EARTHBOUND

Let's face the facts: there is no use in complaining about the sound quality (which is really awful, as the other reviwers pointed). Mr. Fripp refused to release "Earthbound" on CD for years, and when he finally did it, he decided to keep the original sound. But what we have here is a little gem, showing us that this particular line-up, although isn't up to the standards of the classical Fripp/Lake/Giles/McDonald or Fripp/Bruford/Cross/Wetton, could do a decent job on stage. If you are a Crimhead, buy this one and enjoy your trip; if you're not, forget this album; if you are an occasional fan, go to Crimson's Collector Club and buy "Ladies of the Road: Live 1971-72" instead. But I think this album stands as a bizarre example of mr. Fripp's caustic sense of humor: after three years establishing himself as the most perfeccionist musician in all rock's scene, a poorly recorded live album reveals that he is not. Maybe he was the only one who laughed - but I always smile when I listen to my "Earthbound" CD and, believe me, I listen to it more than to "USA" (Crimson's other official live album).