IN THE WAKE OF POSEIDON

A common criticism thrown at this album is that it is simply an imitation of their debut album. I believe that the accusation has some truth to it, but I also believe that critics are simply throwing the word around too much. Similarities? Yes. Imitation? No. King Crimson was being pressured into creating another album and many of the members were itching to leave. They thought "Why mess with a good thing?" While this album does share strong similarities to its predecessor, it is also functions as a unique piece of King Crimson's history.

The album opens with Peace - A Beginning, featuring Greg Lake's ambient vocals at a low volume, tempting re to turn the volume up only to have your eardrums crushed by the loud sound of the next song, Pictures of a City. Often called this album's 21st Century Schizoid Man, I agree. The structures are very similar. However, this song does have its own unique feel and is not quite as chaotic as its predecessor. Following Pictures of a City is Cadence and Cascade, this album's I Talk to the Wind. When I first listened to this song, I was captured by its beautiful acoustic guitar and piano. I thought this would be this albums ITTTW, only in the sense that it was this album's soft song. However, the inclusion of a flute solo made me think of this song as ITTTW 2.0 rather than a new song. Beautiful, but a little dull overall.

The biggest (and most pleasant) surprise came to me in the title track. Hearing the mellotron opening as well as Fripp's acoustic guitar, I expected an inferior version of both Epitaph and the previous album's title track. However, as the song progressed, I realized that even thought it used elements from the previous album, it used those elements to form a unique song that remains one of my favorites in their catalogue. Fripp's acoustic guitar, Giles' drumming, the soaring vocals of Greg Lake and the mellotron gives the song a feeling that you are sailing on the ocean itself. In my opinion, this song is on equal footing with the title track of Crimson's previous album.

Side two is anything but an imitation. Peace - A Theme opens this side with a beautiful acoustic guitar piece. Cat Food is a humorous and jazzy piece thanks to the talented hands of Mr. Keith Tippett which foreshadows the direction Crimson will take on their next album. The Devil's Triangle, based on the lyrics for the classical piece Mars: Bringer of War from The Planet suite, is a powerful and suspenseful piece of music that Crimson has never before or never again would do. The album ends with Peace - An End, a gentle reprise of the opening track.

This album deserves a solid four stars. Though Pictures of a City and Cadence and Cascade are very similar to songs off of their previous album, they are not low quality songs in and of themselves. Though not up to the same level as In the Court of the Crimson King or Red, In the Wake of Poseidon is a fine and majestic album nevertheless.