STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK

I certainly do not find STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK to be a "disappointment," as some have maintained -- far from it! While it may not quite equal LARKS' TONGUES IN ASPIC for inventiveness, it is a very good effort from this classic lineup. Wetton's bass and vocals are as strong as ever, Fripp's guitar sounds like a weapon, Cross's violin really adds to the overall feel, and Bruford is, of course, the best.

"The Great Deceiver" is one of the heaviest, most frantic and cutting songs Crimson ever released, and "Lament" is a powerful portrait of the jaded rock star. "The Night Watch," -- inspired by Rembrandt's famous painting -- is a beautiful piece of classic prog (Palmer-James does a great job as a lyricist), and the airy instrumental "Trio" is simply lovely. While the other songs are not as noteworthy, "Fracture" is a notable exception. My favourite track on the album, this 11+ minute song starts out slow, then steadily builds to an absolutely explosive finish. This one MUST be played loud!

Simply put, if you like LARKS' TONGUES, RED and USA, you should find plenty to enjoy on this album.