KING CRIMSON PART 1: The Discipline of

In 1981 a band that was on hiatus from 1974 decided to become more active.  This was Robert Fripp's Idea and it could not come at a better time.  I was too young to hear this magic happen, but about eight years later this band was a band that I could not forget.  It was a band that when I started liking them they were once again inactive for performing and recording.  I thought as a teenager that I would never see my favorite band on a stage or on a musical format.  A friend said to me how can you like a band that does not play or perform.  I simply explained to my friend that I still have music from their past to

 guide me.  I have music from the 60's, 70's and the 80's to guide me through it all.  

My King Crimson fascination started with their first album.  This album was a monster and it's music, production. It's layered and beautiful and sonically beautiful.  It was as Bill Bruford pointed out the music made us "scared to death."  "It was music that had extreme musical talent to match." I thought it  as the musicians, musician album.  I never heard anything like that first album.  It was amazing and influenced everything that came after it.  It was an album that I told all my friends and they just looked at me exactly like the cover art.  It was an album that made my musical tastes very complex.  I became and still a snob.

I explored King Crimson's discography from the beginning and worked my way through the years.  I stumbled upon Discipline at a local used record store.  It was on cassette.  I know I had to buy it.  It was in a way a blind buy.  I knew the band, but not the 80's era.  I could be buying something that was unappealing or just bad. The music (lets be honest) of the 80's was hit and miss. It could be bad and or really bad or good and or really good.  I was nervous when I got the cassette home.  I was feeling King Crimson's music from the the previous decade was organic and exciting song after song and album after album.  

After worrying how the album would sound like I decided to put it in my tape player and hit play.  I closed my eyes and thought the music would be bad.  I really did not think anything positive would come out of this.  After hearing "Elephant Talk" all my doubts were erased and my excitement began to spill over.  I loved the craziness of Belew's guitar. I loved the crisp clean solo of Fripp.  I love the unique drum playing of Bruford and the signature sound of Levin's bass.  Not knowing much about Levin and Belew I was impressed how they worked with Crimson alum Bruford. "Elephant Talk" was a perfect song for a newish band.

After hearing the next song I knew Fripp made good on the King Crimson name.  I continued listening to the album.  I played it again and again.  After about half a dozen listens I knew this album was in their cannon as a classic.  There was nothing here that was synthetic or non organic.  It was raw, punkish, angular, and original.  I loved it so much that I brought the tape to school and as I passed through the hallways I cranked it as loud as I could.  I got looks, but I did not care.  It was my new "jam" and everyone had to know it.  I even told my friend who was along a King Crimson fan how important this album is.  "It's like nothing you ever heard.  It turns all other music on it's end and leaves them in the dust.  

After so many repeated listens I decided to get a copy on LP so I did not have to ruin the tape.  For a hiatus of seven years King Crimson did not lose a step.  They in 1981 soaked up all the music that was leading up to the years they were away and took no names.  Discipline is full catchy hooks and great double guitar playing.  It is an album that rewards the listener right away and keeps their attention for the thirty-eight minute run time.  From the ballad "Matte Kudasai" (Please Wait)  to the  chaos around Adrian Belew's circumstances of creativity on "Thela Hun Ginjeet" (Heat in the Jungle) this music begs for your attention.  Each song is different and feels like a different personality of a musical group as well.  Even the song "The Sheltering Sky" is a reference to the classic Paul Bowles book and also to the Beat Generation.  The song "Indiscipline" is my personal favorite.  Every time it's performed live I love how the drumming is one of the man focus.  Belew's crazy guitar playing also comes to the front.  It's a show off moment.  

In Conclusion this may not be the best place to start, bit this album will be a great place to see chaotic King Crimson can be.  Fans of 80's music will have their head turned to the side, but after a listen you will understand how the band are just that good.  It's a true amazing piece of work and still stands the test of time and music.  It is by far a favorite of mine.  With a seven year break you can totally see how the music is fresh and exciting to the ears.  They might have been a Progressive Rock band to start, but in 1980's they kept that formula and redefined the word for a newer and accepting audience.  Take a listen and enjoy! I swear that this will be stuck in your head for quite a while.  ENJOY!! 

Talk, it's only talk

Arguments, agreements, advice, answers,
Articulate announcements
It's only talk
Talk, it's only talk
Babble, burble, banter, bicker bicker bicker
Brouhaha, boulder dash, ballyhoo
It's only talk
Back talk
Talk talk talk, it's only talk
Comments, cliches, commentary, controversy
Chatter, chit-chat, chit-chat, chit-chat,
Conversation, contradiction, criticism
It's only talk
Cheap talk
Talk, talk, it's only talk
Debates, discussions
These are words with a D this time
Dialogue, duologue, diatribe,
Dissention, declamation
Double talk, double talk
Talk, talk, it's all talk
Too much talk
Small talk
Talk that trash
Expressions, editorials, expugnations, exclamations, enfadulations
It's all talk Elephant talk, elephant talk, elephant talk