Elp Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2

Okay, let's dive back into the wild world of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Last time, we tackled Part 1 of Karn Evil 9. Now, brace yourselves for Part 2. Because things are about to get... interesting.

Round Two: Fight! (With Synthesisers)

Part 2 kicks off with this weird, almost robotic narration. It's like a robot trying to read poetry. Or maybe a Dalek trying to be romantic? Either way, it's a choice.

Then comes the crazy keyboard solo. Keith Emerson is clearly having a blast. I'm not sure I am, though. Is this music, or a machine breaking down gracefully?

The Voice of Madness

And that voice! It's all distorted and processed. It's meant to sound futuristic, I guess. But it mostly sounds like my toaster is giving me cryptic instructions.

Is it supposed to be profound? Maybe. Is it actually profound? Debatable. Is it memorable? Definitely... for all the wrong reasons.

Don't get me wrong, I respect the ambition. ELP were never ones to shy away from the bizarre. But this section... it's a tough listen.

Welcome Back, Greg Lake! (Sort Of)

Okay, Greg Lake's vocals finally make an appearance! Hallelujah! A familiar voice in this electronic wilderness.

But wait... his vocals are also kind of distorted! Why, ELP, why? Did you run out of regular effects to use?

He's singing about a brave new world. Full of computers and strange things. Sounds exciting! If you like that sort of thing.

A Brief Respite?

The music softens a bit here. There's a slightly calmer section. It's like taking a breath before plunging back into the chaos.

It's... pretty! For about 30 seconds. Then the synths attack again. Resistance is futile.

Seriously, Keith Emerson must have had a field day with his toys. I bet his studio looked like a spaceship control panel.

The Grand Finale (Of Sorts)

The music builds and builds. It's epic! Dramatic! Over the top! It's ELP at their most ELP-y.

And then... it just sort of fades out. No big ending. No satisfying resolution. Just... done. Did I miss something?

It’s like they ran out of ideas halfway through. Or maybe they just got bored. I can relate, honestly.

My Unpopular Opinion (Probably)

Look, I know Karn Evil 9 is considered a masterpiece. By some people. And I appreciate the skill and musicianship involved.

But Part 2? It's a bit much, even for me. All that electronic noise and distorted vocals? My ears need a vacation after that.

Maybe I just don't get it. Maybe I'm not enlightened enough. Or maybe, just maybe, it's okay to admit that some "masterpieces" are a little bit... weird. And not in a good way.

So, there you have it. My unfiltered thoughts on Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression - Part 2. Feel free to disagree. Just don't send the robots after me.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go listen to some relaxing acoustic music. Something without any synthesizers. Or cryptic robot voices. My sanity depends on it.

Thanks for reading! Until next time, keep prog-ing... or not. It's your choice!