OFF: random thoughts

[Nick Medford]

In message <200111220137.UAA20733 at mail2.uts.ohio-state.edu>, K
Henderson <henderson.120 at OSU.EDU> writes
>
>King Crimson is coming to Columbus next week, and I'm wondering if there's
>any great reason to go.

I would definitely go, people who are not easily impressed rave about their
live show. Although I've never seen them. I've had a sporadic interest in
them over the years but have completely lost track of all the Projekcts etc. I
did buy the "Thrakattack" album which was snippets of free improvisation
from live performances all edited together to make for a very long and not
very rewarding CD (If you want to hear free-jazz meets space-rock done
properly, get "Citrus Cloud Cover" by Escapade). So that didn't help. Aside
from that, I find I tend to *quite* like KC's stuff rather than love it,
although there's the odd flash of brilliance.

>  Those albums like 'Beat'

I have that one, it's not great- very early 80s sound, veering dangerously
close to Hall and Oates territory on occasions, although Fripp produces
enough interesting noises from his guitars that they avoid sinking quite that
far. As I recall it suddenly gets dramatically better for the last two tracks.

>and what was it? "Red"

Never heard that one

> or "Discipline"?  Whatever...the ones with "Elephant
>Talk" and "Thela Hun Jinjeet"

Yeah those are both on Discipline, which is an excellent album.

> - that sort of stuff was interesting at times,
>with the occasional 'what the f*ck?'.  "Three of a Perfect Pair" the song I
>liked also

Not keen on that- the album of the same name has a side of short poppy
songs- largely weak, apart from "Sleepless" which I'm sure I should hate, but
I love, and then side 2 is all heavy-duty instrumentals including the superb
"Larks Tongues In Aspic Part 3", a follow up to two pieces from 1974.

There is, on balance, likely to be some prime material by this band amidst
their recent work, but I've no idea what to recommend. Anyone?
--
Nick Medford