Customer Reviews

Brain Salad Surgery

5 star:		(120)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I've always wondered about the critics who panned ELP. The standard counter-argument is to say that most critics are just frustrated musicians who are simply envious of ELP's virtuosity. If that's true, then it explains why BSS is among the most vilified albums of the prog rock movement. This album is a dark and aggressive musical adventure that's aged exceptionally well. Jerusalem still gives me goose bumps, after many dozens of listens. Still...You Turn Me On is perhaps the most mysterious and haunting love song I've ever heard. And the Karn Evil 9 suite is an eclectic masterpiece that starts off with a bluesy organ riff and rocks into the familiar "Welcome Back My Friends..." -- the 1st Impression is an unbelievable musical blitzkrieg. The jazzy and deft 2nd Impression is stylistically very different -- I don't know how ELP pulled off this juxtaposition, but it works. The 3rd Impression is a computers-run-amok sci-fi extravaganza. One is left with the Impression that Keith's Hammond, Steinway, and Moog were literally smoking by the conclusion. With apologies to the true ELP faithful, I don't think ELP ever came close to the power and glory of BSS ever again, collectively or individually, with the exception of the fantastic reading of Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man on Works I. BSS is a must-own for true prog rock fans.

It's not as much about being the best ELP album than being the most perfect realization they did still with the fire of their golden age. Later albums have lots of matured ideas, maybe more than here, but the lacerating sound was being changed into a truly epic nobility, another moment of ELP's history. I can't think another album in rock history more related to the idea of art rock and conceptual album than this. H. R. Giger's artwork is ELP's music in image - one of those happy coincidences when artists interact. There's metal, bones, flesh and eternity in vision as in the refining agressive music.

"Jerusalem" was rejected as single, probably because of conservative reasons. One may think it's contradictory such a sharp-pointed rendition of a Hymn. What you hear sounds more ELP than Parry/Blake, but there's no disrespect, only succeeded appropriating. Ginastera's "Toccata" is an example of the greatest honor a musical arrangement can get: the admiration of the composer. The immortally respected argentinean composer Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) once said "Keith Emerson has beautifully caught the mood of my piece". It's possible to understand better the original version of Ginastera's fourth movement of the first piano concerto after hearing BSS. "Still.... You Turn Me On" is from "Lucky man" lineage, as "Benny the Bouncer" from "The Sheriff". "Still...." is one of Lake's most beautiful compositions, perhaps the only really serene moment of the entire album, few seconds after the "Toccata" nightmare. "Benny", on the other hand, is the humored scene of BSS, the rest of it has an eventually subtle sarcasm, in a most of time heavy atmosphere. After this song, you have less than four seconds to tight your belt, the next song is "Karn Evil 9"(the name comes for carnival). No matter how good are the first four pieces of the album, still, you got the feeling that the real message of BSS is inside "Karn Evil 9". This is the best ELP contribuition, not better than Emerson's Concerto or "Pirates", but more "Elpian".

The first impression of "Karn Evil 9" is a long tense increasing in its first part, violent hammond sounds, syncopated rhythms and a very wise impressing appearance of new motifs almost without notice - a skilful dealing with larger forms, culminating in a plain and somehow lighter guitar solo, but the tensions increase again and the plain turns into climax. The following second part is what usually ELP played onstage after the 1973-4 tour, it's a pitty they hadn't played "Karn Evil 9" entirely more times. It's a kind of stabilized version of the of first part' second half, within a more rock format. On the vinyl, one had to turn to B side to hear the first impression' second part, with a fade out on the end of A side and a fade in at the beginning of B side. The first release on CD (Atlantic) kept this effect, though it may have some point for collectors, its terrible keeping this limitation musically speaking. Nowaday's CD versions present first and second parts of first impression perfectly continuous, a dream for ELP fans.

The second impression has probably the most daring musical textures in ELP, a jazz fusion feature, and a sensuous caribbean accent sometimes, the lips of the cover. Basically, you find this rock band changing into a powerful jazz piano trio.

The third impression is the most melodic part of the piece, with a folk-song like theme, but paradoxically with very provocating lyrics (with Pete's Sinfield contribution) and technology decry. But again the edged rhythms, sounds and harmonies come and you realize that it was just a typical break of ELP's world, inside their own world. So those breaks are their very style.

It is almost comical to know that critics once criticized ELP because of technology abuse and at same time an elephantine dealing with classical tradition. Although this is the first band to play alive with synthesizers in history, mostly they never substituted acoustical instruments with synth replicas - they used synths for original sounds, not for imitating. They never used sequencers for playing faster, only for special effects (like the end of Karn Evil 9). On the other hand, their classical and jazz influence never had arguments with their rock side, and that's probably the great accomplishment of Progressive Rock.

It's very interesting to know through the bonus track "The making of BBS" that Emerson knew "Tocatta" because of brazilian pianist Joćo Carlos Martins, still in The Nice era. Palmer's thoughts about Giger tell a lot about their artistic relation: "it's a pitty he doesn't play instrument, he could be in the band" Also, Lake's vision about studio albums defines ELP: studio albums should be a promise of what the band can do alive. Good point, as ELP is even better onstage....

Whilst I agree with our friend in Las Vegas, that the classification of this item as a DVD is somewhat confusing, I think the problem is confusion of what DVD-Audio really is!

There is video, but ironically, it is not accessilbe from a DVD-Video Player, rather you require a DVD-Audio player.

The irony is that the DVD-V player can access the Audio tracks, but not the Video, as the Video track is not in the conventional DVD-V format. A DVD-Audio player is required to see the Video!

I do not have a DVD-A player, but enjoyed the 5.1 mix of this classic album to the full!

My dog, who was in the room at the time, did not enjoy it quite as much! The precise and realistic placement of moog whistles flying around my sound room was too much for him and he kept turning to locate the source of the sounds! He far prefers plain stereo!

The bass on "Still.... You Turn Me On" has always been impressive (I have 2 CD versions [original and remaster]) but with the DD5.1 mix, it is more controlled and actually less overpowering.

I hope to add an Active Sub soon, but in the interim, directing bass at my LF, RF, LS and RS [all B&W 602 series 2] seems to be more than sufficient to create a real rumble.

Karn Evil 9 is just brilliant!

For comparison with a more traditional interpretation of Toccata (and Fugue in D Minor), get the Fantasia DVD:

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but Keith Emerson's work is still superb.

Yes, I'd like to see the video too, but plan to wait and see if DVD-A as a format actually takes off before comitting to more equipment!

After hearing this in album and cd form over 1,000 times I really did not expect any suprises. Boy was I wrong.20 seconds into the first song the hair on the back of my neck was standing up.Every instrument is much more defined,cleaner sounding and realistic. My only complaint on the remix is Carl Palmers aggressive timpini solo on Toccata the volume is to low.Other than that it`s perfect. Well thought out with great effects but not over done. It sounds like they re-recorded Greg Lakes voice for the first 45 seconds or so of Jerusalem.Why? I have no idea but it sounds great. I listened to this with a standard DVD player in 5.1 surrond sound. What it sounds like on the new DVD audio players I have no idea.Also I could not play the video part of the disk with my standard DVD player.Still this disk is worth twice the money you pay for it. If you allready own it on cd buy again in this format. I promiss you will not be dissapointed.

Brain Salad Surgery...WOW, what can I say... upon first listening to this album as a teenager in the 1980's, my first impression was "My God What Was that! " I was simply astounded and almost shell shocked. It took me a few listens to really digest what I had heard. H.R. Giger's spellbinding album cover really sets the tone for the music.

BSS probably represents ELP at their pinnacle. The music is big, bold, larger than life and unlike anything they had done up to that point. ELP's music may not sound like your usual Rock and Roll but the essence of it is very much alive.

Toccata is a instrumental assault on the ears filled with array of synthisizer effects and rolling drums. Jerusalem is a soaring anthem, Still You Turn Me On is a lush, mysterious and incredibly melodic ballad from singer Greg Lake.

Benny The Bouncer is a raucous and offbeat song with Greg Lake singing about a very unlucky pub bouncer. Keith and Carl join in playing in a fun jazzy groove.

Karn Evil 9 is truly a masterpiece. Keith Emerson's complex and diverse keyboard work and musical vision sets out on a bold voyage here. Carl Palmer's drumming is a marathon in itself. This epic song is essentially about a technology apocolypse. 1st impression part 2 is a classic rock staple and most deservingly so. A glorious fusion of heavy metal, jazz and rock. 2nd impression is a overwhelming instrumental section and the 3rd impression brings the album to a explosive and dizzying conclusion.

The new editon released by Rhino Records features a very cool holograpic CD cover and an very insightful audio track and liner notes on the making of this classic ground-breaking album of the 1970's

After reading most of the reviews posted by other listeners (or fans, maybe...) I decided to post my own. Please bear with me.

I first heard this album when I was 9 years old or so. I was introduced to all sorts of new and strange music by my older brother and the older brothers of my friends. I noticed immediately that this album wasn't anything like what I would hear on the radio at the time. Bands like King Crimson, whose works up to their reformation - or reconstruction - were great (with 'Starless And Bible Black', 'Larks' Tongues In Aspic', and 'Red', not to mention 'U.S.A.', a live album, being their best work), Pink Floyd (pre Barrett, of course - I only got into him later, and now he is probably my all time favourite), and even Genesis, were becoming staples in my musical diet at the time, but nothing was as wierd as 'Brain Salad Surgery'. Incidentally, I had the good fortune of seeing them live in Toronto in 1976 or 77, around the time of 'Works'. Unfortunately, it was the first night that they had to drop the 72 piece orchestra that they had been touring with, but it was still an amazing performance, and an incredible barrage of sound.

I can understand why some people tend to analyse the tracks on ELP's BSS - they are all complex compositions, and meaningful in different ways to different people - but to me, the album is just one fantastic mind warp, one beautiful memory of a time that will never come again, one that takes me back to the hot summer days spent lying on my bed listening to BSS over and over and being constantly in awe of the barrage-slow crawl-build up-barrage-intensity-total destruction approach the album took - something I had never heard, or noticed, before. When I listen to it now, I get the same feeling (admittedly, I would leave out 'Benny...'). I think that, what I'm trying to say is, listen to this album like someone discovering something new. It may stay with you forever, like it has for me.

In their true spirit of being innovative ELP has done in again. On their debut album titled Emerson Lake & Palmer (1970) the song "Lucky Man" was truly the first hit song to utilize the Moog synthesizer. Then in 1977 they were one of the first Rock bands to tour with a complete orchestra and performing in Quad. On the first release of CD's to America, there they were again, the first to the digital domain. Now the first to DVD-Audio and what a great piece for this new format. I cannot believe after listening to "Brain Salad Surgery" so many times and for so many years how many sounds I had missed. This new format is great and ELP's music is a perfect way to experience it. Way to go guys and I look forward to the rest of it soon!

Even though I already own the original CD release of Brain Salad Surgery from 1986 (which follows the original vinyl album very closely), as an ardent fan of ELP since 1972 I decided that I would like to have this Rhino re-issue as part of my collection. On listening I was flabbergasted to hear that the whole sound of the album had been changed, most notably on Toccata and Karn Evil 9. It seems as though the people responsible for the re-mastering thought that Keith Emerson's keyboards should be brought even more to the fore, and that Greg Lake's bass guitar and Carl Palmer's drums were annoyances that should be subdued as much as possible. This may make no difference to someone hearing the album for the first time, but to someone who knows the album inside out it was a huge dissapointment. It's very annoying when listening to an album and you are humming a bass riff that can't be heard from the loudspeakers. So, what should have been five stars has to be only three.

I've been a fan of ELP since I first heard Tarkus in the early '70s. Saber rattling, aggressive, over the top rock-n-roll. ELP was at the forefront of progressive rock, blending classical, jazz and rock in a frantic keyboard driven fusion. ELP's music is more complex than any other rock band I am aware of. ELP was not only complex in the scope of the music, but often used complex 5/4 and 7/4 time signatures, which only jazz great Dave Brubeck and classical composers would dare use. They are as dark as Pink Floyd could ever be and just a touch more complex and grand in scope than the best work by Yes. And they manage to make this amazing music, which at times has the scope and feel of a whole symphony, with only three musicians and without any overdubs.

Brain Salad Surgery is, in my opinion, a bit more commercial sounding and formulaic than ELP's first four albums; however, it is arguably their best album. The highlights of the album are the three "impressions" of "Karn Evil 9" and "Tocotta," an adaptation of Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera's 1st Piano Concerto. The dark influence of Peter Sinfield's is apparent in "Karn Evil 9." (Sinfield was given credit for "words and illumination" on King Chrimson's album "In the Court of the Chrimson King.") "Tocotta" is a tour-de-force both for Emerson and for Karl Palmer, whose lightning fast drum solo is used to key synthesizers. On the DVD-Audio version, they also throw in Lucky Man from the first ELP album.

If you own the album, you should still buy this DVD because of the sound quality. I have the album on black vinyl (for those who remember playing LPs on turntables) and CD and very simply, this blows both out of the water. Everything is just so clean sounding. The grumble and edge in Greg Lake's voice appears. The synthesizers are crystal sharp, and the drums jump out. If you are an ELP fan with a DVD player and fair surround system, buy it.

In 1973 I bought this albumn and hear it for the first time in a small record player with a small single speaker and I was amazed by this kind of sound, years latter I bought it in cassete and again I was amazed by the sound in my car stereo.
Almost 30 years latter (29 to be exact) I bought this album in DVD audio and again I'm overpowered by the sound, I heard sounds and textures that I never heard in previous versions, of course it helps that the new set up is Dolby 5.1 compliant and the player is DVD-Audio. If you have the components, please don't restraint yourself of this wonderful sound. I close my eyes and almost can touch Emerson, and I heard Palmer just behind me and Lake was to my right. I recomend this version to any hard core progressive rock fan