DISCIPLINE

I really think that disbanding on a high note was a genius move by Robert Fripp. Yes, we might have missed out on a few more masterpieces but it certainly makes us appreciate the earlier material even more!

As for the decision of naming the band King Crimson, even though it was originally suppose to be Discipline, I'm pretty certain about my opinion on the issue. For once, I wouldn't be doing this review streak without the King Crimson name backing up this and the next few releases. It's also not certain that the band would call themselves King Crimson in the '90s without doing so in the '80s so there is a definite appeal there. Plus the band clearly went out of their way to create the Larks' Tongues In Aspic quadrilogy in order to link all of the eras of the band's development.

Now that we've got the obligatory defense speech out of the way, let's talk about the album! Discipline must have shocked the anticipating King Crimson fans since this incarnation of the band had no intension of indulging the listeners in a single moment of nostalgia. The sound is much more technical with Bruford and Levin creating a rhythmical force that never previously existed in King Crimson. The biggest change thought had to do with the addition of Adrian Belew as the band's vocalist/guitarist which must have be very surprising since Fripp never previously allowed anyone else to take on guitar duties in King Crimson. These new additions can roughly explain why the music is so vastly different from anything that we've heard before. It manages to be rhythmical and technical while keeping the listener on the edge of ones seat for the entire duration of the album.

Discipline is another one of the complete album experience types of records so I'll restrain myself from any sort of track-by-track description. All you need to know is that this is not the King Crimson that you've heard in the '70s but that doesn't necessarily makes Discipline a lesser album. Personally, I happen to rate it on the same level as Larks' Tongues In Aspic and Lizard, so just give it a shot and be open-minded about it!

***** star songs: Elephant Talk (4:41) Frame By Frame (5:08) Indiscipline (4:32)

**** star songs: Matte Kudasai (3:45) Thela Hun Ginjeet (6:25) The Sheltering Sky (8:22) Discipline (5:02)