Search - Various Artists :: Encores Legends & Paradox: Tribute to Elp

A wonderful (and timely!) tribute to a classic group!

Eric Scott | Loma Linda, California, USA | 04/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is wonderfully ironic that, at a time when the members of the progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer have decided that they are unable to work together -- again -- an assorted group of progressive rock musicians opt to release a tribute album to the band. Despite the irony, "Encores, Legends and Paradox" is a great CD, an assortment of exciting and powerful new renderings of classic ELP tunes. The focus of the CD is the harder, guttier edge of ELP, so fans of Greg Lake's ballads may find little to interest them. But the performances by classic progressive rock musicians Peter Banks, Martin Barre, Geoff Downes and John Wetton, as well as (relative) new kids on the block Robert Berry, Trent Gardner and Derek Sherinian, make this CD a must for any true ELP fan. The CD features dazzling instrumental work on numbers like "Toccata," "Hoedown" (with the highly appropriate and Copeland-esque addition of Jerry Goodman's violin) and especially "The Barbarian." The quirky "The Sheriff," a favorite ELP honky-tonk showpiece, has been delightfully transformed into a biting rock number. On the down side, some tracks -- particularly "Bitches Crystal" and "A Time and a Place" -- veer into overly-electronicized "techno-rock" and shy away from the gutsy, primal earthiness that anchored ELP's early works, got lost during the "Works" - "Love Beach" years, and dramatically reappeared in time for the band's "Black Moon" CD in '92. (Part of this might simply be the lack of Keith Emerson himself, who throughout his career has striven for an organic growl rather than a synthetic whine from his varied keyboard ensembles.) Despite this minor complaint, "Encores, Legends and Paradox" is an exciting, handsomely-packaged release ... and a fitting tribute to the greatness that was ELP. If we are to be denied new songs and new CDs from this classic band, perhaps the best we can hope for is a CD like "Encores, Legends and Paradox" with its fresh new takes on some of our old favorites."

I'm sorry, but I LOVE it!

Richard B. Gray | Dallas, TX United States | 02/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a devote ELP fan since I first dropped `cid back in 1971. I love this CD and found the renditions close enough to the originals (I hate remixes and such) yet different enough to add variety. The Levelord highly recommends!"

You Can't Believe This Album!

Christos | Sacramento CA | 04/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a hugh fan of ELP and this album takes their music to another plane - 2000 technology. It's better that the original. Thanks to magna carta for reawakening my desire in the techno Classical/Rock Fusion genre."