THREE OF A PERFECT PAIR

The three King Crimson records from the early eighties have a lot in common; modernized progressive rock with a wave sound and strong pop influences. The musical experimentation of the band was put in a mold that was thought to fit the times, but ends up leaking over the edges; making side two of the record of both 1982's 'Beat' and this 'Three of a Perfect Pair' particularly hard to enjoy. On this latest of the trio of albums, which started with the fairly fresh and good 'Discipline', the band has run out of enthusiasm and sound dull on both its poppy and its experimental tracks. The wave pop songs on the first side are a drag as well with Andrew Bellew having to take to much of a center stage. The guitar shrieks of Robert Fripp on songs like 'Industry' and 'LTIA pt III' just sound like a fish out of the water to me. I can't really recommend this record beyond those who loved its two predecessors.