Beat

Y'know, back in the 90s I used to regularly get down and dirty with Cindy Crawford. When we split (the usual story, I wouldn't commit...but we both knew that, genetically speaking, it could have been great for the human race), I made it with Claudia Schiffer for a while. Classy dame though she was, well, to be honest, it just wasn't quite the same.

King Crimson: Beat

That's kinda the predicament that most people have with Beat. Discipline, the quartet's first album is so mind-blowingly great...that, especially at the time, Beat was dismissed as a step backward...when nothing could be further from the truth.

Rumor has it that Fripp threw hissy-fits during the recording sessions (he and Bruford had always had a difficult relationship, see the yellow box, below)...and there's no denying that everything seems to be down a gear...in mood...but not in quality.

However, what's very noticable is that:

• the guitar runs entwine less...though more subtly than they did on Discipline
• there's a definite single, Heartbeat...which is romantic (a first for King Crimson)       

King Crimson: Heatbeat

• Also reasonably romantic is the I-am-a-camera Two Hands**, written by Belew's then-wife Margaret ...

...but those things aside, Beat (in relation to Discipline) is like the second movement of a symphony...and not easily dismissed, as it sounds remarkably good these days.

Belew brings a real pop sensibility to impressive sonic experiments that, if they aren't avant garde...were (and are) certainly pushing the limits of Prog rock and occasionally do unleash the full savagery of the King Crimson beast. Bruford, in particular, throws in all sorts of strange extras, at times seemingly just keeping the beat...but actually doing a lot more.  

I'm not going to look at Beat song by song...it doesn't seem to be that kind of album...but as a words-person, I really appreciate (on this album, should I be saying "dig") Belew's word spews on:

• Neurotica &
• Waiting Man  

...torrents of words...that work.

Some reviewers consider Beat poppy...derisively so...but I don't. I agree that there are certainly verse/chorus songs...but my point is, so what? As a pop fan, I can assure you, ten minutes of Crimson letting rip would have most Billy Joel fans in intensive care, so if the band chooses to use "pop" as a framework for its polyrhythmic experiments, so be it, this is exciting stuff! 

King Crimson: Beat

Beat is a wonderful mélange of pop & Prog rock, always inventive...and though less spectacular than its predecessor, well worth checking out. In particular, it's the second part of a trilogy which makes a fascinating study of Prog rock in the 80s. King Crimson can hold its head high, experimenting and moving forward.    

Bruford alludes to this discord in a quote from the wonderful and detailed Fripp retrospective at progressiveears.com.

"...The recording process itself Bruford described as 'agonizing'...quite slow. If we systematized this and we had Lennon and McCartney and the drummer was quiet and behaved himself and shut up and the other guitar player didn't say that much, then you'd have a system and presumably you'd produce your product off your assembly line faster. We have no method and we can never seem to find one...or perhaps we're not looking for one'..."

while Belew was to say at his Elephant Blog (in the comments section)...

"...being in Crimson in the 80's was traumatic for me personally, with "Beat" being the most horrible recording experience of my life. I returned from England with a stress disorder (alopecia areata) which made quarter-size clumps of my hair fall out completely! It was that stressful and unpleasant. However, the band had my favorite people/players in it, was a great learning experience, was perhaps the best LIVE band in the world at that point, and I'm proud of what we accomplished..."

The King Crimson archives have also released a 2-concert LIVE album with the first being from before Disciple was released and the second being from the Beat tour...

King Crimson: The Collectable King Crimson

"...The second disc is from one of the band's best performances during their 1982 tour (and captures) the band at peak intensity. Belew is on fire during this performance and the rest of the band follows him down that hot trail...Recorded on 8-track, the sound quality varies from extremely good to excellent, as it was pulled from the band's recordings and sounds much as the show would have sounded LIVE..." Amazon.com reviewer Wayne Klein

There's also a LIVE concert DVD available with two different concerts on the same DVD:

• The Noise....LIVE in Frehust 1982 shot on film
• Three Of A Perfect Pair....LIVE in Japan 1984 shot on video 

King Crimson LIVE DVD: Neal & Jack & Me

This DVD...may (find King Crimson looking) as cheesy as Men At Work or Duran Duran with their clothes, guitars and electric drums but make no mistake...Adrian Belew, Robert Fripp, Tony Levin and Bill Bruford were a combination of virtuosity and good timing...The sound is futuristic by today's standards..." Amazon.com reviewer The Delite Rancher

"...The video quality is generally excellent throughout, although there are some more grainy sequences and minor defects coming from the original source films/tapes. Despite these minor flaws, this is an excellent document of the '80s era Crimson and highly recommended..." Amazon.com reviewer Michael Bettine

An intro to King Crimson