RED

Lets face it people... This album is the weakest of the Larks/Starless/Red line up. Of course, it was hard to follow up the sheer schizophrenic music displayed on the previous two albums. Both albums had provided the avid listeners with a whole new methodology to the Crimson music. But Red did not and does not continue this new methodology. The experimental edge was gone, and what was provided was a half hearted effort to keep the listeners listening. This is the album where I switch off.

Gone are the truly eccentric time signatures, the complex layer upon layer of sounds. King Crimson had been reduced to three members and the music shows it. The hard edged guitar riffs are not characteristic of Fripp and his guitar playing is effortless (in the negative context). He doesn't sound in any way interested in what he is playing. The bass is over-fuzzed to the extent that the basslines sound sloppy. And Bill Brufford obviously wanted to call it a day, having only properly displayed his excellent skills on "One More Red Nightmare". Worst of all is the phaser effects that were added to the music. It doesn't add anything and it definitely doesn't settle well, considering the ideas that the band were incorporating previously. Good music is not based on the effects that are added, but the riffs that are generated and written to challenge the listener. I like music that challenges me and this album does not challenge me in the slightest.

Look back on the King Crimson discography: 1. In The Court of the Crimson King, 2. In The Wake of Poseidon, 3. Lizard, 4. Islands, 5. Larks Tongue in Aspic, 6. Starless and Bible Black, 7. Red...

This album falls into the same category as "In The Wake of Poseidon" and "Islands"... Music that could be generated by any band, with no clearly inspired style or substance. Every band is allowed their downfalls and it appears that this album was one downfall too many. King Crimson disbanded for their own good, and I am left with the memory of their classic albums: "In The Court of the Crimson King", "Lizard", "Larks Tongue in Aspic" and "Starless and Bible Black". Those were the days when Crimson were dancing to a different beat and standing out as a force to be reckoned with. Yes, they weren't popular. But, they were musicians writing the music THEY wanted to write and recording the music THEY wanted to record. There was no pressure because they could be who they wanted to be. But their need for recogniting obviously got too strong a hold over their music. Thankfully, Crimson returned in 1981 with a whole new sound and were once again dancing to a different beat.

In conclusion, this album should be listened to last, in order to avoid disappointment. Collect it if you must have them all (much like myself), but do not expect to be stunned.