a l b u m r e v i e w s


ELP TRIBUTE / Encores, Legends & Paradox
LABEL: MAGNA CARTA USA / VICTOR JAPAN
OVERALL: 55%
Produced by: Trent Gardner
  1. Karn Evil 9
  2. Bitches Crystal
  3. Toccata
  4. Knife Edge
  5. A Time And A Place
  6. Hoedown
  7. The Sheriff
  8. The Endless Enigma
  9. The Barbarian
  10. Tarkus
Tribute albums have for the most part always been mainly for the fans of such acts and will probably always be that way.
A few however have, mainly through the stars pulled in, crossed over to be a worthwhile purchase for general rock fans.
This new tribute for progressive rock pioneers Emerson, Lake & Palmer is however strictly for the fans.
The tribute pulls in it's degree of stars for sure, but most of them are from the progressive fraternity.
Trent Gardner of Magellan is the man at the helm of this project. Nice production job for sure.
The likes of James LaBrie, Geoff Downes, Simon Phillips, Derek Sherinian, John Wetton and Robert Berry (worked in the ELP side project 3), all have strong prog credentials.
Although the addition of Glenn Hughes on vocal son one track is more probably for his age and roots rather than his prog connection!
So this album is strictly for fanatical fans of progressive tunes and ELP themselves.
BOTTOM LINE: There are some pretty impressive displays of music ability here, especially on Hoedown. That's a cool track.
Anyway, aside from those fans, the remainder of you will probably come away uninspired.
PRODUCTION: 80%SONGS: 80%VIBE: 45%ATTITUDE: 50%
ESSENTIAL FOR:

b a c k t o i n d e x