BEAT

Second effort from the promising 80s line-up of King Crimson. While Discipline successfully blended classic experimental crimson elements, incredible musicianship and new wave pop elements, in Beat, the new wave and pop part seems to have taken over the album almost completely. The music is still really enjoyable but from a prog point of view, it lacks a lot of elements.

There are a couple songs that really stand out as great songs on this album. Sartori in Tangier is a great instrumental track strongly rooted in Robert Fripp's influences of the time. Neurotica is a really fun track with an amazing vocal job by Adrian Belew. Finally, Requiem is an instrumental that showcases great guitar work from both axe men.

The rest of Beat is certainly interesting, enjoyable, groovy and danceable but the songs are nothing really but a couple of new wave hits. They aren't really rewarding because you get them on first listen. Heartbeat is the closest King Crimson ever got to cheesy. Beat is the closest King Crimson ever got to pop.

The lyrics are supposed to be of a concept of some sort. They are a tribute to the "beat" generation poets like Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs. The lyrics aren't that bad and they are even really good sometimes but the musical style of the album doesn't really fit with the "beat" generation in my opinion. Anyway, that part isn't really important in the rating of the album.

Sure, most of the songs are almost plain pop but the album is still really enjoyable. Burst out the volume and dance to the music. After all, it's performed with amazing virtuosity as usual with King Crimson. I'll give 2,5 stars to this release by King Crimson because it's not good but it's not bad.

-Bern