USA

The music of Seventies era King Crimson evokes strong mixed feelings to me: I love their melodic Mellotron drenched symphonic rock on ITCOTCK and their propulsive dark climates on Red, but I dislike their jazz and avant-garde elements on many other albums, often too cacophonic for me, Fripp's 'organized chaos' musical theory doesn't appeal to me.

My favorite King Crimson album is the live album USA (from 1975, with 1974 recordings) featuring Robert Fripp, Bill Bruford, John Wetton and David Cross. Guest musician is Eddie Jobson with violin on Larks' Tongues and electric piano on Lament, these are studio overdubs, due to the poor sound quality of David Cross in these tracks.

I was very pleased with the 30th Anniversary Edition in 2002, re-released on Fripp his Discipline Global Mobile label, in a wonderful package with a hardboard cover, a 12-page booklet and 3 bonus tracks.

The music delivers King Crimson at their artistic pinnacle: propulsive, inventive and dynamic drumming from Bill Bruford, agressive and powerful bass work and wonderful, very distinctive vocals from John Wetton, 'chainsaw-like' guitar runs and compelling Melllotron waves from Robert Fripp and beautiful violin play (along keyboards) from David Cross. The one moment the music is mellow with soaring Mellotron, the other moment aggressive or complex featuring amazing interplay and virtuosic soli.

My highlights

Exiles : After a short experimental start a slow slow rhythm follows, with a beautiful blend of moving electric guitar runs, intense Mellotron violins, and melancholical vocals and violin. The sumptuous conclusion features majestic Mellotron, in its full splendor.

Easy Money : First a slow rhythm and a powerful sound, then dreamy with soaring Mellotron violins, and Fripp's distinctive howling electric guitar, turning into the 'chainsaw' sound, very intense that typical King Crimson Mellotron and guitar duet.

21st Century Schizoid Man : A compelling ominous climate, distorted vocals, then a powerful accellaration, with blistering guitar work, powerful drums and a growling bass. Nex a slowdown featuring howling violin, turning into a furious sound and exciting interplay. In the end the Mellotron joins, the music turns into close to cacophonic, but impressive, this is the unique King Crimson sound.

Starless (bonustrack, close to 15 minutes) : First a dreamy start delivering wailing violin, moving Mellotron violins, soon joined by melancholical vocals. Then gradually swelling and ominous with slow but powerful bass runs and twanging electric guitar, shivers down my spine! Halfway a heavy outburst, the music turns into aggressive with howling, often very biting Fripperian guitar, and powerful drum beats from Bruford, one of the most exciting and compelling moments in prog history! The music culminates into a heavy up-tempo with blistering guitar (replacing Mel Collins his saxophone on the studio LP) and a furious rhythm-section, trademark King Crimson. In the end Mellotron violins join the bombastic atmosphere, goose bumps!

Despite some moments that are not my cup of tea (avant garde/experimental) I consider this album (especially the reissue) as a masterpiece, with King Crimson at its artistic peak, delivering that unique blend of dreamy Mellotron soaken parts and a powerful sound with a dark and agressive undertone.

Share this KING CRIMSON review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to TenYearsAfter
• Report this review (#3026856)
• Buy KING CRIMSON music online with PA partners
• Show all KING CRIMSON MP3/Stream
• Go to KING CRIMSON page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to USA page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for KING CRIMSON related discussions