LIZARD

The third release from King Crimson in the span of 14 months, the third of the band's countless line-ups and the third of their 5 star, knock-it-out-of-the-park prog masterpieces. After "In The Wake Of Poseidon", which drew many parallels to the band's debut, "Lizard" ventures into largely unknown territory, focusing on a seamless fusion of symphonic and jazz-based prog. And it works wonderfully.

Side one features four songs sung by Gordon Haskell, who sang on the lovely "Cadence And Cascade" from "Wake Of Poseidon", that are all among the finest in King Crimson's catalog. Songs like "Cirkus" feature plenty of jazzy saxophone melodies interspersed among neo-classical acoustic guitar and "Indoor Games" takes on a similar vibe as the earlier release, "Cat Food". "Lady Of The Dancing Water" is a brief duet between vocals and acoustic guitar that ends side one and acts as a prelude of sorts to the album's side-long, self-titled epic, "Lizard". The title track continues the fusion of jazz, classical and symphonic textures but perfects it to an art. Some of the band's most beautiful, lyrical woodwind arrangements can be found counteracted by some of the funkiest, most refined heavy jazz soundscapes to be found in prog as well as spectacular vocals by Yes' Jon Anderson in the epic's introduction section.

Many other reviewers warn of this album being one of the more difficult King Crimson albums to get into though I couldn't find that to be less true. "Lizard" is an album that will floor any King Crimson fan (and most prog fans) with very few listens and delivers some of the most beautiful, most creative and most varied output in the band's catalog. Perhaps the second best King Crimson album after their debut and a masterpiece of progressive rock music.