ABSENT LOVERS - LIVE IN MONTREAL, 1984

What can I say that hasn't already been said? This album dispels any doubt that the 81-84 lineup accurately carried on the Crimson legacy. I'd say it's one of the finest live albums currently available by the band from any lineup. When you think of studio albums you think of "polish" and when you think of live albums you think of "raw energy." But Absent Lovers has both, all the raw energy of a live album, but all the polish of a studio album, both in that it was well-recorded, and performed with great precision. With most bands (and even some earlier Crimson lineups) there is the occasional off-key note here and there, but I can't really identify any clams on this disc, and Adrian Belew's voice sounds great.

They play the big "hits" from the 81-84 era and really do them justice, but I love that they also play some of the "weird stuff" as Adrian Belew refers to, such as "Industry" and "Dig Me." Also, the only pre-81 tracks on here "Red" and "Larks Tongues in Aspic" are totally menacing, which works to dispel any notion that this lineup is the most pop-oriented Crimson lineup. I personally love the rendition of "Disclipline" here, which is clearly a very complex piece of music played perfectly, but also with a little bit of a bounce that is missing from the studio version. Essential stuff.