THE POWER TO BELIEVE

Now this is an album I'm glad KC released. In all honesty, this is my favorite album of theirs outside of the Wetton years, with the exception of Lizard. It really is that good. This album confirms one of the most respectable facts about KC: they didn't stagnate. Their career has been marked by innovative trail-blazing and a willingness to grow and change, incorporating and perfectly synthesizing the sounds and styles of contemporary music with their masterful craftsmanship of quality material. With this album, the electronic influences of the early 2000s are flawlessly integrated into their sound palette, and ten years later it does not sound dated in the slightest. That is a truly critical achievement.

Musically speaking, this album still demonstrates that wonderful degree of craftsmanship we have come to expect from and admire about KC. The playing of each member is top notch, and age definitely has not deteriorated their respective skills. The lineup of Fripp, Belew, Mastelotto, and Gunn is one marked by cohesion and focus. We all know that KC changes members as often as insects shed their skin, and along with that comes a new group dynamic with each change. This lineup, however, had already released one album together (two if you count ProjeKct X) a few years ago, and had been in the group working together since the 90s, so they've had plenty of time to cultivate and refine a remarkable chemistry. In no way is this lineup inferior in my mind to any classic KC lineup. Different, yes, but they have talent and chemistry at such a high level that one cannot dismiss without making a misinformed judgment call.

The only downside to this album to me are a few select moments where tracks overstay their welcome just a little, and Belew's vocals are only good on Eyes Wide Open, at least in my opinion. Facts of life has some pretty irritating moments in the sung passages, but Fripp's solo in that song is very interesting, as is the rhythmic interplay between the sections. These issues pop up more than once, but they aren't serious enough to render any track unlistenable, or even inherently bad. Some of the instrumentals on this album are on par with or better than those written in the group's earlier days. That to me speaks volumes for the endless creativity and willingness to push the envelope that characterizes this group.

The Power to Believe is, as the name suggests, a powerful album. Each track is so unique and varied that a wide variety of prog fans can be guaranteed to find something they like on this album. It's an important entry in the group's catalog and should not be ignored. 4 stars, just short of a masterpiece because of a few weak moments, but I promise these moments are few and far between. If this album continues to grow on me and ages as well in the future as it has over the past nearly two years I've had it, the rating could go up. I'm not ruling out the possibility. Don't hesitate to give this one a spin!