place - 5,0 07) Are You Ready, Eddy? - 5,5 TOTAL: 5,00 (50/100) What a pile of shit...

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.

This is a concept album about a mechanized armadillo tank.

Hørte ikke helt når albumet ble ferdig men var nice

Just so much prog

Back before I seriously got into all of music, I was fascinated by Prog Rock. This album was one of my favourites back then, mainly because of the title track that I still think remains one of the greatest musical achievements ever. The album is very different depending on what half you listen to. The first half, made up of Tarkus, is perfect. The other half isn't. And I am not the only one with that opinion as this is pretty much what everyone, even hardcore fans say about this album. The album starts with 'Tarkus', the 20 minute epic that is made up of 7 parts. The first part 'Eruption' starts the album with a rumble and then explodes into a keyboard/organ driven and very up-beat part with a very symphonic feeling that moves into the slower but equally interesting 'Stones of Years' that brings in the vocals. The philospophical nature of the lyrics adds to the epicness of the whole peace. 'Iconoclast' follows with more rumbling drums and a stinging guitar that moves into 'Mass' that adds to the overall operatic and symphonic feel with the layered vocals and guitar solo. Around the 10-minute mark 'Manticore' introduces the enemy of Tarkus that climaxes into 'Battlefield' that probably feels the most like an Opera or Symphony with the horn inspired sound, probably done by the moog. The last part of the song is 'Aquatarkus' and it closes this incredible epic of a song perfectly with the marching sounding drums and wah-wah sounding organs that all slowly fade into a final blow of the theme from the beginning. This is one of the greatest songs ever and I am reminded of its greatness everytime I listen to it. One of the most perfect songs ever created. Side two opens with 'Jeremy Bender' and it already shows that this half cannot compete with the title track. It's a nice song but after listening to a 20-minute symphonic epic, this just sounds silly and useless. The piano, the claps and the cowbell are all quite nice but the lyrics are... not as philosophical and though provoking as they were on 'Tarkus'. A bit better is 'Bitches Crystal' which I think is a pretty good song with its synthesizer, Jazz piano and fast tempo. Still not close to Tarkus but substantially closer. 'The Only Way (Hymn)' is similarly symphonic as 'Tarkus' but just does not achieve the greatness. It's nice but just not incredible. The same can be said about the follow up 'Infinite Space (Conclusion)' although it looses some points from me because it is mainly a piano solo and although it's not a bad piano solo, it bores me. I do quite like the more rock sounding 'A Time and a Place' although it again isn't as special as 'Tarkus'. Final song 'Are You Ready Eddy?' is very R&B sounding Rock n' Roll song that very much sounds like a Little Richard if he was Prog song and I do think this is the best song after Tarkus although it still is far behind that one. favourites: Tarkus, Tarkus, Tarkus & Tarkus least favourites: Jeremy Bender, Infinite Space (Conclusion) Rating: decent 8 (10 if it was Tarkus twice) https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

Pretty solid prog rock, not something I listen to a lot but I like it.

sadly, not a great Prog Rock album.

If I wanted to listen to a bunch of nerds on keyboards run up and down scales in weird time signatures, well, I'd listen to this. But I don't, so I won't. The cover rules though.

That first track was insane, reminded me of 2112 by Rush. The others didn’t hit as much but when you have an album cover like this do you need anything else?

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.

ELP are indeed great instrumentalists, but scarcely are more than that...

Cool album art

There's odd stuff that I like, and then there's odd stuff like this album. The first track was maybe closet to the first category, but that was absolutely eroded by the back half of the album.

I am not with this in principle or in execution

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 actually didn't hate this. 20min song on a 37min album is a helluva choice tho

uuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhh idk what that was, dude

Is Prog Rock Jazz a genre? Awful album.

3+

Energetic, piano driven, prog rock

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

Rock, Jazzrock, 1971 -> 2

I have no idea how to feel about this lmao. Starting off with a 20 minute song is bold, and tbh that song was probably my standout. It had some parts I dug. But it kinda went downhill after and nothing super perked up my ears. 2.5.

more fun than i thought it would be, though i feel like a lot of prog rock it kind of loses the plot sometimes with regards to having actually compelling hooks. i like the title track mostly but side 2 is way more inconsistent, though tbh i like the goofier tracks. like the prog rock equivalent of skits in rap albums hehe.

"Tarkus," the sophomore album from Emerson, Lake & Palmer, is an ambitious but ultimately flawed project. While the trio's technical skills and willingness to experiment are evident, the album suffers from a lack of coherence and accessibility. The sprawling 20-minute title track feels disjointed and overindulgent, with abrupt transitions and a confusing narrative. The second half of the album fails to match the ambition of the title track, and Keith Emerson's keyboard dominance often overshadows the contributions of Greg Lake and Carl Palmer. Despite moments of brilliance, "Tarkus" is a challenging and often frustrating listen, earning it a modest rating of 1.5 out of 5 stars.

A decent prog record but the opening is too much. Like a beautiful way to giant breakfast burrito of so many flavors just packed and then you feel overly full after. The other jams are nice though. I do love Yes/King Crimson and this is in the same vein. Bare minimum I respect how good the playing is even the songs don't feel like they have the same level of evocative energy as the previously mentioned groups.

Prog Rock. No thank you. One twenty minute long prog rock song.. let me out!

Boooooorrrrrrring.

Doo doo

Are You Ready Eddy was not quite enough to save this album from a one star review. It was terrible and I hated it. I'm sad that I'll never have that 38 minutes and 54 seconds of my life back.

7/10

It's pretty good I guess. Reminds me a lot of Yes. Nothing I'd play again but I didn't hate it.

Conceptual experimental.

Does the same rhymes

1. 8 2. 7 3. 8 4. 8 5. 4 6. 9 7. 6.5 7.2/10 3.6/5

Interesting

In a late comer to Emerson, Lake & Palmer but did know a few of the tunes. I enjoyed this album but it wouldn't be something I would have on constant replay.

Nonsense

I like ELP very much. This is one of my favorite albums. Masterpiece. Thanks for listening it again.

Great album sleeve. Not so great music...

First side good weird interesting. Side 2 not as much but they went for it

This album lost me on the first track, which was 20 minutes of strange music in a way that I didn't like, it never recovered.

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

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.

Interesting. A real effort on the lead track, then some of the other songs are good, but overall just an okay album. 3/5 Probably won’t listen again

it was just all over the place, didn’t feel like an album

Tarkus is a very long track that has a lot of moving parts. It was a fun listen. Did not catch all I had wanted to catch. The rest of the album was alright. Standouts: Tarkus and A Time And A Place.

I usually like prog, this one not much

quite boring

I first heard of Emerson, Lake & Palmer in my history of rock and roll class in college, and honestly, I don't think I've heard them mentioned since then. Their song "Karn Evil 9" was covered as an example of art rock in that class, and I had completely forgotten about that song until today. Prog rock can be pretty hit or miss with me, so I'm interested to see where this will land with me. I thought this album was fine. "Tarkus" was interesting, both in the concept of its lyrical concept and in its musical arrangements. I tend to enjoy keyboards and synthesizers, and I thought those elements were fine on this song. The bass playing rounded out the overall sound of the song really well, and there were spots where I thought the drumming was really good too. For a really long song, I was surprised at how interesting I found it. I was never bored, but most of the song just felt really busy for the sake of being busy. The opening and closing segments were my favorite parts of the song, and I really liked their dark tone. The second side of the album was decent as well. “Are You Ready Eddy?” was really fun, and even though I felt like it stuck out like a sore thumb on this album, the jazzy piano playing and faster tempo were really fun. This song also had some really slick bass playing too that helped make this song a fun bop. My favorite song on the album though was “The Only Way.” I loved the hymn-like quality of the organ playing that opened the song, the darker organ tones that took over once the lyrics started, and the light piano playing that closed the song. The evolution of tones throughout the song went really well with the religious themes of the lyrics. It reminded me of how a church service can flow; brighter themes during praise and worship time, an intense sermon, and then a brighter tone during a closing hymn and a call to fulfill the Great Commission. The other songs on this side of the album weren’t really noteworthy to me, but they weren’t necessarily bad, they just weren’t really my jam. Overall, this album was fine, but I can’t see myself returning to it. Still, it was a unique experience to listen to this, and I’m curious to see what E,L &P’s other album on this list will be like.

Tarkus was pretty cool, for a 20 minute track I found it fresh and varied. The rest of the album was less inspiring.

Already on board with the armadillo tank art 1. Ok, jazzy and pretty wild first track. Very hyper-active and overstimulating. Holy shit this thing is 20 minutes long!? Oh nice, when the vocals come in, a bit of a chill vibe. Groovy guitar riffs 8:00 in... This is a long-ass song. Marching drums now. Ok. At this point, I think I can safely say I'm not a prog-rock die hard. Jeremy Bender is like an ice-cream truck diddy. Dig it.

I felt like this was the closest I could come to liking prog (and why some people do). It also proved that I don’t really like prog (but understand those who do).

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.

Ja ook niet voor mij helaas, the six million jews line took me by surprise

Well, I am a prog rock fan. It's a strange mish mash, but I love the busyness of the rhythms, meters and instrumentation. That being said, I'm in no hurry to own this album.

It's ok.

ELP!!! classic prog

Rock experimental. Un poco rollo, la verdad.

ik werd echt hysterisch van het eerste nummer en Jezus 20 minuten doe kalm als ik de matthaus wil luisteren zet ik dat wel aan

Some of the worst sounds I have heard in album on this list. But, it is interesting and has a great album cover, and that’s all that really matters. Anyone can make good music, not everyone can make interesting music.

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.

Hated it. This list is falling off hard.

20 minute song wowee. Not bad.

Inspirationsloses Geklimper auf die Instrument der 70er. Ein nicht endend wollender Titelsong. Ein bisschen Jazz, ein bisschen Experimentieren und etwas Jive führen eben nicht zwingend zu interessanten Songs. Das schönste am Album ist das Cover - der Inhalt ist schlichtweg mies.

The music is not my thing, but the cover art is a masterpiece.

Weird af

Unapologetically prog, cool shit.

This sounded like the organ player at the ballpark got drunk and decided they wanted to add vocals.

The music of Tarkus is great, the singing is awful. Pretty sure they made up the lyrics as they went. If ELP left this album as an instrumental it would have been a 4 or 5. Sadly it’s pushing 2’s luck.

Wacky & weird but I've grown to appreciate prog rock in my old age - it takes dedicated listening tho, not too great for ambience.

This album has a giant armored armadillo with tank treads and cannons as the album art. At least a 8/10 for that alone.

Has it’s moments

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.

fucking ponderous man

I liked it, good production.

I would consider this a "technical" album. But I did not finish it simply because I don't believe in forcing myself to do so. Three stars based upon what I heard. If you are into a stiffer version of Medeski Martin and Wood, this might be your shit.

Correcto.

Perfect music to read Guardians of the Galaxy with.

This is another band on this project that I'd heard of, but not had any actual experience listening to, so I was going into this album with no frame of reference. To be honest, I was expecting a yacht-rock type of album, which this was not. Much more of a prog-rock/jam band style coming from this trio, which is not inherently a bad thing, just not my cup of tea. While I thoroughly enjoy some adjacent bands like Rush, this was too far on the side of Phish to me to want to revisit. The instrumentation was on point, but it was too sporadic and experimental-jazz like for my taste. 4/10

I really like these guys but this album is just ok. This is my favorite album to spin while I trip and want to listen to organ music…except I don’t trip.

Dull. Great musicians but sprawling and unstructured and self righteous.

Just too proggy.

Almost moved on after the first 4 minutes of this one, but saw it through to the end...at least I assume I did, as something else was playing when I next heard a track. Far too clever for their (and my) good. Dull No passion No energy Disjointed "Ooooh look at me and how technical my artistry is" The complete opposite of what music should be If there was a zero stars option, I'd be hitting it

I probably would've liked this album more if I didn't throw all of my bongs away when I moved in with my girlfriend

Prog rock with organs and synths is almost an instant win

Not a Prog Rock fan but can appreciate what they were trying to create. The control over their instruments is fantastic and love the keys playing. Probably won’t listen again but glad i’ve heard them.

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.

This is batshit lol

Would be cool with guitar

Has several moments when it becomes tolerable....and as soon as you have that thought, it devolves back into hyper prog unlistenable garbage....

Despite the amazing album cover, I didn't enjoy this at all. Just felt like a rip-off Pink Floyd.

Holocaust reference was weird for me, especially with the musical goofiness of E, L and P

Another British prog rock band from the '70s. Emerson, Lake & Palmer is perhaps one of the lesser groups compared to their contemporaries. Notably, Emerson leads with his piano skills rather than an electric guitar, with Lake backing him up on bass and occasionally taking on guitar duties. While novel, the bank occasionally goes into hokey territory such as with the opener of side B Jeremy Bender, which repurposes the rag Oh! Susanna for their own nefarious prog purposes. Similar to Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, this album is only here for one side of the LP, and it's the side with the 20-minutre long song. The title track for Tarkus is pretty good! The rest of the album is not. I think the novelty of long prog songs wore off sometime after high school. I still think Thick As A Brick is a masterpiece, but for different reasons. It's unfortunate that a band will feel so driven to make one really good song really long and then fill out the rest with whatever. Side B taints the experience a lot for me, if you couldn't tell. There' only two good songs on side B. God, what an album. Armadillo tank.

Mediocre album. This one is strange. It's prog-y and pretentious in many ways and just generally kind of goofy (and not in a good way in my opinion). It's got some nice moments, and the band is clearly "sophisticated" musically, but it's just not for me. Only the 20-minute long (1) title suite is really very good at all. Back half of the album is forgettable. I think I'm in-or-out on most prog stuff. I'm definitely out on this. **

I had a little excitement getting a chance to dive into some of ELP’s work. unfortunately I didn’t come away feeling excited.

This was a surprise in that it was not toe-curlingly awful. In fact pretty listenable to, in that there were tunes and the playing was pretty good. Nothing like the stuff I actually like, and the throwaway rock and roll number at the end is quintessentially inessential. 3 stars.

Woof indeed

Move over jazz flute, make room for the ugly step child no one wants jazz rock 🤬

Not my favourite ELP album.

Not great. Too much organ

A whole album that sounds like a video game boss fight, interesting. You have to give them so cred for producing something very different, just a shame that none of it is very good. Couldn't find any song that I liked on the album. Almost all songs are super stressful and incoherent, and there's a lot of notes that hit you in the face in a fast pace. The only thing I liked with this album was the cover art, which might be one of the coolest I've seen.

One one hand the album art is really cool and I like the idea with a progrock band without focus on guitars. That is where my compliments end and honestly i found it noodly, boring and annyoing at the same time. There are short moments where I think that they are really onto something but then the moment dissapears and we are back to annoying noodling. They seem skillfull musicians but this is just not for me.

Rock progresivo. Entre 2 y 3... Venga, ni fu ni fa.

Rock experimental. Un poco rollo, la verdad.

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.

Keyboards will NEVER be cool.

Pretty terrible, it's like Pink Floyd at their most artsy but they don't really know how to play instruments or sing. Really not a fan

Just not the song selections for me. 1/5

absolute nonsense.

I’m not a big prog rock guy so stuff like this usually has to be amazing to change my mind. This isn’t it

Prog rock bombast that to me sounds like a bunch of jamming for the 20-plus minute title track. There is some pretty good bluesy electric guitar soloing near the end of the title track I enjoyed. I would never have gotten the concept for this song had I not read about it, though. The other tracks are fine. Are You Ready, Eddy? ends things with some old-fashioned rock and roll melodies but isn't enough to raise my rating. 2 stars: I get it, but not for me. Interesting Factoids from Wikipedia: *Side one features the 20-minute conceptual title track written by keyboardist Keith Emerson, the opening of which created friction between Lake and himself that almost split the group, but Lake agreed to pursue it and contributed musical ideas for it and wrote the lyrics. Side two features a collection of unrelated tracks of different styles. *The album was packaged in a gatefold sleeve and features artwork by Scottish artist William Neal, whose armadillo has since became an iconic image in progressive rock. Interesting Factoids from SongFacts.com: *Keith Emerson poured through Greek mythology looking for a name for ("Tarkus"), but came up empty. Inspiration struck when the word "Tarkus" popped into his head when the band was driving back from a gig. It conjured up visions of a tank, so the idea developed to make the new mythological creature an armadillo (because of its armor) with tank treads. Emerson says that the word is completely original, and the only thing he's heard close to it is "tukhus" - a Yiddish word for the rear end. *Always a very theatrical band, Emerson, Lake & Palmer at one point shared the stage with a model of the Tarkus creature, which would blast a foamy substance at key moments. This provided a Spinal Tap moment when during a show that Carl Palmer recalls being in Brighton, the creature was aimed in the wrong direction, and the foam went into Emerson's grand piano. "We had to stop the show and on came the roadies with the dustpans and the Hoover to clear it out," Palmer said. Standout Tracks: Tarkus

Dead dead and alive, that’s what I’ve learnt

A pretty solid and fun prog album - the opening 20-minute title track is stronger than most of the shorter songs on the second side, especially the rock-n-roll closer that just feels ludicrously out of place

I honestly have no idea what I can say about this album. It's just....weird. Like really weird. But also somehow manages to sound kinda normal? But the fact that it sounds so weird and normal at the same time makes it even weirder. Either way, I know that I didn't like it that much. And that's all that really matters for deciding how many stars I'll give it.

So, I played it while drinking last night, and got through the whole thing, I even think I kind of enjoyed the opening 20 minute song a bit. But playing it again this morning, I’m really not sure. It doesn’t bring out the burning passionate hatred I have for other Prog bands, but I’m sure I’m never going to listen to this again, because I don’t like it. Although I’m listening to Infinite Space at the moment and getting quite irritated at the constant plinky plonky piano. I’d have been more interested if it really was so bad I could hate it. But I’m mostly disappointed because I’m just unmoved

This left little impression on me

Quite dull. Was a bit all over the place and kind of sounded like less good versions of other things from the same time. Dare I say landfill prog rock?

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

Tarkus I liked the pomposity of the Tarkus suite, even if musically I wasn’t as keen on it. The organ jumping around constantly is a bit irritating after a while. I did like the last part, Aquatrakus for its children’s tv show silliness, more so as it clearly was all meant in earnest. The thing that keeps repeating with a lot of these prog rock concepts is that the stories and concepts really aren’t good at all, often incredibly naive and simplistic but dressed up with some pseudo fantastical nonsense to try and impart a sense of artistic heft. In this case an armadillo/tank called Tarkus. Jeremy Bender is quite fun in a baroque pop kind of way. Bitches Crystal is a good title but quite a boring song. Too much church organ vibes. I like the harpsichord like piano on The Only Way, but not so much the melody or lyrics. Are You Ready Eddie is a bit of an unconvincing rock n roll song marred even more by the silly piano flourishes. Strangely I found although most of the songs on the 2nd side are around 3 minutes they felt longer than the Tarkus Suite. I think how I feel about a lot of these prog albums depends on my mood on the day, sometimes they’re fun and silly and then sometimes they’re a drag. This fell into the latter camp for me, despite liking some parts and the ridiculousness of the Tarkus suite. The organ/keys/piano also got on my tits by side two. Way too much like improvised parping jazz trumpet for my taste. I get the skill but when demonstrating the skill seems to be the entire point it gets dull pretty quickly. I definitely preferred Yes and Jethro Tull. I’ll stick to I believe in Father Christmas. ⭐️⭐️

I usually like prog rock, but this was simply not worth listening to.

Really tested my “won’t give anything a 1 star rating” resolve.

The titular track is a long epic with some cool segments throughout. The songs on the other side are mostly just filler. EL&P can do great songs like "Fanfare for the Common Man" (not on this album). I'm surprised they never did a soundtrack for a movie. They could've been amazing. Anyway, "Tarkus" is an OK album. 3 stars from me.

Three stars simply for the fact that Tarkus inspired the final boss music for Final Fantasy 6

Could not stand Emerson Lake and Palmer - that first song seemed to take up half the time I have left to live in the world. I made it as far as #4 and gave up.

Things were bleaker than I imagined in 1971.

was expecting something harder given the armadillo tank on the cover

One of my favorite albums from the 70's! Love listening to this on vinyl. Glad it made it on the list.

Sometimes a 3, with moments of 4. E L & P should have leaned in more to the potential of those 4's.

I fancy myself a prog rock fan. I love Genesis and a lot of Yes. This album was stupidly annoying, a clamoring of nonsense that failed to advance my esteem for prog rock and in fact made me more than a little irritated.

Too much man, too much.

Musically it was very technically precise and interesting but listening-wise just missed the mark. I'm sure it was a blast to play though! Fell flat for me otherwise.

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.

Emerson, Lake,, and Palmer - Tarkus Prog Rock album. Side one features the 20 minute long title track and side two has several shorter songs with no connection. Not for me. 1/5

Ging für mich in die Richtung Supertramp, aber nicht so gut.

There are some beautiful moments scattered throughout this album. The problem is that there aren't enough of them to make it worth my time.

I mean, the last track was pretty cool? Creating a mostly forgettable 20 minute long album opener is quite an accomplishment. Favorite track: Are You Ready Eddy?

Don’t really know about this one. It is for sure interesting, but as with a lot of symphonic/prog rock, I lack an organic spontaneous vibe. Hmm

This is everything I hate about prog. 20 min long 'songs', bullshit cover art, shite lyrics when they can be bothered to look up from their instruments for more than 20 seconds, keyboard solos that hurt your ears, guitar solos that last for 23 years. Fucking unbearable. I HATE PROG.

- this artwork goes hard - that was a journey - very talented and epic

- interesting concept album - cool musicianship

This was dense and not at all what I was expecting. So many different styles. Felt like a cross between yes and Pink Floyd I didn’t love it but I definitely could appreciate it

Rock progresivo. Entre 2 y 3... Venga, ni fu ni fa.

He escuchado este álbum varias veces, y no logro tomarle el gusto, aunque reconozco que puede que tenga valor histórico. Las composiciones me suenan extrañas. Los cambios armónicos, si bien causan sorpresa, están a un grado de provocar grima. Tal vez para la próxima escucha pueda digerirlo mejor.

I’m realising that I’m not an ELP fan and I never will be. Just too much. Feels too self absorbed and just arrogant. I feel like this is an album that would be played by your alpha Romeo driving yuppy uncle at a family do, who’s marriage is falling apart for obvious reasons and is just too keen to appear ‘cool’ and thinks this music is relevant. Having said that. It was better than the appalling live album I had the other week 2.1

a little disjointed and unfinished feeling. amidst all the chaos it still didn't sound very original to me. better than a lot of music, but i probably will not return to this.

Real rocker shit

Very '70's sound. I like it. Great use of sythesizers.

Tuneless silliness. They sound like they’ve heard UmmaGumma and some Steely Dan and taken nothing but the worst from each. “taste”… agreeing with 95% of this lists ratings doesn’t make your taste better, just average.

Some bright spots, mostly turgid. I bet Phish fans would find a lot to love here. That was a slog

I liked the progressive nature of this, but that synthesizer is annoying to me. 3/5

Ahh who doesn't love a 20 minute long prog rock song to open an album. Of course the rest is just meh. As I've said in the numerous other prog rock reviews, the genre isn't for me. It just gets a little too wanky at times and is so boring.

This is the type of prog rock music that wants to be really good and ground breaking yet it is just weird and falls flat. A 16 minute song on a 39 minute album is hilarious. A song that sounds like it came out of the 50s however is not. This album is what happens when sometimes you try to be more prog than rock. 5.5/10

The first song was good, the rest jot so great. I don't feel like listening to it again.

meh

20 fucking minutes??????? why tf do all these bands think that's cool. youre not edgy you suck. just separate the song into 5 songs and repent to Jesus.

1971 Progressive Rock Standouts: Tarkus 3.75

I have to admit that this album is the victim of my general disinterest in prog rock. Starting an album with a 20 minute song makes this generally not to my taste. It was an ok listen, but this just isn't for me. 2/5.

Okay

I feel like I had a transformative experience whilst listening to the lengthy "intro". Sounds familiar despite not being super familiar with this group. I guess because prog rock has a signature, yet strange mix of sounds.

So cool, title track was ambitious but a great listening experience

I feel like this could have been so much better

This is what the 70s would sound like compressed into a marble

I, as a fellow Atom Heart Mother lover, feel bad that I've never listened to this album before. It's phenomenal.

Inte så pjåkigt faktiskt.

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.

I'd never heard of this group before, but reading a brief description and seeing that great art work, I thought I was in for a good time. I was wrong. I think I was bored most of the time, while the sounds weren't repulsive they've apparently run through my auditory system like water in a sieve. My brain is damp with the memory that it was there, but that's it. Straight-up 2. Not bad, but I have zero intent to return to it unless someone convinces me otherwise.

Well OK then. The album cover is as weird as the music, so it's nice when those things line up. This didn't totally work for me, but given how old it is that's not terribly surprising. I'm generally a fan of prog rock, so I appreciate the trail these guys blazed.

It was enjoyable, I just can't think of many times that I would turn to this record when I need some prog.

Weird prog-rock. Not for me, but I appreciate the level of talent involved.

Synth offended Joseph

Prog!

I heard of them. I did not like the over 20 minute song. The only song I liked was Are you Ready Eddie.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer just aren’t for me. I find most of their music to be so grating. And just when I think maybe I’m actually enjoying them, there’s a song that reminds me why I can’t stand them. However, when comparing them to other albums on this list, I’m more indifferent to them than anything else. I wish I could give half stars because this is a solid 2.5 from me, but I’m rounding up.

I liked the parts that sounded like a Final Fantasy Boss Battle Theme.

this was quite an experience but not one i expect to repeat

Did not like it, this prog shit has got to go

Loved it! Except for the last song. I’ll still give it a four star.

Obviously some highly passionate songwriters/performers with high level musical chops. On a personal level I much prefer their guitar and string based arrangements like other ELP albums over Tarkus. The arrangement here is ALL keys…pianos and primitive synths.

Maybe this was cool in 1971, but listening to this is a nightmare. Just not something fun to listen to, period. I would never recommend this to anyone. Ever.

Very cool

I like a lot of Prog Rock, even from this era, but I can't understand ELP, at least not this album or this time in their career. Nothing about this album was memorable, and I don't understand the influence this album would have, as there is just so much better stuff from that time and a few years later.

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

I gotta say, Tarkus was a really weird album, another one i can add to the stockpile of weird albums i have done for this project. It felt like every song had something completely different to offer. But that is what makes it pretty good. The songs were all very interesting and used influences from quite a decent bit of genres. It is a weird album but it works pretty decently actually Best Song: Tarkus (i. Eruption / ii. Stones of Years / iii. Iconoclast / iv. Mass / v. Manticore / vi. Battlefield / vii. Aquatarkus) (I'm counting these all as one song because thats how Spotify and YouTube do it as well) Worst Song: Jeremy Bender (Side note: I also like how the armadillo on the cover art kinda looks like a sub-boss from the Mega Man Classic series)

I tried for 3 days to listen to this. I really gave it a red hot go, I wanted to love it but it’s not for me. I felt challenged by the music and uncomfortable in my brain while listening to it - not in a ‘wow prog rock changing the genre’ kind of way, just in a ‘how far through the album am I?’ kind of determination to see it through. I’m only here for the album cover.

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

Preferred what came after song 1. Not really my thing though

Too weird for me.

Too much jangling.

It was interesting to a point but a less good version of King Crimson

This was simultaneously the most generic prog rock album ever and the weirdest prog rock album ever. It’s a 7 song, 40 minute album with a 20 minute track that sounds like it could have been made by nearly any prog rock band of the 70s; but it also references the holocaust instead of fantasy or psychedelic etc. type stuff and ends with a completely out of place up tempo rag time type thing. Totally bizarre.

Childish nonsense. Music for people who don't like Music.

Side A of the LP, the "Tarkus" suite, is absolutely fantastic prog. Side B on the other hand is about half okay numbers, half keyboard waffling with awful lyrics and/or questionable content (what the hell is "Jeremy Bender" on about, transsexual nun noncery?). The musicianship is brilliant when it works, and the eponymous track counts for a lot (considering it is more than half the album's runtime) but ELP needed to put more thought into what else was going on this project.

первые 3 минуты напоминил группу Фрукты из Урганта, кайфово звучит. дальше какое-то киношно-театральное сопровождение в конце приятный рок-н-ролл

простите за копирование коммента, но слишком посмешило this album was an experience, but was not an experience i enjoyed. алкоальбом: пьем текилу каждую минуту и под конец танцуем весело

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

You know what, this is a confounding album with a bit of an identity crisis. Side 1 is what I might expect from a band like ELP - technically well-done and stylistically far-ranging if also bloated and lacking of a fully coherent concept. Not terrible, but not particularly compelling. No qualities to justify the 20 minute runtime, other than they just felt like it. Side 2 is an improvement, sort of? The songs are mercifully brief and very eclectic in sound, but ultimately pretty unremarkable. Considered in view of the work that went into side 1, the back half sounds like a ton of filler. The talent no doubt is here, but the vision is muddled. Fave Songs: Bitches Crystal, Jeremy Bender, Tarkus

1970 Genre: Progressive rock Standouts: Tarkus 3.5

👍🏻

This is as Prog-rock as it gets. A mix of Iron Maiden, Jethro Tull and some jazziness thrown in. This is very mixed album, when Lake is singing it’s good, even very good, that’s the Jethro Tull part. But you can miss me with the lengthy moog and piano jams. While I’m sure this is blasphemy to their fans, you could easily cut out 15 mins and this would be an incredible album 5.2/10

Tough to rate off of one listen. They really can put on a good fast groove when they want to, but a lot of parts were not easy to digest, even as a big fan of prog. The more conventional tracks in the back half were fine, but just not really their strong suit

Grand like. 3/5

This album is like those rat race cartoons from looney toons. It's really all over the place. There is a cool groovy song and then there is a hymn. I should have done my research before listening to it.

Didn't hate it. 2.5 stars

Okay

Gefällt mir nicht.

Listening to the title track twice in an hour, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s neat. I’m generally a fiend for prog, so take from that what you will; however the 1st listen left me cold for some reason. The “hymn” was an unexpected, beautiful, surprise as well. 3.5 (likely inspired albums I enjoy more) February 10, 2024

5 wonderful weird stars.

Never heard this album before today Heard a little Floyd, Beatles, CSN is their music. Good Stuff. Art -rocky like early Genesis

Couldn't wait for this one to end

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.

I have heard of this group before. Interesting listen. Not my cup of tea.

Interesante y progresivo, muy bien, un 4

My friend and I were just talking about this album. He was amazed that I could pinpoint “the armadillo tank album”. Ironically, if you played any music from this I wouldn’t recognize it. And I know I’ve listen to this album. Let’s see if the 2nd time sticks. Tarkus i. Eruption - ah all the great 70s sounds. Organ / synth? Wonder why this was such a huge instrument then. Incredibly dating. Good intro 4/5 ii. Stones of Years - I assume when he sings we’re here now. Very 70s lyrics. I mean ok. Like the organ solo. 2/5 iii. Iconoclast - drastic shift. Must be here now. Go drummer. 3/5 iv. Mass - more singing. Here? Unsure. This is entertaining. 4/5 v. Manticore - new part, really likes the noodling. 2/5 vi. Battlefield - we are definitely here. Finally name checks a section of the song. I have to admit, these guys are definitely prog masters 4/5 vii. Aquatarkus - and now the ending. Kind of a military march. It’s wild how the synth is doing so much of the heavy lifting. 3/5 I have admit, when it comes to prog, it can be either disjointed or overly long. This does a great job of stringing interesting bits together, and the singular sound of ELP lifts this into one of the better epic songs I’ve heard. Never boring. 4/5 Jeremy Bender - seems very early Pink Floyd. 2/5 Bitches Crystal - you will love these guys if love noodling. You’ll hate them if you don’t. I’m a bit ambivalent, but they are great at what they do. 3/5 The Only Way (Hymn) - ooh. Major misstep. Cringe-worthy. This an album about WWII? I think this might be one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard. 0/5 Infinite Space (Conclusion) - And then it just moves into this. I think a very coherent first half devolves in the 2nd half. 1/5 A Time And a Space - oh man, somebody should have told these guys to stop. 1/5 Are You Ready Eddy? - And here comes flying in a song from a completely different universe where the 50s never ends. Whatever. Stay in your lane people. 1/5 I don’t know if I’ve heard an album fall off a cliff like that. I can’t imagine the people who showed up for the first half of this album, showed up for the 2nd half. So, how to rate. Considering I have one half this album a 4/5 you would think a 4/5. The song Tarkus is a prog masterwork. But the second half averages at a 1.2, with only Bitches Crystal worthy of the 1st half. Evening out it’s like a 2 or 3. Seems like a crime to give this thing a 3 when the 2nd half is so phoned in and disjointed. So, 2/5.

Uninhibited creativity

My dad probably likes it, but weird and proggy but some of it is interesting

Almost comically over-engineered. Were they so unconvinced by the "grandeur" of their own vision that they added the (pretty lame) rock tunes?There are some interesting bits but it's not enough to make up for the mass silliness on display (not just talking about the cover art, either). Certainly demonstrates some of what was interesting about prog. More definitively indicates EVERYTHING that was wrong with it.

Okay guys, we just recorded 20-minute song(but we could've made 7 songs out of it). Fuck, we have only 20 minutes of our album, what we gonna do next? Let's record 7 random songs. Great idea for a lame 1 star album. Awful idea for a album, that i must hear before i die. Easy 1/5.

eh just not rlly a fan. never rlly liked prog stuff and the piano and the lyrics just weren't it for me

Plinky plonky prog rubbish

Just awful

Efter 2 minuter av introt till första låten har jag börjat tröttna... Jag är inget jättestort fan av instrumental musik, och detta är lite för mycket pianospelande. Coolt bältdjur dock. Prel. 2 / 5

• En bältdjurspansarvagn? Coolt I guess • Låter som jazzig spelmusik • Psykadeliskt? • Allmänt weird • När de sjunger är det rätt bra • Final Fantasy? Betyg: Hade hellre lyssnat på Cool In The Pool => 1/5

Snubben har precis fått ett keyboard med effekter på. Mestadels weird o bara mass ljud. Glimtar av okej låtar ibland

I have a nostalgic love of prog and didn't expect this here. Like Meddle and 2112 the second side seems inconsequential. (Though lovely couplet "Why did he lose/six million Jews"!) I'm not a massive fan of ELP. Everything revolves around Emerson indulgent keyboards. (Though I love Lakes voice) Not even for me. 2.5

if i saw this band live i would be standing right in front politely nod my head, with one hand in pocket and the other nursing a beer. halfway through the first song i would go outside to smoke a joint. then i’d come back in and nurse my shitty beer while either reading a book or just staring off into space. the last song was obviously a last minute addition in order to fill out the album. one guy: “guys, we need one more song!!😰” some other guy: *puffs joint* “ah haha lads what if we did like, a shitty 12 bar blues? just for the hell of it? haha we’re so awesome so even a shitty song by us would be amazing. fuck it it’ll take us like half an hour and then the records done. it’ll be fucking sick. *puffs joint*

I like me some prog rock, but this is a bit too hard core for my taste. Nursery Cryme from the same year is much more to my liking.

They were never going to last. Frustrated classical pianist Keith Emerson, showman extraordinaire, famed for playing pianos upside down and jamming knives into the keys. Greg Lake, two-time vocalist of King Crimson, now lending his bass, guitar and vocals to even loftier ventures. And Carl Palmer, drummer with the rapid military precision of a very efficient typist, fresh out of Atomic Rooster. These exceptional musicians, with exceptional egos, formed one of rock’s first big supergroups, launched their debut album in 1970 and then “Tarkus” the following year. By 1977, they were washed up on “Love Beach”, stranded on their own island of irrelevance. (Stop what you’re doing now, listen to “Taste of My Love”, then have a shower, then come back and appreciate the position of “Tarkus” in light of this band’s doomed trajectory). Today, “Tarkus” is an album of reckoning for me. I finally have to square up to something I admired at arms length several years ago, and ask: “is it really any good?”. As a huge prog fan through my teenage years, and even as someone who enjoyed some ELP, “Tarkus” remained daunting and inaccessible: something of a hard limit. The side-long title track never seemed to measure up against the other epics of its day: it lacks the mighty majesty of “Close to the Edge”; the symphonic storytelling of “Supper’s Ready”; the wit and wisdom of “Thick as a Brick”. Yet “Tarkus” predates all of these, so perhaps it performed its steely armadillo roll so other prog opuses could run. Or perhaps the band just didn’t know how to craft a solid, engaging narrative. “Eruption”, the instrumental opening, is Emerson at his finest, trading a handful of keyboard instruments with the grandeur of a concerto. And Lake’s vocals are particularly strong in “Mass”, which is the closest we get to anything especially melodic. The real issue is that the narrative makes little sense: it was described in the vaguest possible terms by Lake as an anti-war and anti-violence fable, addressing the “futility of conflict” and disillusion with revolution. None of this particularly comes across in a story which, going from the imagery and subtitles only, depicts a hybrid between a tank and armadillo going to battle a manticore, losing, and giving way to a new Aquatarkus. Maybe I’ve grown cynical, but it’s just risible: a schoolboy’s doodle on the back of some toilet roll. Even if we accept the story ELP are telling here, it then takes second fiddle to the performances: it’s just the loosest of flimsy frames to hang Emerson’s overbearing, heavyweight virtuosic skills on. By the finale, it’s all but collapsed from the strain of being pulled in different directions. The songs remaining in the album, which come in the form of six tracks on the second side, are a mixture of novelty throwaways and decent half-formed ideas. All of them are incredibly technically accomplished, but that goes without saying. “Jeremy Bender” is a woefully misjudged honky-tonk number about a cross dresser, with handclaps that sound like they were recorded at gunpoint. “Are You Ready, Eddy” is a daft blues romp recorded in celebration of finishing the album, and feels more like a bonus track than a serious conclusion. However, I reserve all my praise for “Infinite Space” and “The Only Way”, which both have some gumption and panache about them. Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer are virtuosos and no doubt about it. The classical theme runs high and heavy, but there were plenty of other influences at play too: the direct inspirations on the album ranged from Bach and Prokofiev, to Dave Brubeck, Floyd Cramer and Led Zeppelin. I just have to accept that in this case, that patchwork monstrosity of talent and influence amounts to a raging armadillo robot and signifies nothing.

Enjoyed the whole album more than I thought I would, but still, probably won't listen to it again

Not bad, but not good either. I can hear how this influenced other things I like more, so credit for that.

Pretentious tripe. Well played though, but still tripe.

I’ve got a soft spot for prog rock/ELP. It’s good background noise for studying and reading. Honestly the only standout track here is the first one, but it’s almost half the the length of the album, so that’s a solid two stars, another star for the best/worst album cover of all time. Legendary.

Such a classic album

Kinda weird but I'm into it

Neither continuous frenetic jazz nor 20-minute songs will ever be my thing. That being said, there's talented musicians here.

Enjoyed this more than i expected

Have listened before. Very solid

Not a fan

trash useless my god make it s t o p

3.25

It's short and fairly unique. Jazzy prog jam rock with psychedelic sounds and lyrics.

Not my jam. Too much going on

When I checked the album info, I was grateful it was short. There was a pause at the end of what I know was the first track, I felt happy I had made it, but no it carried on. Some of the themes were familiar but not for me

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.

One of my favorite things to do while listening to EL&P is to go find two diametrically-opposed reviews of them and laugh at how polarizing a band can be to the listening public. This album is like a peasant woman dressed up to go to a fancy ball, and when she gets there, the noble ladies ask her, "Who made this astonishing dress?" She admits she did, and they are incredulous. Back at home later that night, she holds he dress up in the moonlight and admires its craftsmanship. "I don't see what's wrong with it," she muses to herself.

la primera es una fumada de 20' rollo Frank zappa pero un poco menos alternativo y más rock piano.

I guess this is what prog rock sounds like. Excessive and comical at times, probably (Spinal Tap clearly parodied this sound), but great instrumentation overall. I can see the influence on Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Beatles, and other rock greats - all in an album released in 1971.

The band name had me hopeful this was an old country album. It was not and I’d say it’s as below average as its cover art.

(3.5) Pretty decent prog album. I think I prefer Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s self-titled debut, but I enjoy Tarkus. Not sure if I would really consider this a “must-listen” album. I remember I used to listen to the title track a lot in high school. The rest of the songs are kinda forgettable. Bitches Crystal is the only other one I really remember listening to just because of the title. I think out of Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s discography, Brain Salad Surgery or their debut album would’ve made more sense to include, as these were more influential and better represent some of the more experimental progressive rock stuff out there, but Tarkus is solid overall.

I honestly thought there were some amazing parts in the first song (half of the album) but everything else on the album was starting to make me go crazy. It sort of sounded like some of the Frank Zappa music that I don’t quite enjoy. The album cover is fantastic however. (No relation to Emerson)

0.5⭐ when the first song is 20 minutes long, with a 3 minute intro before the lyrics start, I'm not enduring the entire album. Sound like a drug era Beatles trying to produce a cinematic opera like the Who or something! Not good

Best album so far, nice prog music. Has some great percussion changes.

Very good. I'll add it to my repertoire

Hmm, didn't know what to expect, but not bad.

Complex music, inspirational and surprising but not for me not for every day

Mellllllow..... so mellow, it played in the background almost unnoticed. Good chillaxing music, appropriate to afternoons spent in hammocks (or other equivalent comfy locales). Nice but not life-changing. Probably excellent as a wind-down soundtrack before bedtime.

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

It's ok... I liked their first album way more though.

Terse review because I'm on my phone... There's been a good bit of prog on here lately, not that I'm complaining. I will say that this one did not resonate with me in the same way as Crimson, Yes, or Zappa do. Ive not gone into the depths of ELP and only really know them for Karn 9 Evil. This album is structured as with many other prog albums; one long multipart adventure spanning a whole side and a number of supporting "single" length tracks. I had this on in the background while cooking etc and while the instrumentals are solid, I didn't find the whole thing all that compelling and don't plan to go back right away. On pure feel this is like a 3 / 5.

Wild album and wild album cover. Interesting album and I have never heard of these guys. 3.5 stars.

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.

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.

The perfect marriage of complexity and appeal.

At first sight, it was dreadful. I survived Tarkus and was about to give it 1 or 2 stars. Anyway, gorgeous organ melody of Hymn and some other interesting moments made it worth 3 stars.