Penk's Prog Odyssey: Yes - Close to the Edge
- Jimbly
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- Quaco
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
I like it a lot, but PENK's post is pretty accurate and affecting even. Kudos for appreciating the wild aspects even while realizing it's not music you enjoy.
ELP has that kind of serious sound -- there's not a lot of humor -- but it's also fritzy and spasmodic. The humor and lightness is in the music. One gets the feeling Emerson was inspired by carnival sounds and barrel organs at an early age, even before latching on to 20th-century classical and ragtime. Lake, on the other hand, seemed to want to be a serious troubadour who could make women cream their jeans just by looking at them. Carl Palmer seemed like he gave up a career as a sprinter because rock was in that year.
It should be mentioned that Pete Sinfield -- lyricist/roadie for the original King Crimson, who also produced the first Roxy Music album and some PFM albums -- was a regular contributor, and some of the silliest ideas were his. Many of the failings of "Karn Evil 9" are in the lyrics.
ELP has that kind of serious sound -- there's not a lot of humor -- but it's also fritzy and spasmodic. The humor and lightness is in the music. One gets the feeling Emerson was inspired by carnival sounds and barrel organs at an early age, even before latching on to 20th-century classical and ragtime. Lake, on the other hand, seemed to want to be a serious troubadour who could make women cream their jeans just by looking at them. Carl Palmer seemed like he gave up a career as a sprinter because rock was in that year.
It should be mentioned that Pete Sinfield -- lyricist/roadie for the original King Crimson, who also produced the first Roxy Music album and some PFM albums -- was a regular contributor, and some of the silliest ideas were his. Many of the failings of "Karn Evil 9" are in the lyrics.
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- The Slider
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
I am astounded how absolutely you nailed ELP in one listen.
I do not disagree with one single word.
And I've been listening to them since this album came out as a new release. 43 years ago.
I do not disagree with one single word.
And I've been listening to them since this album came out as a new release. 43 years ago.
Complete Ramones Mp3 set on its way
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
Quaco wrote: Many of the failings of "Karn Evil 9" are in the lyrics.
Many.
But by no means all. Or even most.
As much as I love it, it is total bollocks.
Lyrically. musically, conceptually... aesthetically, morally, exisfuckingtentially
Wonderful. But complete rubbish.
Just in case there is anyone reading this who isn't already familiar with the piece:
Complete Ramones Mp3 set on its way
- joels344
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- Canis lupus
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
It's very, very kitschy.
The whole LP? Hmm
...great posts, BTW.
- algroth
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
Oh, "Toccata" is definitely kitschy, but that's part of why I love it. I can see it making a fantastic soundtrack to a Z-class alien invasion film.
To me, Brain Salad Surgery is pretty much all about two two tracks: "Toccata" and the first movement of "Karn Evil 9". The rest I can do without, by and large. Generally agree with PENK's review, too. Of the classic four studio albums by ELP, it's my least favorite as well (despite the two aforementioned tracks which are great).
To me, Brain Salad Surgery is pretty much all about two two tracks: "Toccata" and the first movement of "Karn Evil 9". The rest I can do without, by and large. Generally agree with PENK's review, too. Of the classic four studio albums by ELP, it's my least favorite as well (despite the two aforementioned tracks which are great).
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
algroth wrote:Oh, "Toccata" is definitely kitschy,
I'd sat that love song about the ladder = definitely kitschy.
Tocatta, no: not a chip from the same block.
Even today (45 years later), I think it compliments perfectly the cover art (jaw dropping back in the day). Didn't the Argentine composer compliment them on their "diabolical" arrangement?
algroth wrote:To me, Brain Salad Surgery is pretty much all about two two tracks: "Toccata" and the FIRST PART OF THE first movement of "Karn Evil 9". The rest I can do without, by and large.
I've tried to correct that for you, squire
- algroth
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
◉ ͜◉ wrote:algroth wrote:Oh, "Toccata" is definitely kitschy,
I'd sat that love song about the ladder = definitely kitschy.
Tocatta, no: not a chip from the same block.
Even today (45 years later), I think it compliments perfectly the cover art (jaw dropping back in the day). Didn't the Argentine composer compliment them on their "diabolical" arrangement?
I would definitely compliment them on it too, but it's still kitsch.
algroth wrote:To me, Brain Salad Surgery is pretty much all about two two tracks: "Toccata" and the FIRST PART OF THE first movement of "Karn Evil 9". The rest I can do without, by and large.
I've tried to correct that for you, squire
Nah, I like the second part too.
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
I do appreciate what it was at the time but not my cuppa prog at all.
Far too much nonsense tunelessness going on.
Far too much nonsense tunelessness going on.
- algroth
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
I'd be curious to get a ranking from PENK as to how he feels about each prog record he's so far heard in this Odyssey.
- trans-chigley express
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
People always assume I like this lot but their brand of Prog has never done a thing for me. It's everything I dislike about Prog conveniently packaged in one band. I do revisit them occasionally just to see if they suddenly make some kind of sense but they never do.
Although as with a lot of bands I dislike there is one track that I find irresistible and that's Fanfare For The Common Man, even the full length version is a blast.
Although as with a lot of bands I dislike there is one track that I find irresistible and that's Fanfare For The Common Man, even the full length version is a blast.
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
Yep, that and Lucky Man are about where it starts and ends for me.
- Quaco
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
For me, ELP is definitely down the list from bands like Yes, Genesis, and King Crimson, but really there are only about eight good prog bands in total, so to be seventh or eighth best isn't so bad.
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- algroth
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
Quaco wrote:For me, ELP is definitely down the list from bands like Yes, Genesis, and King Crimson, but really there are only about eight good prog bands in total, so to be seventh or eighth best isn't so bad.
There are many many more than that, personally. Off the top of my head I can think of: Yes, Genesis, Crimson, Soft Machine, Caravan, ELP, Magma, National Health, Matching Mole, Hatfield and the North, Gong, Komintern, Bubu, Invisible, La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros, Ossana, Il Balleto di Bronzo, Le Orme, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Arto Zoyd, Jumbo, Univers Zéro, Present, Harmonium, Focus, Supersister, Henry Cow, M.I.A., Redd, Climax, Los Jaivas, Grobschnitt, Triana and several others, and these are all within the 70s and not considering the broadchurchers like Can or the Mothers, or acts from other decades for that matter. There's loads of great stuff in the genre the way I see it.
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
Much for me to check out there, thanks!
And some I wasn't considering true prog.
And a couple I've decided I don't actually care for.
Now I'm wondering which eight I was referring to.
Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant, ELP, PFM, Van Der Graaf, occasional Tull...
And some I wasn't considering true prog.
And a couple I've decided I don't actually care for.
Now I'm wondering which eight I was referring to.
Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant, ELP, PFM, Van Der Graaf, occasional Tull...
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- algroth
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
Quaco wrote:Much for me to check out there, thanks!
And some I wasn't considering true prog.
And a couple I've decided I don't actually care for.
Now I'm wondering which eight I was referring to.
Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant, ELP, PFM, Van Der Graaf, occasional Tull...
Heh, a few there that I missed too (most notably Van der Graaf Generator). But yeah... Lots of great stuff in the scene from where I'm standing.
Who do you not consider prog and who do you not care for?
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
Re ELP studio albums:
Trilogy
1st
Tarkus
Brain Salad Surgery
and then forget
Isn't it?
Trilogy
1st
Tarkus
Brain Salad Surgery
and then forget
Isn't it?
Nobody's ferpect.
- algroth
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Re: Penk's Prog Odyssey: ELP
Osgood wrote:Re ELP studio albums:
Trilogy
1st
Tarkus
Brain Salad Surgery
and then forget
Isn't it?
Pretty much, though I'd have their debut first by some distance, followed by Tarkus and then Trilogy (those last two are hard though, because to me Tarkus is yet again all about the title track, which a bunch of forgettable stuff slapped on the second side). They did have some excellent live albums too, but they are so sprawly that they fall well into 'fans only' territory.