HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE TO BE HAPPY WITH

Before KING CRIMSON released "The Power To Believe" in 2003 they first released the live EP "Level Five" in 2001 and then this EP "Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With" in 2002.These two EPs certainly gave us a clear idea as to what the studio album would be like.

"Bude" is a short processed vocal piece before we are hammered by the title track.This kicks in hard and heavy but it's all about the vocals on the chorus. Killer tune. It ends sounding like the opening track.

"Mie Gakure" is a spacey and dreamy soundscape. "She Shudders" is another short processed vocal piece before the beautiful "Eyes Wide Open" song comes in. Love this tune.

"Shoganai" has these intricate percussion-like sounds throughout. "I Ran" is another short processed vocal piece. "Potato Pie" has a good heavy sound to it.This turns bluesy when the vocals arrive around a minute. Fripp solos before 3 1/2 minutes.

"Larks' Tongues In Aspic (Part IV)" is a monster and the highlight of this album for me. It's like a runaway train. Check out the insanity after 4 minutes then Fripp rips it up 7 minutes in. "Clouds" ends it with those processed vocals to start then we get some interesting intrumental and vocal sections the rest of the way. Funny stuff.

An easy 4 stars for me but then again I think "The Power To Believe" is a five star album.