The Rhythm King.
For all the great bands that have come and gone over the years, it is more often than not, the vocalist and guitarist who get remembered. Drummers have a difficult time, barely making it to the front of the stage during a band's existence and fading into obscurity after it's death. If you're Carl Palmer however, this is not so.
Having begun working as a drummer at the age of 14, his CV is so impressive that you couldn't have faked it to look as good. Having worked with groups like The Crazy World of Arthur Brown ("I am the God of hellfire...") during their peak, he then went on to join one of the 60s most celebrated supergroups, Emerson, Lake and Palmer (ELP). Even in the wake of ELP's death, Palmer, rather than disappear from the scene, wound up in another huge band, Asia, before eventually reforming ELP.
But this was all years ago and things change. It was during those early ELP days that they recorded much of the material for the two "Works" albums. Volume 1 was a double album on which the artists each had a solo side with the final side left for a full-on ELP finish. Palmer's side wound up being a combination of various influences of his. A chance to really showcase his talents, it included a track with Joe Walsh of Eagles fame and some Big Band numbers.
You can't help but feel that the seed for the Carl Palmer band was sown here. Largely driven by the guitar, this trio perform their own interpretation of various artists including a lot of Emerson, Lake and Palmer. But this is Carl Palmer's band and although it is led by the guitar, those that buy this will be listening out for the drummer.
Consequently this album is a chance for these musicians to demonstrate how adept they are at their instruments. At times the guitar work is precisely orchestrated and executed. It very often reminds me of the work of Bob Fripp from King Crimson. (Hardly surprising when John Wetton was in King Crimson prior to joining Palmer in Asia.) The unfortunate thing is that a lot of the time, the guitar just sounds pretentious. I can't help but think that the album serves as an ego massage for the band.
Definitely one for the hardcore ELP fans out there. I've enjoyed listening to the Carl Palmer Band's live work, especially their rendition of Orff's "Carmina Burana". But for a first time listener, sure you'd be blown away at how consumate a drummer Palmer is. Yet, at the same time, I feel that most people would find this music fussy and esoteric.
An interesting album nonetheless. I'm just afraid that Room Thirteen is perhaps the wrong forum in which it should be listened to.