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King Crimson - Three of a Perfect Pair: 30th Anniversary Audio CD

A fair review of the King Crimson "Three of a Perfect Pair: 30th Anniversary" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all King Crimson reviews here, or go back to the King Crimson tabs.

King Crimson Band: King Crimson
Title: Three of a Perfect Pair: 30th Anniversary
Rating:
Release Date: 2006-03-14
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Three of a Perfect Pair 2: Modelk Man 3: Sleepless 4: Man with an Open Heart 5: Nuyages (That Which Passes, Passes Like Clouds) 6: Industry 7: Dig Me 8: No Warning 9: Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Pt. 3 10: King Crimson Barber Shop [*] 11: Industrial Zone a [*] 12: Industrial Zone B [*] 13: Sleepless [Tony Levin Mix][*] 14: Sleepless [Bob Clearmountain Mix][*] 15: Sleepless [Dance Mix-F. Kevorkian][*]

Bad, but Crimson bad
. Although one of progressive rock's classiest songwriters evaded a total stinker by placing some instrumentals and few assorted highlights throughout the depressive disc, even kings fell under the false spectacle of plasticized production during that decadent decade of recording.


Making Music in Real Tim
Guitarists marvel at Belew because he bends the right side of the brain. The truth is Three of a Perfect Pair continues to inspire players. Consider animal sounds and controlling feedback from a Jazz Chorus 120. Robert Fripp plays so fast and perfectly that it seems humanly impossible. Tony Levin lays down memorable and solid grooves on the bass and peppers the album with the Chapman Stick. Bill Bruford seems to swing in and out of mixed meter drum patterns like a rhythm chameleon. Nevertheless, these players start on a level that many of us would be happy to achieve in two lifetimes. Simply put, technique is not what this band is about. King Crimson has always been about the music, the moment of musical thought, and their generous performances for audiences. Three of a Perfect Pair combines the spontaneous music making that four of the most brilliant rock musicians have ever created with some well crafted pop tunes. There are songs that you can grasp and hold on to like Sleepless, Three of Perfect Pair, and Model Man. These songs always spotlight the virtuosity of one of its players or the then novel guitar synthesizer. On the other hand, Industry, Dig Me, and Nuages, demonstrate musicians communicating beyond conceptual thought. Any serious musician not acquainted with this incarnation of King Crimson will learn much from Three of a Perfect Pair. This disc doesn't get five stars for two reasons. The band was fractured by the different directions available to King Crimson, this is evident not only by the juxtaposition of the pop-style songs and the progressive numbers but in the music itself. The pop-songs don't really stand on their own. The second reason is not fair but many agree: "Discipline" is historic. Three of a Perfect Pair doesn't have the same joy and energy of that first album. If I could add half a star I would because the extra material on this release delves deeper into this last chapter of the era while it also reveals a sense of humor you don't often associate with the band (the barbershop singing isn't too shabby).


Dig me, but don't bury me.
But for me, it's grand sing-along-able fantastic pop music. I can understand liking some of their other work more. I remember driving around in my 1981 Honda Accord cranking this on cassette, and falling more in love with it after each listen. I am an "80's" KC fan. Fripp has the dexterity, but Belew is my hero. When I ponder the individual skill sets of each musician, I start to wonder if a greater collection of players really ever existed. I tend to think of Discipline and TOAPP as one continuous collection. If you want to see something amazing, youtube this:
youtube king crimson elephant talk
I would hotlink but I suspect Amazon won't allow it. I can't believe how happy/goofy they are during this performance.


Less than stellar
I've got King Crimson albums from the first one they released. This album was a disappointment for me, but my expectations were high. This one has no teeth. There is no comparison between Red or Discipline and this album. Sleepless is a nice cut, but the rest is just not that interesting.


Strong CD, but not the best of the 1980s studio work
I really wish I could give 4 ½ stars because it is a very strong CD. Three of a Perfect Pair is certainly a strong CD, but of the 3 released during the mid 80s (Discipline, Beat, and Three of a Perfect Pair), it is not as strong a Discipline, but certainly much better than Beat. The CD adds some interesting materials to the original album such as KC as a barber shop quartet on track 10 (which is a hoot - my 15 year old son loves to listen to this track) and the 3 different versions of sleepless. Likewise, Industrial Zone A and B are interesting tracks. I've always loved the variations on Lark's Tongues but found Part III to be the weakest of these - but it is still an interesting take on the original song that KC has developed across the years. I strongly recommend it but don't feel it was as strong of an effort as Discipline - but I feel Discipline is one of KC's top studio efforts up there with Red and In the Court of the Crimson King. .


You can see a complete list of all King Crimson discography, or go back to the King Crimson tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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