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Review Summary: The album that confirmed ELP as one of the best prog acts of the 70s. Tarkus is simply one of the best prog suites ever. “Tarkus” is the second studio album of Emerson, Lake & Palmer and was released in 1971. The line up on the album is Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer is probably one of the most influential bands to come out of the treasure trove that was the early 70’s. “Tarkus” became an album very important to the band because after the huge success of their eponymous debut studio album, the band was under an enormous pressure to come up with something especially because their first studio album was seen more like a collection of individual efforts and ideas than a collective musical effort.
“Tarkus” is their second album to be published, although “Pictures At An Exhibition” was recorded first. Their record label was unwilling to release “Pictures At An Exhibition”, afraid that it wouldn’t sell well because of its classical influences. So, it didn’t get released until “Tarkus” gave them the kind of breakthrough and proved that progressive rock music could cater to mainstream audiences. “Tarkus” is divided into two distinct parts. The album is composed of a long suite divided into seven parts with about 20 minutes long and more six individual tracks. “Tarkus” yielded one of the first side long suites in popular music, only preceded by Pink Floyd’s “Atom Heart Mother” in 1970. It’s considered Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s magnum opus and one of the best progressive rock compositions of all time.
The first side is filled by the title track. Lyrically, it’s a song about the futility of conflict, expressed in context of soldiers and war. Consists of multiple movements, telling the story of Tarkus a giant armadillo tank hybrid war machine which looks like a cross between a tank and a swine. The track tells us the story of its birth in a volcanic eruption, to its battles with similar creature machine hybrids, to its defeat by the monster Manticore. In the end Tarkus is reborn as an aquatic version of itself, Aquatarkus. Musically, it’s a well structured piece where the sections are rather short. There are some wise repetitions of the main themes and the links between the main sections are quite intelligent as well. The sung parts are magnificent with Lake knowing how to write a really catchy tune, and knowing how to render it moving and passionate with the sheer power of his voice. The suite kicks off with the fantastic instrumental opening fanfare of “Eruption” where the fast and complicated rhythms are layered with Emerson’s organ and piano. Lake’s vocals make its first appearance during “Stones of Years” that also features one of Emerson’s best organ solos. The rhythms from “Eruption” makes a short return in a more disharmonic form in the instrumental interlude “Iconoclast” and introduces the Moog-driven vocal track “Mass” where Emerson’s quirky solo-section includes some of the most ballsy Hammond sound you’ll ever heard. “Manticore” is definitively the heaviest, most aggressive and dramatic part of the entire track, but is followed by the mighty “Battlefield” that on the other hand stands as the most beautiful part in the suite, with a gorgeous melodic theme. This theme is also taken over into the closing section “Aqautarkus” before the whole thing returns to the opening theme again and makes one hell of a powerful finale to one of progressive rock’s main tracks.
The second side is much more modest. “Jeremy Bender” is a song about a guy who becomes a nun and seduces several women, and finally leaves them. It’s a more traditional rock and roll song, with Emerson stealing the show on piano. “Bitches Crystal” is a fast pace song about magic, ritual and spirits featuring Emerson on a grand piano and synthesizer, Lake with aggressive vocals and Palmer’s energetic drumming. “The Only Way (Hymn)” and “Infinite Space (Conclusion)” are basically the same song. The lyrics criticize religion and state that people shouldn’t depend on God and instead follow their own path. Emerson plays church organ and Lake sings as if he was in a church. “A Time And a Place” is a quite chaotic short rock song and it features Emerson on Hammond organ and Lake singing about someone being trapped and begs to be saved. “Are You Ready Eddie” is a very short funny rock and roll song about their sound engineer Eddie Offord. It seems to be improvised in the studio and closes the album in a very cheerful way.
Conclusion: “Tarkus” suffers of the same problem of “2112” of Rush. The first side of the album is magnificent. It has one of the best compositions of the progressive rock ever and it has been an influence for some other artists. Only “Karn Evil 9” of “Brain Salad Surgery” can be compared to it. But, the second side of the album pales in comparison to the first side. Numerous times, I only listen to the first side of the album. However, the final result is great and, in my humble opinion, in general the compositions on side two are good. Only “Jeremy Bender” and “Are You Ready Eddy”, which isn’t properly a song, are weaker. Anyway, “Tarkus” remains an excellent album for any progressive rock fan. With “Tarkus” ELP became as one of the most influential bands to come out of the treasure that was the early 70’s.
Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)
| other reviews of this album |
tarkus (4.5)
ELP's sophomore effort, and a solid step up from their debut. May not be their best, but certainly o...
sonictheplumber (3)
...
Necrotica (4)
Recommended for any progressive rock fan, even if the second half isn't quite as good....
ProgressiveTheory (4.5)
Tarkus is an unlikely album to draw in more listeners to the progressive rock fan base, but will be ...
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Album Rating: 4.0
When in the last week I saw "In Memoriam" list of SiLord, I was really impressed. I didn't know that so many musicians died in this year. But what impresses me most were two of the names on it, two artists that were very important to my musical education, I mean Greg Lake and Keith Emerson. The guys are two prog legends. Lake made part of one of the best and most important prog groups ever King Crimson and had for my taste one of the best voices in prog singers. I'm always with goosebumps when I hear "Epitaph" (Confusion will be my epitaph...). Keith Emerson helped to found The Nice and is in my opinion one of the two best keyboardists prog ever, with Rick Wakeman. Besides that, both founded the first super group in the prog history, ELP, one of the best prog groups ever, too.
So, as I did with Chris Squire and David Bowie I decided to review an album as my simple homage for both. I decided to chose "Tarkus" not becuse I consider it their best work or even my favourite album from the trio, I prefer their debut, "Trilogy" and "Brain Salad Surgery", but because it was a ver important album for both and has their best composition ever, the suite "Tarkus".
So, as usual I count with your comments.
RIP Greg and Keith. We will never forget you while we live. Thanks.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Nice, nice. Nice to see so emotional comment. But this is really sad. This album is really great, one of the best ELP's albums. It's really a bit less balanced than some of the others, but who cares about it.
I will give a read to your review when I had some free time.
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Great review, amigo!
"The first side of the album is magnificent. (...) But, the second side of the album pales in comparison to the first side." The main issue with this record.
Greg will be missed.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
@ Intruder
Thanks, pal. You're right. Make a review as a posthumous homage, is really a very sad thing. But, what can we do? Only honors them continuing listening to their music.
Thanks, dude. I hope for your next comment, when you want.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
@ Ziguvan
Obrigado, amigo.
It seems that we are tuned in the same wave. In fact the first side is really great but unfortunately the second side pales in comparison to the first side.
Greg will be missed, indeed, and Keith, too. But what can we do? Unfortunatelly, I'm afraid that we are goig to see more bad news like these in the next years.
Obrigado pelo comentário e pos, amigo.
Saúde e um bom Natal.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
I was jamming this and the Nice's sophomore album yesterday. Good tribute! RIP Keith and Greg
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks, Friday. The debut album of The Nice is really great, too.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Nice tribute to Emerson and Lake. I agree with you about side 1 vs. side 2, although I have to say, I've always been fond of "Bitches Crystal".
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I agree, Divaman. "Bitches Crystal" is a song strongly influenced by jazz and represents a very good song. "The Only Way (Hymn)" and "Infinite Space (Conclusion)" are also good. But the contrast between both sides are too much evident.
Thanks dude for you comment and pos.
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You put a lot of passion into your reviews. Perhaps you could try to review more obscure or unknown albums, you may inspire some users to check them out. I listened to Halloween's Pulsar because of your review, for example
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks Sabrutin. My intention is to do that. Some of my next reviews, in the the middle of January, will be about obscure prog albums. However, as you can imagine I love many great albums, which are all very known, and I must review them. Usually I search a certain balance between know and unknown albums and albums from the classic period with more recent releases.
Thanks, man. I really appreciate your comment. And thanks for the pos.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Song Tarkus is really a collective effort. Punchy and complex thanks to Keith Emerson who is the man, the keyboard wizard, just as much as Rick Wakeman. Emerson masters the organ and keyboards so much, it's unreal. The three members are all delivering in that innovative song. This is a must have album for Tarkus alone, but "Bitches Crystal" returns to the haunting grounds of the t/t. I would also add the songs you mentioned, e21, even if they seem to be taken from a totally different album. Indeed, the second side is not enough ''pumpous'' for the ELP's standards.
Excellent review, e21 dude.
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I think this album is underrated in a sense. The t/t is for sure the highlight, but the rest is really great too. Jeremy Bender is so catchy, the vocals in this album are excellent
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Yeah and they all seem to have big fun to play together... One can feel happiness in the songs. After all, it's kind of their signature (right after being pumpous lol).
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I only know of this band because of Game Grumps, pretty sick album cover
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Haha I know Dan is a Rush fan, and he also said that Operation Mindcrime is one of his favorite albums
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Dan is such a swell dude, I'd love to just sit down and talk music with him haha
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I'm at your disposal lol.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks guys for your comments.
Return to the album, "Tarkus" was my first purchase from ELP, in the distant 70's and is really a pity so many differences between both sides.Side 2 is too much vulgar for the band standards, which a pity. The suite "Tarkus" is a masterpiece.
"Jeremy Bender is so catchy, the vocals in this album are excellent"
I agree. It's a very fun track, like “Are You Ready Eddie”. I'm sure both tracks gave many pleasure to the trio.
By the way, I'm a great fan of Rush too, Dan.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Bitches Crystal ftw
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