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Great album, around a 90% - Easily an = to Yes' 90125

Padraic | East Lansing, MI | 03/21/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Love this record .. Keith Emerson shows why he is one of the best in the world, his keyboards are masterful ... Good strong drum sound, solid production, though Greg's voice is too effects laden. The delay on his voice works on "The Score", that is a power song ... Greg sings awesome on this album; I for one like to hear a guy with a deep voice belt it out, which he does in "The Score" and "Miracle" ... I think they EQ'd his voice, a bit, but anyway a strong peformance (unlike his earlier live showing fronting Asia, in 12/1983 at the Japan Budokan concert). It's almost as though by 1985 he sorta knew how his Budokan Asia showing was taken, by the Asia fans, and here he's like ""Hey, that wasn't me - I can SING - just like on ELP Works 1 & 2 and on my '81 solo record. Have a listen"". Cozy Powell does a great job here in Carl Palmer's stead ... Someone on here said this record doesn't touch their early '70s output creatively ... I'd have to say they were living in the early 70s, still, when this came out in 1986. That's a nonsensical comment. Anyway I'm sure it was a nice slice of feel good-ism for Greg, in particular ... as Asia's previous single, "Go" never quite caught on, and ELPowell had a charting hit with "Touch and Go". {Is it as good of a song as "Go"? Nowhere close, and it's not even an original song, musically ... nevertheless} ..... For me this easily competes with Yes 90125, on the progressive/rock/pop level, though the Yes record was the bigger record. "Vacant Possession", which wasn't on the original release - is a great track with a good lyric, and some nice acoustic guitar in it, underneath the keyboards. The instrumental version of "Locomotion" is beyond ridiculous and unnecessary. But those of you who are dismissive of "Vacant Possession", because it's an add-on bonus track, give it a second listen. ELPowell - 1 record, and that was it. If you haven't heard it grab it, if ya have it love it. I don't think Greg could belt out the high G in "The Score" consistently, today (since in the 2006 live DVD I have he sings "Touch and Go" like 4 keys down) ... but he could in '86, and the disc sounds great cranked on my Infinity car system"