THREE OF A PERFECT PAIR

To highlight another of my oddities, the Belew era happens to be my favorite era of KC (although Starless, LTIA, and Red also rank up there as some of my favorite KC albums). This concludes the 80s trilogy of their work, which includes the magnificent Beat and Discipline. In listening to this album, you have to keep an open mind about it. This is NOT 70s era King Crimson anymore. Sure it has more pop tendencies, but it's still a very progressive sound. I firmly believe that King Crimson fully adhered to the cores of progressive rock more so than any of the other important 70s prog rock bands because they constantly were changing and revamping their style from album to album while still retaining their own unique sound. Now onto the music:

1. Three of a Perfect Pair - I think I sing along to this song every time I listen to it. It's so psychedelic and yet still fairly catchy. This song has very groovy synths as well. Absolutely perfect in every way. 10+/10

2. Model Man - This is a very groovy song, and the bass really helps add to that. Another good song as well, despite poppy tendencies. 9/10

3. Sleepless - Almost disco-like at times. Belew's voice almost makes me feel like I'm about to be drawn into a spinning vortex that looks like a moving kaleidoscope. Again excellent bass on this song. Bruford feels especially hypnotic on this song. The guitars have a whining feel to them at times. A very emotional song in a really twisted way. 8/10

4. Man with an Open Heart - WOULDN'T MATTER TO A MAN WITH...well, you get the picture. Another song I love singing along to. Exciting, breathtaking, dazzling, those are only some of the words I could possibly use to describe this song. 9/10

5. Nuages - Starts with a slow, very psychedelic guitar opening with a similar beat in the background. This song also has a very Middle Eastern feel to it. 8/10

6. Industry - This song starts off very, VERY dark with a strange, almost mechanical drum beat and sobering synths. The drums change a bit after 2 minutes in and bass and guitar come in as well, making the song even darker, which really says something considering how dark the song starts out. Quite an appropriate title as well. It makes me picture gears and heavy machinery cranking monotonously in a dimly-lit factory. One of the best tracks from this era of KC. 10+/10

7. Dig Me - Starts almost as dark as Industry before some groovy synths and guitar come in. The tempo is very strange on this song. Another excellent track. 9/10

8. No Warning - An instrumental song. This one is very dark like Industry, but unlike that song it has a slight psychedelic tinge to it. Also very enjoyable. 9/10

9. Larks Tongues in Aspic (Part 3) - Don't expect this song to sound like the previous two versions. Very groovy and psychedelic with funky bass and guitar as well as almost manic drumming. It really has a feel of all the musicians trying to throw in all they've got into the last song. A great closer to this album. 10+/10

So in conclusion...well, my mind is somewhat mush right now, but I can say that this is a highly underrated KC album. Like I said, 80s KC is my favorite era of the band, but this is probably the weakest of the 3 albums. It's very good to say the least once you keep your ears and mind open to it and give it repeated listens, but it's not quite a masterpiece. 4/5 stars.