(Prog-Rock) King Crimson - Discipline

Jigglypuff · 11-19-2003, 05:15 PM

Quite possibly the best prog-rock album of the 80's, King Crimson's Discipline is an often-overlooked gem. The first of many "comeback" albums, this album was by the new lineup of Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, and Bill Bruford. This talented group took up the King Crimson name after a seven-year absence from Fripp (who claimed "King Crimson is over for ever and ever" after the posthumous album Red).

This new lineup contained only two members of the 70's group - Fripp and Bruford are joined by session ace Levin and frontman Adrian Belew (fresh out of stints with the Talking Heads and Frank Zappa). As much as bassist John Wetton and multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald are missed, the formidable skills of this incarnation more than make up for them.

A brief track-by-track review:

"Elephant Talk":

A quirky, fun tune with great solos courtesy of Fripp. The band has an indeniable chemistry, and Belew's unique gift with words adds a lot to the music.

"Frame By Frame":

This fan favourite was one of the few KC tracks to ever recieve radioplay, and has one of Levin's baddest basslines. The interlocking guitar arpeggios are compelling and classy.

"Matte Kudasai":

A mellower, bluesy track with lap steel guitars and some of Belew's best vocals. Another unmistakable solo with that trademark Frippian tone.

"Indiscipline":

The heaviest track on the album; opening with a blinding drum solo and crushing metal riffs interspersed by hilarious spoken word.

"Thela Hun Ginjeet":

One of the few rock songs to be truly described as "funky". Complex guitar rhythms weave in and out of each other while Belew narrates an amusing event in the making of the album. More great Chapman Stick from one of rock's most melodic players.

"The Sheltering Sky":

This beautiful instrumental was the culimination of Fripp's innovative Frippertronics effects system. Fripp and Belew complement each other perfectly thoughout the album, but nowhere as sublimely as this song. The two guitarists improvise, trading solos, single-note lines, and chords over African percussion, understated bassy drones, and a guitar rhythm. The overall effect is a surreal, exotic soundscape of epic proportions.

"Discipline":

The album ends on a light note with this fun exercise in minimalism and metric modulation. Bass, drums, and guitars move in and out of phase with each other, creating interesting melodic statements.

Personnel:

Adrian Belew: Guitar, Elephantosity
Robert Fripp: Guitars and Devices
Tony Levin: Bass, Stick, Support Vocal
Bill Bruford: Batterie

Arguebly King Crimson's finest album, which sounds remarkably fresh and modern today (especially for an 80's album). Pick it up the first chance you can!

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Kaden · 11-19-2003, 05:23 PM

I've been wanting to get into KC...would you reccomend this as a good starting place?

Jigglypuff · 11-19-2003, 05:28 PM

Yes I would, definitely. It's one of KC's more accessable albums, but it's still great. Get it for sure.

11-19-2003, 06:07 PM

I'd like to see a review of KCs newest album if you are up to it. Good review by the way.

Jigglypuff · 11-20-2003, 04:36 PM

Thank you, and yes I will do a review of The Power To Believe soon when I have the time.

***Zappa*** · 11-20-2003, 05:23 PM

Everything he says is true. This album is tied with "Close to the Edge" by Yes as the best progressive rock album of all time.

Jigglypuff · 11-20-2003, 06:50 PM

Thank you too Zappa...although I might put some Pink Floyd albums on there too. Anything from 1973-77.

BirdsOfFires · 12-13-2003, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zappa
Everything he says is true. This album is tied with "Close to the Edge" by Yes as the best progressive rock album of all time.

I agree. Very Very Very Good. I'm, as of now, more into KC's earlier stuff, but this is still great.

manuscriptreplica · 12-13-2003, 02:57 AM

yeah - its a great CD and a great review, but as for the best prog record, i think the wall is better, but that is just my opinion. my favourite is Matte Kudasai

5/5

Neon Dub · 12-19-2003, 05:25 AM

I have the first 2 King Crimson albums, there really great, too bad Greg Lake did't stick around to sing on the rest of them

such a good voice.

Epitaph is also the greatest song ever written on there first album.

Led_Zep_Bonham · 12-19-2003, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neon Dub

I have the first 2 King Crimson albums, there really great, too bad Greg Lake did't stick around to sing on the rest of them

such a good voice.

Epitaph is also the greatest song ever written on there first album.

Correction: Epitaph is the greatest song ever written . . . ever.

Jigglypuff · 12-19-2003, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Led_Zep_Bonham

Correction: Epitaph is the greatest song ever written . . . ever.

No. Sheltering Sky may just edge it out for the pwn.

12-19-2003, 05:31 PM

could you do a rewiew of beat?

Maveryck · 12-19-2003, 09:41 PM

I've been wanting to get into King Crimson for a while, after hearing about Fripp in various guitar books and such... I might just look into picking this album up (after I've finally got Mit Gas and Deloused in the Crematorium). Great review, very helpful. Thanks

Jigglypuff · 12-19-2003, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maveryck

I've been wanting to get into King Crimson for a while, after hearing about Fripp in various guitar books and such... I might just look into picking this album up (after I've finally got Mit Gas and Deloused in the Crematorium). Great review, very helpful. Thanks

Definetely get this album. Any musician would love to hear the playing on this, and a non-musician could still love it because the songwriting is so good.

And to the above, yes, I'll do a review of Beat and KC's debut album when I have the time.

Neon Dub · 12-20-2003, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Led_Zep_Bonham

Correction: Epitaph is the greatest song ever written . . . ever.

That's what I meant

It really is!

***Zappa*** · 12-20-2003, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maveryck

I've been wanting to get into King Crimson for a while, after hearing about Fripp in various guitar books and such... I might just look into picking this album up (after I've finally got Mit Gas and Deloused in the Crematorium). Great review, very helpful. Thanks

Skip Mit Gas, it sucks.

EddieVanHalen007 · 11-14-2004, 06:40 PM

**** Yes, King Crimson is the best progressive rock band ever.

Omega Red · 12-01-2004, 01:23 AM

I'd have to say after listening to 4 diffrent crimsons albums this is my favorite

Distorted Vision · 12-01-2004, 05:17 AM

Awesome album, I got it a few weeks ago.

Frame By Frame and Matte Kudasai are the best tracks in my opinion. Some of the extended repetition sections get tiresome sometimes though, like in Discipline. But overall, a very good album.

11-19-2003, 05:15 PM	#1
Jigglypuff mx pokemon Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Mount Moon Posts: 642	(Prog-Rock) King Crimson - Discipline Quite possibly the best prog-rock album of the 80's, King Crimson's Discipline is an often-overlooked gem. The first of many "comeback" albums, this album was by the new lineup of Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, and Bill Bruford. This talented group took up the King Crimson name after a seven-year absence from Fripp (who claimed "King Crimson is over for ever and ever" after the posthumous album Red). This new lineup contained only two members of the 70's group - Fripp and Bruford are joined by session ace Levin and frontman Adrian Belew (fresh out of stints with the Talking Heads and Frank Zappa). As much as bassist John Wetton and multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald are missed, the formidable skills of this incarnation more than make up for them. A brief track-by-track review: "Elephant Talk": A quirky, fun tune with great solos courtesy of Fripp. The band has an indeniable chemistry, and Belew's unique gift with words adds a lot to the music. "Frame By Frame": This fan favourite was one of the few KC tracks to ever recieve radioplay, and has one of Levin's baddest basslines. The interlocking guitar arpeggios are compelling and classy. "Matte Kudasai": A mellower, bluesy track with lap steel guitars and some of Belew's best vocals. Another unmistakable solo with that trademark Frippian tone. "Indiscipline": The heaviest track on the album; opening with a blinding drum solo and crushing metal riffs interspersed by hilarious spoken word. "Thela Hun Ginjeet": One of the few rock songs to be truly described as "funky". Complex guitar rhythms weave in and out of each other while Belew narrates an amusing event in the making of the album. More great Chapman Stick from one of rock's most melodic players. "The Sheltering Sky": This beautiful instrumental was the culimination of Fripp's innovative Frippertronics effects system. Fripp and Belew complement each other perfectly thoughout the album, but nowhere as sublimely as this song. The two guitarists improvise, trading solos, single-note lines, and chords over African percussion, understated bassy drones, and a guitar rhythm. The overall effect is a surreal, exotic soundscape of epic proportions. "Discipline": The album ends on a light note with this fun exercise in minimalism and metric modulation. Bass, drums, and guitars move in and out of phase with each other, creating interesting melodic statements. Personnel: Adrian Belew: Guitar, Elephantosity Robert Fripp: Guitars and Devices Tony Levin: Bass, Stick, Support Vocal Bill Bruford: Batterie Arguebly King Crimson's finest album, which sounds remarkably fresh and modern today (especially for an 80's album). Pick it up the first chance you can! Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Last edited by Jigglypuff; 01-23-2004 at 04:11 PM.

11-20-2003, 05:23 PM	#6
*Zappa* Tatiana Ali! Supermod Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Alongside Posts: 9,992	Everything he says is true. This album is tied with "Close to the Edge" by Yes as the best progressive rock album of all time. __________________ "The present-day composer refuses to die"— Edgar Varèse "I don't want to sell my music. I'd like give it away because where I got it, you didn't have to pay for it"—Captain Beefheart Golden rule for music: "if it sounds good to you, it's bitchen. If it sounds bad to you, it's sh[i][/i]itty."—Frank Zappa

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11-19-2003, 05:23 PM	#2
Kaden Little Nancy Callahan Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 8,550	I've been wanting to get into KC...would you reccomend this as a good starting place?

11-19-2003, 05:28 PM	#3
Jigglypuff mx pokemon Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Mount Moon Posts: 642	Yes I would, definitely. It's one of KC's more accessable albums, but it's still great. Get it for sure.

11-19-2003, 06:07 PM	#4
GraveCross Guest Posts: n/a	I'd like to see a review of KCs newest album if you are up to it. Good review by the way.

11-20-2003, 04:36 PM	#5
Jigglypuff mx pokemon Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Mount Moon Posts: 642	Thank you, and yes I will do a review of The Power To Believe soon when I have the time.

11-20-2003, 06:50 PM	#7
Jigglypuff mx pokemon Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Mount Moon Posts: 642	Thank you too Zappa...although I might put some Pink Floyd albums on there too. Anything from 1973-77.

12-13-2003, 02:57 AM	#9
manuscriptreplica Chef's Knife Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: 45 mins ago I was just a strummer. Now I feel like Clapton. No Joke Posts: 7,794	yeah - its a great CD and a great review, but as for the best prog record, i think the wall is better, but that is just my opinion. my favourite is Matte Kudasai 5/5

12-19-2003, 05:25 AM	#10
Neon Dub Who Rocks The Party? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: UK Posts: 275	I have the first 2 King Crimson albums, there really great, too bad Greg Lake did't stick around to sing on the rest of them such a good voice. Epitaph is also the greatest song ever written on there first album.

12-19-2003, 05:31 PM	#13
cytoplasmicblob Guest Posts: n/a	could you do a rewiew of beat?

12-19-2003, 09:41 PM	#14
Maveryck Sith happens. Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 13,929	I've been wanting to get into King Crimson for a while, after hearing about Fripp in various guitar books and such... I might just look into picking this album up (after I've finally got Mit Gas and Deloused in the Crematorium). Great review, very helpful. Thanks

11-14-2004, 06:40 PM	#18
EddieVanHalen007 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 158	**** Yes, King Crimson is the best progressive rock band ever.

12-01-2004, 01:23 AM	#19
Omega Red Omega Distoryer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Boston/San Diego Posts: 11,206	I'd have to say after listening to 4 diffrent crimsons albums this is my favorite

12-01-2004, 05:17 AM	#20
Distorted Vision Synchestra Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Bristol Posts: 4,853	Awesome album, I got it a few weeks ago. Frame By Frame and Matte Kudasai are the best tracks in my opinion. Some of the extended repetition sections get tiresome sometimes though, like in Discipline. But overall, a very good album.