ISLANDS

Between two of their most amazing albums (Lizard and Larks' Tongues In Aspic), King Crimson released this piece of proto-new age drivel. Sure, as is often the case with Crimson, most of the band members on the previous album are gone, but this album doesn't come close to the standards we had come to expect from Fripp & company.

First, the good points. Boz Burrell had a great voice. Possibly the best of any incarnation of Crimson. Sailor's Tale, once it gets up to speed, has some fine moments, particularly in the interplay between Fripp's guitar and Mel Collins' sax. And Ladies Of The Road, although simple compared to most King Crimson songs, is quite nice.

But the rest of the album ranges from completely forgettable to downright bad. Formantera Lady, with asian motifs, is the best of that bunch. It takes too long to get going, and never rises above it's simplicity. The Letters, Prelude: Song Of The Gulls and Islands are all extremely yawn inducing, and the closer, Islands, is just painful to listen to. Mark Charig's cornet solo is one of the worst horn solos I've ever heard.

Some of the live recordings of this group released by DGM has given me a little more respect for this lineup, but this album has always been nearly unlistenable to me.