Tales from Topographic Oceans
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (04 October, 1994)
list price: $22.98
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Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (175)

Has its moments, but I don't listen to it often
Tales From Topographic Oceans to me is like Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here (and particularly Shine On...) in the sense that both have some good musical moments stretched out over too much time given to it. In another way it's like Genesis' Lamb Lies Down on Broadway in that they had four sides to fill, and they were going to fill it come hell or high water.

There are certain passages that are gems in the YES lexicon, but there seems to be a lot of extra, that wasn't intended to be filler I suppose, but it certainly isn't engaging (to me at least - and thanks to the age of the ipod I put YES on shuffle and have it in the background while I work and I was surprised by how many passages on TFTO capture my divided attention, so it's not all bad by any stretch). Though, with a straight through, undivided listen, by the end I feel like I've been around the same block a couple of times with a few mini-loops along the way.

Attention span isn't the issue as I dig many other album-side or double side epics. But this stretches my patience. Putting four 20 minute tracks together seems contrived. If not, and the whole album as an entity in itself, why couldn't the multiple statements be broken up even more? There obviously was an attempt to say "we showed how mighty we were with an album side, this will really show you what we're made of!" It seems to have a lot of form over function in its track layout. Genesis' TLLDOB perhaps is improved by having the 4 sides fractured into more songs.

Perhaps if the material were segmented more logically, the music would have been better than it turned out to be. To keep the 4 song layout intact, it has a great feel that some of the musicians were merely along for the ride instead of adding punctuations of their own to make a combined statement as with the highest points in YES' output.

What Peter Gabriel did to Genesis' with TLLDOB, Anderson and Howe did to YES, make a very self serving double album that perhaps confused the other members and left them outside the box and the overall music suffers.


Still it IS YES and that counts for a lot in maintaining 3 stars.

Love it or hate it.
Most of the reviewrs here seem to either love this album or hate it. I fall somewhere in between.

This album is imaginative, beatifully played and richly complex.

All 4 of the songs are over long and sound as if they have been padded, most especially the middle 2 which should probably be about 2/3 the length.

This album was produced in the days of vinyl and I have a strong suspicion that the limitations of the format may have influenced the outcome of this album and forced compromises which hurt it. Specifically, they had an idea for an album made of 4 long pieces and a total of about an hours good music of varying lengths. But vinyl won't support that. Anything less than 15 minutes a side seems like a rip-off and anything more than 20 has to be compressed (and can't be much compressed) and hurts sound quality. So the songs were padded out to make them even lengths that fit a double album.

That's just my opinion - but it would explain why some of the songs seem to have disjointed and inappropriate passages in them surrounded passages of sometime spectacularly beautiful music.

Even given that; you have to understand that this is Yes at their most typical. Jon Anderson said he wanted to create a band that was a cross between Bach and the Beach Boys and this album is the realization of that dream. If you don't have the ear, the patience or the open mindedness to listen to what is essentially classical music played on and written for modern instruments - with complex vocal harmonies used as additional instruments layered into the sound (instead of sitting on top of it) then you're not going to like this album.

There may be some Yes material you'll enjoy, just as popular music fans will often enjoy some "pop classical" tunes, but this ain't one of them. This album requires requires work and patience and a good musical ear to appreciate and even then is flawed.

Flawed, but not worthless. And quite possibly still worth the effort.

I think this album is worth having, worth the effort of enjoying and is mostly beatiful with some moments of sublime genious and some passages of disappointing indulgence. If it were reworked to remove the fluff and tighten some of the bridges it could be one of the greatest musical works of all time (not excluding the rennaissance).

An extraordinary achievement
This album was years ahead of its time and there are few bands around today, let alone in the 1970s, who had the musicianship and ambition to deliver such a musical statement to the listening public. Despite the critics, the fans loved this album (it topped the album charts in the UK upon release). It is still selling today and the band still play sections of it at concerts. It's an extraordinary achievement considering the music business today. Yes love to take chances with their music - always pushing the envelope. This album was a big commercial and musical risk, but one well worth taking. ... Read more

Asin: B000002J20
Sales Rank: 64358
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Afraid of Sunlight
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (21 March, 2000)
list price: $21.98
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Features

• Enhanced
• Import

Reviews (20)

Broadway voice meets TALENTED musicians
I saw my first Marillion show right after Afraid of Sunlight came out at Club Bene here in NJ.I had heard Season's End a few times before, but I went to the show with my brother who was a fan, and had seen them open for Rush years earlier.THE NEXT DAY I made it my primary goal to get the Afraid of Sunlight CD.Steve Hogarth has a powerful voice which gives the album a rich LIVE SHOW almost Broadway feeling.The best part of any Marillion album is how the entire album as a single piece of work effects the listener.I can highlight Cannibal Surf Babe and Gazpacho as songs that I love as singles, but really this is an album to enjoy on a good stereo with full concentration on the music, words, and feelings that Afraid of Sunlight generates.I would also tell a reader to go and get the album Brave also... Everything that Marillion has ever done is amazing and worth a listen.... Tell your Friends.

Thank God I listen to music through my own ears !
So you reviewers are telling me that this CD is better than Script for a jesters tear , Misplaced Childhood , Clutching at straws and Brave ?Judging by the average review rating thats what you are saying ? well all I can say is thank God I listen to music through my own ears and I don`t care what other people think. This band have regressed since the departure of Fish You know it! and this hardly lives up to the standerds reached on former outings. The song Beautiful while being very cliche is perhaps the best song on this CD. The problem I have with later Marillion is Steve Hogarth , good voice but the guys lyrics are so poor compared to the standerds of the likes of Fish. Mosley was once a great drummer its seems since Hogarth stept in this band have droped there standerds in
every area except perhaps the looks department (sorry Fish)
This still is worth getting though but please if you want to hear Marillion Listen to the stuff Fish did with them it blows this away !

This one deserved better, despite what else the band's done.
Marillion aren't the most talented band in the world and, being kind of one-dimensional, at their best, are great in creating emotional (if not pathetic) atmospheres. Fish left the band to be able to blow up his ego, which caused him to fall to pieces in his own Scottish Highlands. No pseudo-poetry could help him anymore.

Steve Hogarth came, and proved, despite a lack of co-operation from certain fans, that there was room within Marillion for daring vision. He convinced the rest of the band that it was necessary for a band to change, te evolve - not because people didn't like Marillion the way it was, but because art & artists die when standing still.

It took H & the Marillios two albums to get used to each other. What they then came up with were two subsequent albums of innovation (at least to their own standards), emotion and depth. Hogarth poured his soul out (and sung himself into depression) and for the first time in their carreer, Marillion made some changes.

"Afraid of Sunlight" came after "Brave", and is Marillions most balanced, deep, innovative and layered album. The subject matter in the lyrics is, on the surface, the life of famous people, but one only has to listen a little bit better to discover that the album is actually about ego, self-betrayal, self-hate, and the fear of happiness. Musically the album is equally layered, thanks to quick arrangement without too much thinking. AoS displays the band in their most spirited form, with all the advantages of being a routineous group of musicians, and without all the disadvantages of old age.

Yes, it's true, this album is one of the most criminally underrated of the '90's. Time to set the record straight! ... Read more

Asin: B00004NRUQ
Sales Rank: 260841
Subjects:  1. Hard Rock    2. Neo-Prog    3. Pop    4. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    5. Rock   

The Great Deceiver (Live 1973-1974)
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (28 November, 2000)
list price: $120.49
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Features

• Box set
• Import
• Live

Reviews (12)

Best of the '73-'74 band, who said live albums suck?
By turns delicate, furious, jazzy, introspective, and monstrous.The power of the band that was hinted at on L.T.I.A., Red and Starless and Bible Black really comes through on this monster box-set.Almost every song is served better by the live recording.The playing is more direct, heavy, heady, and emotional.The solos are more evocative not to mention incredible.John Wettons' vocals are more impassioned.

Excellent guitar playing by Fripp.The man absolutely smokes when he wants to.He plays beautiful melody lines, funky chordal improv, ripping solos, and sometimes atonal free-rock guitar skronk.The rythym section of John Wetton on bass and Bill Bruford's drums is huge, creative and loud. David Cross on violin, mellotron and electric piano is really suprising.I've always thought him something of a lightweight, but his playing is quite good throughout and very creative on the improvised pieces.

Ah, the improvs, they're the real treat with this boxed set.For the first time you get to hear the '73 - '74 Crimson really stretch out into uncharted territory.I read that Crimson were an incredible improvising band but since few of their improvs ever made it to their albums, I'd had to take the reviewers word for it.
The improvs are astonishing in their variety.Daniel Dust is quite pleasant and mellow, sounding almost like an exceptionally melodic acoustic outing by the Grateful Dead?!?, (except with violin and a certain crim sensibility)Other improvs sound like Stravinsky, as played by Slayer while being directed by Sun Ra.Elements of classical, free rock, jazz, space, metal, whatever... You get to hear how good this band really was at walking a tightrope without a net, amazing band.

If you like the '73, '74 band , you'll love this CD boxed set.When I first bought it back in '92 I played it for two weeks straight.Buy it before it goes out of print again, you won't be sorry.

Still Available
I thought I should add that this item still is in print and lists for $63.Check out www.disciplineglobalmobile.com for any hard to find KC live material.

Classic collection captures KC over span of performances
Featuring the classic 1973 - 1974 line up featuring John Wetton, Robert Fripp, Bill Brufford and David Cross, this 4 CD set focuses on the quartet at their peak. Since the quartet only had two albums out at the time, to some fans this might seem like overkill but with variations in performance (and a couple of earlier classic Crimson tracks sneaking in periodically during the performances), this great overview allows fans to hear the power of this edition of KC.

The Great Deceiver is a glimpse of a great band in top form. While some of the improvs are acquired taste (and might not be of interest to all fans), the bulk of the material covered here is powerful and well played. It's a pity that this great boxed set is no longer in print as it's an example of what boxed sets should be about; more than a snapshot of a band during various phase of its life. This captures the 73-74 edition of KC in the prime of its life. ... Read more

Asin: B00004UDT2
Sales Rank: 275921
Subjects:  1. Box Sets (Audio Only)    2. Pop    3. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    4. Rock   

Oranges & Lemons
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (19 March, 1996)
list price: $6.98
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Editorial Review

Oranges and Lemons, from 1989, is a fantastic record, a lucid, technicolor sprawl of modernized Beatleisms and airbrushed psych-pop confectionary. Commercially, it was such a shame Tears for Fears had exactly the same idea at exactly the same time. Appropriately, given its title, several of the songs on Oranges and Lemons deal with Andy Partridge's newly acquired parental status (the jazzy "Pink Thing" is a cunning double-entendre about fatherly pride and his penis) as well as wryly address the wider failings of the world into which our children are born. Yes, like some sherberty, fructose-flavored lozenge, Oranges and Lemons is both bitter and sweet. But unquestionably excellent, as witnessed by the Byrds-like village-idiot love song "Mayor of Simpleton" and other highlights like "King for a Day" and "Poor Skeleton Steps Out." The Eastern mystique, serpentine guitars, and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" style chorus of "Garden of Earthly Delights" is conceivably what John, Paul, George, and Ringo would have sounded like if they'd hung around a little longer with the Maharishi. As for the dreamy, green-field tourist brochure panoramas of "Chalkhills and Children," think Brian Wilson drifting over the English countryside in a hang glider. --Kevin Maidment ... Read more

Reviews (33)

If you LOVE "Skylarking", you will need this album.
You won't like it as much, but there are easily a half-dozen or more songs here that an XTC fan will cherish.

The production is just as lush and a bit more rococo than that previous masterwork; was there a calliope in the mix somewhere? No seriously...was there?

While each and every track is at the very least interesting, some of them aren't quite good "songs".

But many of them are.
Case in point: "The Mayor of Simpleton".
You can not ask for more from a great single than intelligent lyrics brimming with wit, soaring vocal harmonies, a killer bridge, an irresistible melody, and XTC's to-be-expected impeccable musicianship. Crisp guitars, a chipper beat...oh dear this is one of my favorite singalong songs of all time.

"King For A Day" is cool pop (it made me yearn for old Tears for Fears though...).

"The Loving" is a classic XTC song...with a quirky melodic twist.

"Hold Me My Daddy" is another pleasure-filled listen, with the uptempo galloping ending, is the type of thing that sets up shop in your skull for months. It'll literally drive you insane...

"Pink Thing" is a naughty little ditty about probably exactly what you think it's about.

"Merely A Man" is more sweet pop sounds from a tragically ignored band...they should have freakin' been huge.

Some of the slower songs (like the last one) and the less traditional songs (the "Skeletons" one) don't quite work as songs per se...but I have not forgotten them since my first listen decades ago. It's weird...I normally skip over them, but when I didn't (after buying this remastered version), I still remembered every note.

Even the songs I didn't like.

Hmmm...

Four great songs..
This album has four great songs: "Mayor of Simpleton," "Chalkhills and children" (my favorite), "King for a Day," and "Garden of Earthly delights." I wouldn't call it a classic though, some of it sounds dated. I would not say this about most of "Skylarking," though, which is much better. "Nonesuch" to me is their most solid.

One of the great pop-rock albums of all time
First, let me put the five star rating in context. Five stars are freely given in so many customer reviews that the five star rating has been devalued by overuse. In my opinion, XTC made some music I wouldn't bother to listen to all the way through even once. Less than one star for me. Some of their albums are worth three or four stars.

This album, however, stands at the pinnacle of anything any band has ever attempted or achieved. Not to say that it is better than Sgt. Pepper or other great records. But it holds its own. It must be considered one of the five or ten best albums of the 1980s.

I would call this music chamber pop. It quotes eloquently from sixties-style British pop, but adds elements of jazz, all produced and layered to perfection with XTC's inimitable style. All the elements here are precisely and deliberately placed, like a classical composition (with distorted guitars!). The thought and care with which these musical collages have been assembled created songs that are intensely interesting and musically involving. They stand up to repeated listening and analysis. As an experience, it is a marvel and a wonder to listen to these... I won't call them songs, I will call them compositions.

The recording is only fair, at best. One could only wish George Martin had been there to oversee the recording engineers. I have the remastered GOLD CD version, and really it is only slightly better than the original Geffen release. Since the old Geffen version can be purchased used for $1 or less, there is no excuse not to own a copy of this masterwork.

Andy Partridge was at the height of his lyrical powers, and his quirky harmonic ideas were harnessed and channeled into powerful, communicative, and anthemic songs. Colin Moulding's songs are melodic and beautiful, but his busy bass playing throughout rivals McCartney's work in the Beatles' best tunes. It is great entertainment to listen to this album all the way through, focusing only on the bass parts. Dave Gregory completed the tapestry with his always-appropriate guitars, and his presence was sorely missed on the last two XTC albums, as if both Partridge and Moulding had lost their right arms.

Other reviewers have praised the individual songs, so I won't belabor the point. And what is the point? Just this: if you love pop music, buy this CD. ... Read more

Asin: B000000OYZ
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Close to the Edge
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (16 August, 1994)
list price: $11.98
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Editorial Review

What's it all about? "A seasoned witch could call you from the depths of your disgrace / And rearrange your liver to the solid mental grace." Actually, it really doesn't matter. Later they would fragment and lose focus, but here is Yes functioning for once in the band's tortuous career as an organic unit, and individual elements--such as Jon Anderson's trippy lyrics--are less important than the whole. Even Rick Wakeman's Rachmaninoff-for-Hammond-organ excesses work in context, compensated for by Steve Howe's amazingly fluid guitar (equal parts Charlie Christian and Chet Atkins), in turn counterbalanced by Chris Squire's behemoth Rickenbacker bass and Bill Bruford's jazzy drumming. This is rock music informed by the improvisational spirit of jazz and allied with the grandiosity of the classics. Love it or hate it, Close to the Edge is the definitive prog album. --Mark Walker ... Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (178)

Progressive Rock at its very best
When I say, "YES progressive rock," I am alluding to their efforts as a whole unit, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, and Rick Wakeman.This album truly enraptures your mind and soul.As the title track commences you venture off into a dense jungle with insects and bugs incessantly chirping abound.Anderson's lush vocals in "Close to the Edge" and Bruford's sedate yet uplifting drumming give poignant new meaning to the term "progressive rock."The second track "And You and I," depicts the egress from the unforgiving tropical jungle and into more sedate environment.This song runs about 11 minutes long and adequately prepares you for the optimistic "Siberian Khatru," where Chris Squire's bass steals the show.Overall, this album is a must for any ardent progressive rock fan.

My Favorite Yes Album
Yes is one of those great progressive rock bands that should have quit after their first few years, (just like ELP).Their early material is brilliant, adventurous, and indulgent.Unforunately, I'd say that after the albums "Tales From Topographic Oceans" and "Relayer" came out, they really should have quit.Instead, they dragged the name of Yes through the mud and put out barbie-doll-pop-music.

HOWEVER!This is classic Yes and is without a doubt my favorite album by them.It has my favorite lineup, Jon Anderson (vocals), Steve Howe (guitar), Rick Wakeman (keys), Bill Bruford (drums), and Chris Squire (bass).Bruford is a monster on this disc.The whole band is amazing...they were at their peak when they put this out.

I'd say the highlight here is "Siberian Khatru."It is truly a work of beauty - I only wish it was more than 8 minutes.It starts with some great guitar work from Howe and soon after launches into a train ride of psychadelic madness supported by Squire's signature bass lines and not to mention intellectually masterful soloing from Wakeman.It's too bad he had to become a born again christian.

The title track is a juggernaut of key changes, time changes, awesome guitar work from Howe, and plenty of originality.The band jumps from idea to idea on this track and it's never boring, even though it clocks in at 19 minutes.This is what prog rock is...almost 40 minutes total on the album, and only 3 songs.I LOVE IT!"And You and I" is also a beautifully soothing piece highlighted by Anderson's cool tone.It makes me feel like I'm trippin' in a field somewhere, flying a kite.

If you're new to Yes, I'd definitely start here.

DEFINITELY THE BEST YES ALBUM EVER RECORDED
Out of the three YES albums (THE YES ALBUM, FRAGILE, and CLOSE TO THE EDGE) I have heard on my oldest brother-in law's stereo, this captures the best music that is not heard on their previous albums.More importantly, RICK WAKEMAN who joined for the FRAGILE record plays an extremely wide variety of keyboards on every song on this album.His HAMMOND organ sounds a whole lot better than original keyboard player TONY KAYE; furthermore, RICK's mellotron that is heard on the whole album definitely gives YES's music a more powerful and psychodelic sound for this album.The title track is my most favorite song on this album.The first two segments (the highlight for me) of this song are outstanding with STEVE HOWE'S guitar riffs, CHRIS SQUIRE's bass guitar riff, BILL BRUFORD's drumming skills, RICK keyboard riffs, along with JON ANDERSON's lead vocal that are combined with CHRIS and STEVE's harmony vocals.The psychodelic beginning of the song breaks the ice, and then the first verse kicks the song into overdrive.The vocals by all three guys are also excellent on the third segment I GET UP I GET DOWN, and then RICK plays an outstanding and highlighting organ solo, along with the mellotron at the very end, on the closing segment.AND YOU AND I is a outstanding acoustic ballad with the 12-string guitar, along with the blend of the mellotron and moog synthesizer by RICK and the LESLIE guitar by STEVE on the ECLIPSE segment.Then, SIBERIAN KHATRU has an outstanding rhythm and blues guitar intro by STEVE that reminds me of MARK FARNER's guitar riffs on UPSETTER and I COME TUMBLIN' from E PLURIBUS FUNK album.After the intro, everybody makes their musical contributions that kick the song into overdrive.STEVE plays a variety of guitars on this album like the lap steel and sitar guitars, along with the new GIBSON ES345 STEREO.Everybody in the band should have been credited as a songwriter on every song.Additionally, BILL BRUFORD should have stayed with the band just long enough to complete the tour for this album.I got this remastered edition along with FRAGILE before the newest edition of these albums, however, I am satisfied. ... Read more

Asin: B000002J1E
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. England    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    6. Rock   

Brave [Bonus CD 1998]
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (07 March, 2000)
list price: $21.98
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Reviews (23)

Quite good considering...
Of all the post-Fish Marillion cd's I've heard, this is one that is the most interesting and one that I can actually tolerate those god-awful vocals of Steve Hogarth. True the man can write great songs, but that voice takes some getting used to when compared to Fish, jeez...that's not a fair comparison. There is some great signature Marillion playing here unlike later releases and some memorable tracks- 'Living with the big lie', 'Alone again in the lap of luxury', 'Runaway' are a few. It may take a few spins before it grows on you(for me it took many spins)but if you listen primarily to the music, you'll dig it.

It doesn't just grow on you...
this album pounces on you like a Lion. I first heard of Marillion on the Dream Theater "Once in a Livetime" video. I liked "Easter", so I went to my local CD store. This was the only Marillion CD they had, so I bought it. Upon first listen, I was bored to tears by it. I decided to keep it and give it another chance. I listened to it about ten more times, and each time I was as bored as the first. Then, one night I wanted to find some music to fall asleep by, so I put this one on. All of a sudden, I loved every song and I couldn't fall asleep until the entire album was over. I think that my early dislike of this album was due to the fact that at the time, I was really in to Dream Theater and I expected heavy-riffing, prog-metal, distorted-fast-paced-guitar solos and all that and was taken aback by this album's quietness. When I finally caught the beauty of this album, I listened to it religiously. My favorite tracks are "Living With the Big Lie", "Alone Again...", "Brave", "The Great Escape" (notably the Fallen from the Moon section of it), and "Made Again". But every song is beautiful in their own way. My suggestions for you if you haven't heard Marillion yet, don't start with this album, like I did. Get Season's End or Afraid of Sunlight (two other amazing albums). This one is my favorite from Marillion, though. Also, to add to the Fish vs. Hogarth controversy... in my opinion, both eras are so musically different, it seems unfair to even compare them. I personally prefer the more emotional approach of Hogarth, but Clutching at Straws is a fine album (even though I didn't care for Misplaced Childhood too much). This album will always hold a special place with me.

Must have...
All these reviews point to many aspects of this album...good or bad.Plain and simple, this album is a triumph.Musically, it is deeply textured and diverse, creating an atmosphere of sound that paints a vivid backdrop for the theme.Vocally, Hogarth hits home.He delivers the lyrical content with a true balance of emotion and power.There are some parts that could be removed without missing them...but not enough to detract from the over all strenght of the album.If you didn't see it in the initial Marillion albums with Hogarth, then this album, by far, punctuates the fact that this band is capable of so much more, leaving Fish behind. ... Read more

Asin: B00004NRUM
Sales Rank: 270057
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Hard Rock    3. Neo-Prog    4. Pop    5. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    6. Rock   

Brain Salad Surgery (Dlx)
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (16 July, 1996)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

With orchestral swells and symphonic arrangements, Emerson Lake & Palmer put the Prague in '70s progressive rock. There was something of that dark, European artistry in their compositions that always made their music more grandiose than their stateside counterparts. Brain Salad Surgery was a conductor's wet dream. Works like the "Impression" study in four movements were epic to the nth degree. Influenced by Mussorgsky and Stravinsky, ELP wreaked havoc with the conventions of what rock and classical music could and could not be. In typical fashion, the trio included one highly accessible cut, in this case the haunting "Still... You Turn Me On." The CD also contains the enigmatic favorite, "Karn Evil 9." --Steve Gdula ... Read more

Reviews (131)

Could well be ELP's finest hour
Emerson Lake and Palmer's fifth album Brain Salad Surgery was released in December of 1973.
The album is most remembered for the music as it is for its original cover painting by H. R. Giger(whom would go to fame as the designer for the aliens in the 1979 movie Alien).
The year 1973 saw prog at its arguable peak with Yes striking with the triple live album Yessongs and the double album with four 20 minute tracks Tales from Topographic Oceans. Genesis released the classic Selling England by the Pound. Pink Floyd released their classic Dark Side of the Moon. Lastly, ELP came out with Brain Salad Surgery. How is Brain Salad, read on and find out(as I did in November of 1996 when I first got this remastered CD from Rhino).
We begin with the famous organ chords of Keith Emerson's for the track Jerusalem which is one of the famous Anglican hymn with bass player/guitarist/vocalist Greg Lake singing well. Next is Toccata which was an adaptation of the 4th Movement of Ginastera's 1st Piano Concerto and features an impressive percussion movement from Carl Palmer and was the first track to use electronic percussion(years before Syndrums or Simmons Pads would come in the 1980s). Next was brain Salad's equal to Lucky Man and From the Beginning with the rock radio hit ballad Still...You Turn Me On. Next is Benny the Bouncer which was a hilarious honky tonk ditty in the fame of The Sheriff and Jeremy bender.
Next is the album's piece-de-resistance, the 29 plus minute Karn Evil 9 Suite. The first part of First Impression is a good 8 minutes long with some great playing from ELP and great vocals. The original vinyl LP's first half ended with the first 8 minutes of The First Impression. The second side picked up where the end of side one left off with Lake singing the infamous line that became the group's signature quote "Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends". Luckily the disc was remastered from the original master tapes and the whole 14 minute First Impression is presented uncut and unfaded. Next is the piano laced Second Impression which is fantastic. The Second Impression also had a synth passage with sounds that reminded one of Caribbean steel drums. We close the disc with the Third Impression offering a hymn for the new clear dawn. Also, the lyrics predated by over 20 years of computers taking over for man, the line "Load Your Program I Am Yourself" had Keith singing into the synthesizer playing the computer marking the first time anyone used a Vocoder years before Vocoders were popular.
Brain Salad Surgery became ELP's most successful studio album hitting #11 on the Billboard charts and going Platinum immediately.
This 1996 reissue from Rhino, which acquired the ELP back catalog from the defunct Victory Music, has a better remastered version than the 1993 Victory Music issue and also a bonus new interview circa 1996 with Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, Carl Palmer and occasional wordsmith Pete Sinfield.
RECOMMENDED!

The greatest progressive rock album ever made.Period.
Forget Yes' 'Fragile', King Crimson's 'In the Court of the Crimson King', Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' and Genesis' 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway'.'Brain Salad Surgery' is the finest progressive rock album ever made by the form's greatest practitioners -- ELP.The musicianship and energy on this recording are astounding: each of the three group members is such a master at his instrument, the energy and creativity literally fly off the disc.'Karn Evil 9', in particular, is a triumph of structure in its three movements; the 3rd impression reminds me of nothing so much as "The End" on the Beatles' 'Abbey Road' in the way it seemingly ties up an era (in this case, the early '70's progressive British Rock movement), and sounds like the dawning of a new day.Greg Lake's voice and production are magnificent throughout.In fact, there's absolutely NOTHING bad I can say about this album.It is one of my very favorites in ALL forms of music, certainly ELP's finest work, and one of the great masterpieces in rock music.Every bit as much of a classic as the Beatles' 'Abbey Road' and 'Sgt. Pepper', the Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds', the Who's 'Who's Next' and the Stones' 'Beggars Banquet'.If I could give it ten stars, I would.

One of the 10 best albums ever!!!!
Brain Salad Surgery defies time.It is still awesome. Emerson Lake & Palmer were the greatest! ... Read more

Asin: B0000033TE
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Exposure
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (31 August, 1990)
list price: $15.98
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Reviews (22)

One of my all time favorites
I originally had this album on vinyl and it sounds even better on CD.This album is still sounds fresh after all these years.If you are a fan of the likes of Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, or even the modern electronic stuff, get this CD.

One of a kind.Blasted what culd be said.
Musta been back wayyyyyabout 1980, listening to here comes the flood with that crazy scientist recording.With my girfriend in the 69 bug. Some songs are magic.
but I had another girfriend that woul'nt let me play the cd cause the other songs.
Cause some songs are so incredble harsh. Your house my house.
Paints so real a picture.
Havn't listenen to it for at least 2 yrs Can't find it.
But one of the most incredible albums I've ever listen to.

Pass
Obviously, this artist deserves a tremendous amount of respect for his contributions to music, given his strong reviews and work with other musicians.But, with the exception of a few tracks including either Hall or Gabriel, I don't see those contributions presented well here.It seems to be a freeform musical (not so much lyrical) exploration of something.As for Peter Gabriel's Here Comes The Flood, the version found here may stand above the one found on PG1, but the piano & vox version found on PG's Shaking The Tree record tops them all. ... Read more

Asin: B000003S16
Sales Rank: 128094
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    3. Rock   

Starless And Bible Black
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (17 October, 2000)
list price: $15.98
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Editorial Review

The second Crimson album to feature the core lineup of guitarist Robert Fripp, bassist-singer John Wetton, and drummer Bill Bruford (plus violinist David Cross), 1974's Starless continues the complex structures and hard-edged grooves of Larks' Tongues in Aspic. It's a sound that's firmly departed from the mellotron-assisted psychedelic symphony approach of Lizard and In the Wake of Poseidon. The precursor to the landmark Red, Starless includes such Crimson classics as "The Great Deceiver," the eccentric ballad "Lament," the menacing 11-minute "Fracture," and the sprawling title track, an avant-rock "Bolero" that builds into a cacophony of abstract noise guitar, chattering percussion, fleshy funk bass lines and, yep, mellotron, this time in the service of dissonant harmonies and spooky sound bursts. A must for Crimson completists, and a great first bite for neophytes. --James Rotondi ... Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (53)

Well, listen up then!
For the longest, longest time I thought that Starless was on Starless and Bible Black, and yet by some unusual design the song with this lyric should be on the next album!If Starless was on this album it would more than deserve 5 stars, and if it didn't have The Great Deciever I'd appreciate it so little that I wouldn't even write a review.
Before writing this I noticed that all the other reviewists had a startling and frightening knowledge of musical and technical ability, but forgive me when I say that Fracture hardly impresses me, furthermore I have difficulty understand its artistic value...Luckily Robert and his associates have always made a compromise between professional and artistic work, seperating them for the two audiences.Not being a professional here, I cannot explain why Fracture is astounding, but I'll take your word for it, you musicians, and carry on with what I can!
So, personally I find the Great Deciever a piece of sheer intensity, even when it colllapses into that horrendous structureless hash, because that's intensely bland... the first time I heard Wetton declare "Health food Faggot, bartered bride, likes to comb his hair with a dipper ride."I burst out in laughter quite loudly.And when he shouts "GREAT DECIEVER!" it always conjured the image for me of an old man in a sack suit holding his claws over a hippy and declaring some nonsense matter of factly to him.Also the lyrics conveyed to me an ineffable variety of plasticised suburban beauty involving formations of neon bicycles and homes in a bright light... but this is quite hallucinogenic and stupid, so I'll move on before plagueing you with the spaced out, crazy imagery I'd like to supply.
The night watch was the first Crimso song I ever heard, and so for a very long period it was my understanding that the band was some kind of troupe of funky irish sages, historically minded with wholesome worldviews... and that wasn't half bad, then I heard Schizoid Man and my perception was renovated for the better... But that's not important.So this song is rather dear to me and I do not appreciate that it might be disregarded as stange and poorly placed, for I thought all of King Crimson poorly placed after so long of only hearing this.It was my belief for a while that they must be terribly wise and regarded the song as a set of instructions, you know, the works.
Well, the rest of the album titled Starles and Bible Black does not appeal to me, and I do not see myself as being the audience for it, but that is nature of KC, a complete variety.Surely some of it might interest you, strangers.

A great comming together of various elements, IMO
I like King Crimson and I had only previously owned the debut album. Now, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. There's not a bad song in the bunch, though the songs I like are: The great deceiver, We'll let you know, Night watch, Trio, Fracture and my firm favourite is the scary 'Mincer'. I mean wow, what a dark but cool song.
I wonder what other people think of the vocals? I feel as though they should be louder in the mix. The title track has no lyrics but is obviously some dig at the bible or religion or something. I don't like that, and it seems everyone did that in the 70's, perhaps at the influence of 'John Lennon'? Anyway, the music is cool.
For an idea of what the album sounds like, it's like garage band rock jams but with a few ballads and folk songs thrown in for diversity and good measure. Trio is a lovely classical music venture, Night Watch is a folk song and Lament also has a hint of balladry, but is raging rock towards the end of the song. The tone is not as loud or distorted on this album as it was on Lark's tongues and the bass is very prominent in the mix. The mellotron plays the part of an organ rather than a pseudo-symphony, except that it occasionally tries to sound (quite successfully) like a heavily distorted 6th string of a guitar (Notably on the afforementioned 'Mincer'). Also, this album was lifted from the same creativity well as 'Moonchild'. Oh by the way, Love the lyrics to 'Great deceiver' and 'Night watch' and 'lament'.

Rushed album with some brilliant moments.
After an album as brilliant as the stunning "Larks' Tongues in Aspic", the pressure was on Crimson to turn out something else of that level of quality.Having toured for quite a while after the departure of percussionist Jamie Muir, Robert Fripp (guitar, mellotron), David Cross (violin, viola, mellotron), John Wetton (bass, vocal), and Bill Bruford (drums, percussion) were a tight unit.Specializing live in improvization, this album was in fact largely culled from a live show-- in fact, five of the tracks on here were culled from a live show from '73, then edited to remove crowd noise and overdubbed as necessary.What's amazing is that you'd be hard pressed to tell whats improv and whats composed, what was recorded soley in the studio, what was live.

Opening with blazing rock number, "The Great Deceiver", a great vocal piece which churns and spins in a circular figure before melting into the verses and coming back again.Really, its one of the more unique Crimson pieces, features some great playing, in paticular from Fripp and Bruford.This cuts off after a Fripp guitar figure and "Lament" begins, soft, melodic, then explosive, although somewhat flawed in my ears-- Wetton's vocal, while passionate during the slower sections, feels a bit rushed during the faster ones.Still, during the slower portions, there's a delicate beauty, interplya between Cross and Fripp with some really great bass figures below it.Its interesting to note that this one got its start as part of improvs by Fripp in '71/'72 touring with the previous Crimson band.While discussing vocal tracks, I'll also now bring up "The Night Watch", a really amazing ballad, in many ways the "Exiles" of this album, although it stands on its own.A piece of delicate beauty, again I feel Wetton's vocals are a bit rushed at times, but its a really beautiful song featuring one of the most mangificant and beautiful solos of Fripp's career.The final vocal piece, "The Mincer", is one I've never gotten into-- it starts off decent enough, a churning instrumental with a driving beat, but like "We'll Let You Know", it just seems to end too abruptly.

Of the instrumental tracks, all but "Fracture" are improvs, although only "We'll Let You Know" feels like it-- featuring a more fusiony feel-- Fripp pulls in sounds and directions that his contemporaries working with Miles Davis were moving-- his playing is also totally liberating from virtually any expectation of guitar playing, its really stunning, but there's a general feeling of disunity in the song that keeps it from holding together-- Fripp and Wetton never seem to actually sync up to my ears until the piece basically ends abruptly.."Trio" is the exact opposite, however-- an improv with Bruford choosing to sit out, the three remaining Crims turn out a delicate, soft little piece-- Wetton sticks in the upper register of his instrument, Fripp and Cross keep things sweet, its really an amazing piece."Starless and Bible Black" (NOT to be confused with the song "Starless" that features that phrase in its lyrics) is overlong and slow to develop-- as improvs go, its good enough, but on record, it drags a bit.

Finally, there's the closing instrumental, "Fracture".A guitar player's nightmare, this one features the most complicated and stunning guitar playing from Fripp-- its roughly as it was played live, with no noticable overdubs, yet it sounds at times as though there's three guitar lines moving at once.Its certainly one of the high points in Fripp's catalog in terms of guitar work.

"Starless and Bible Black" is a good album, but it was made in a hurry and it shows. ... Read more

Asin: B000003S0M
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Amused to Death
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (01 September, 1992)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Amused to Death is perfectly titled; it conveys its maker's mordant humor and underlying pessimism. Roger Waters's third solo album allowed a faint but perceptible return to the sound of his estranged former band, Pink Floyd. There are moments here ("What God Wants," "Three Wishes") that recall nothing so much as the densely textured sound of Animals and The Wall. And like those works, this is a concept album--the concept (as ever with Waters) being the crappy nature of modern life. Fair enough, but as usual, his satire is blunt and the targets of his scorn obvious. Former Eagle Don Henley duets on "Watching TV," while Jeff Beck contributes taut, lyrical solos to a number of tracks, notably "It's a Miracle." Waters's voice, however, remains the same: a weary whisper, positively dripping with contempt. --Andrew McGuire ... Read more

Reviews (211)

bored to death
I'm a huge PF fan, but I feel like after David Gilmore and Roger Waters split up, they never really reached their potential.Gilmore's first solo came close.This moody album doesn't live up to the standards set by previous PF albums.While I'm no fan of the present course of civilization, I didn't find these lyrics to be particularly profound or persuasive and I really miss the guitar and harmonies from the good ole days.

A Masterpiece!!
Roger Waters had some VERY high points in his career.Because of some of them, Pink Floyd went on to to become a legendary band (not just for their landmark album Dark Side Of The Moon), but for their followups like Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Wall.Those albums were made as great as they were because of the creativity of Roger Waters.Pink Floyd's entire direction particularly after Wish You Were Here was because of Roger's lyrics, music, and craftmanship.The rest of the band perfected it into what we know as Pink Floyd but if you want to know how they were hurting WITHOUT him, listen to the last two PF albums.They don't even come close to this solo album.This should have been a Pink Floyd album, perhaps the followup to The Wall.It would have sold big time and became a classic in it's own right.However, like the Stones Pink Floyd solo members have never gotten much attention or appreciation from their solo work.Some fine albums over the years by David Gilmour and Roger Waters were for the most part ignored.But the one that baffles me is Amused To Death.The CD is beautiful, not as self absorbed as The Wall or Final Cut, but still has all the trademark sounds, affects, TV playing in the background, Roger's edgy lyrics with a powerful political message and plenty of sarcasm.I didnt appreciate this CD as much when it first came out as I do now.Turns out Roger Waters had one more masterpiece in him after The Wall and Amused To Death.Any Pink Floyd fan should do themselves a favor and give this a chance.Crank it up and sit back and you will know what I mean.Yes, David Gilmours trademark guitar is missing here and the vocals are all Roger and the other background singers.But in this case, it really doesnt take away much from the release.It stands on it's own, and it's just a shame it will never get the true credit it deserves.But for me, when I want to enjoy some classic Pink Floyd, I will turn to such CDs as Meddle, Dark Side Of The Moon, Wish You Were Here, The Wall, and YES "Amused To Death".For me, it's in the same league along with some of the best rock and roll ever made (by Pink Floyd).

High Waters mark.
'Amsused To death" is easily Waters' best solo stuff to date. In this effort Waters takes his rage out on actions surroundingthe Persian Gulf War(1)and the politics that go along with capitalist society. Jeff Beck is recruited for certain spots and delivers astounding solos and guitar work. His presense give Waters'sometimes lifeless grooves the heat they need. Waters hits his mark in his lyrics that range from the hypocracy surrounding the Persian Gulf War (1) to the ultimatly evil dogma of capitalism. The ever changing professional lineup of the Bleeding Hearts Band delivers the music with perfection, but the real story here is Waters' poignant lyrics and his simple yet effective melodies. They all work together just as this effort from the veteran artist works. Roger Waters manages to focus his anger to a white hot laser of contempt for the powers that be and melds it with a cohesive set of melody themes and spry musicianship. It all comes together here Waters'fans. "Amused to Death"is easily his best effort to date. To date, that is. I can't imagin what he's working on with all that's happening in the world to date SINCE "Amused to Death". ... Read more

Asin: B0000027I6
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock