(Please be advised that this is a reissue of the 30th Anniversary Edition. It contains no bonus tracks and comes in a jewel case.)
Neal and Jack and Me
Heartbeat
Sartori in Tangier
Waiting Man
Neurotica
Two Hands
The Howler
Requiem
king Crimson: Adrian Belew (vocals, guitar); Robert Fripp (guitar); Tony Levin (bass, Chapman Stick); Bill Bruford (drums, percussion).
After spending the second half of the '70s on various solo projects, the irrepressible Robert Fripp decided to reinvent King Crimson. Instead of building on the group's '70s legacy, Fripp burned his bridges and started from scratch, even though KC drummer Bill Bruford returned to the fold for the '80s version of the band. The new Crimson was influenced equally by funk, world music, Balinese Gamelan orchestras, minimalism and the new pan-cultural sounds being made by the likes of Talking Heads and Peter Gabriel (in retrospect, the former's REMAIN IN LIGHT, which featured future Crimson guitarist/vocalist Adrian Belew, seems an undeniable influence).
While the repetitive Gamelan-like patterns of DISCIPLINE were still present on BEAT, things loosened up considerably. The title refers at least partially to the Beat era writers referenced in the opening "Neal and Jack and Me," and the freewheeling Beat aesthetic informs much of the music here. From the crazed "Neurotica" to the ominous "Requiem," there's a greater quotient of improvisational fireworks here. Simultaneously, there's further development of the Belew-spearheaded pop sensibilities introduced on DISCIPLINE. "Heartbeat" in particular is perhaps the finest pop tune this eternally arty band has ever produced, its simple romantic sentiments deftly and memorably expressed.
Average Rating: (From 4 Reviews):
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Three Different Albums in one
From JPrisco of Pacific Northwest, Washington on .
In retrospect, we have here not one but parts of three albums: 1. a Discipline adjunct (many of these songs were from the Discipline tour); 2. Belew plus KC (including one song never performed live by KC); 3. something completely "other" (the final track).
All aspects have their qualities; the Discipline tour tracks are essential as extensions of that album. The Belew tracks use the band well. And "Requiem" -- well ... it's the dark underbelly of Crimson, arguably more fully expressed here than on the Discipline album.
On its own, Beat may seem a little disjointed -- and it was. Combined with the other 80s albums, we see in it an album with no wasted moments. Not perfect, but worthy.
Grood, not quite great
From Zach Charland of Montreal, Quebec on .
Beat is a little bit more poppy than Displine and a little bit weirder too. Personally, the poppish songs kick ass. Heartbeat, Waiting Man, and Two Hands are stellar songs - accessible, groovy, and original. Neal and Jack and me is gorgeous and Sartori in Tangier is perfect 80s Crimson; weird and groovy.
Requiem and the Howler however, are really awful. The Howler has little musical beauty or structure, and in the end it manages to both falls flat and leaves a dreaded bitter taste. Requiem is where the album fails most prominently; a lengthy instrumental that goes nowhere and tortures everything around it at the same time.
The only other thing that bugs me about Beat is that it seems that with this release, the weird, twisted, 80s on acid approach favored in Displine, which Crimsonized and innovated the popular style of the time, has split into two more predictable wings. The same goes for ToaPP - lots of accessible pop, and a couple (and soon a lot more) atonal FrippTripps.
Still, Beat is for the most part good, solid music. No Crimso collection is complete without it.
WRONG DIRECTION
From LARRY PITTIS of NEW YORK, New York on .
HI AGAIN, REQUIEM IS THE MOST KING CRIMSON LIKE COMPOSITION-IMPROVISATION ON THIS CD. EXCELLENT EXPRESSION. BUT A BETTER NAME FOR THIS VERSION OF KC WOULD BE KING KITTEN. THE PREFORMANCE IS HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL, BUT IS ART POP, NOT EXPERIMENTAL ROCK MUSIC THAT CROSSES INTO NEW WORLDS. FRIPP AND BRUFORD SHOULD HAVE JOINED FORCES WITH KEITH TIPPETT, BARRY GUY, OR PIERRE HENRY. CHECK OUT REQUIEM.
Their last good one
From Jake Reid of Upper Saddle River, New Jersey on .
This was probably the best Discipline-era record they put out. The interlocked guitars of Discipline are still present, and probably take the stage more than on the first album this lineup produced. Whammy-bar antics are even more impressive, and Adrian Belew's lyrics continue to confuse, amuse, and amaze, especially on Neurotica, where the pessimistic view of city life found on Thela Hun Gingeet meets the utter nonsence of Indiscipline, with more chaotic music in the background. Anyone who owns Discipline whould buy it, and anyone who doesn't should not purchase BEAT.
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