The Power to Believe - 18 Years On

**MudShark22** · 03-06-2021

Released on 05Mar2003 - I absolutely love this album - except for the decision to fracKture Deception of The Thrush into those IMO terrible trax/alternatives

Saw the tour with the wife (who is a big KC fan too) at The Beacon in November. Superb show, unfortunately unavailable for release due to union rulz etc. Pretty sure we saw one of the Town Hall shows at the start of the tour too.

The Eyes Wide Open DVD - phenomenal too.

Other fans of this album?

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**Frumious B** · 03-06-2021

To my ears it is the best overall post Discipline King Crimson album. I think it’s great, but also sad that they didn’t keep pushing and do more new music in this direction. Instead the band kind of just petered out.

**arturs** · 03-06-2021

Originally Posted by Frumious B

To my ears it is the best overall post Discipline King Crimson album. I think it’s great, but also sad that they didn’t keep pushing and do more new music in this direction. Instead the band kind of just petered out.

100% agree. KC were really on to something new with Power to Believe. It was their first real "direction" since, well, Discipline. I would have definitely preferred the PtB band to move forward rather than to be replaced by the 3-drummer repertory ensemble. I was at least hoping that the PtB band would have a strong run of three albums, much like the Lark's or Discipline bands, before petering out!

**Sputnik** · 03-06-2021

I love it! I feel the quality dips just a tiny bit near the very end, but it's a totally solid album. I saw the tour for this, and for TCoL, and both were incredible. I actually feel like I saw KC a lot in this period, maybe multiple times on each of these tours, or if they toured in between the two releases. My memory is vague, but basically we caught the four piece band pretty much every time they were in Boston. I also have eyes Wide Open. Should play it more, it is spectacular.

My favorite of the post 80s albums is actually TCoL. I know many find flaws with that one, and I accept that. But it really does the job for me. Sonically, I think TPtB is far better. But I like the songs on TCoL and find them a bit more consistent, though the high points on TPtB are pretty mighty. Level 5 being a particularly high point for me.

Bill

**Splicer** · 03-06-2021

I truly loved this record because the sound they'd been working on since coming back together in various forms gelled with this record. I agree that I wish they'd continued in this vein for at least another album. "Level Five" is for me one of the best all-time Crimson songs.

**chalkpie** · 03-06-2021

Great album. I prefer it to both Thrak and TCOL, but I dig those rekkids.

**mozo-pg** · 03-06-2021

Love PtB, for me a direct line back to Red. I took a young coworker to see the band in Montreal and he was floored. Instant fan. It's so muscular and powerful (pun). I need to go back and replay it.

**happytheman** · 03-06-2021

Originally Posted by mozo-pg

Love PtB, for me a direct line back to Red. I took a young coworker to see the band in Montreal and he was floored. Instant fan. It's so muscular and powerful (pun). I need to go back and replay it.

Agree.. after I bought it I gave it to my brother to listen to and my introduction was "remember how Red sounded?" You're gonna love this one..

**Jacob Holm-Lupo** · 03-06-2021

I honestly never saw what was so great about this or any other post-80s KC albums. I have tried. But considering how adamant Fripp has always been about not repeating himself, and always moving forward, I find this era of KC to be shockingly non-innovative. TPTB is simply a collection of KC tropes collected from the 70s and 80s, and presented with a bit more guitar crunch and a lot less dynamics and elegance. But they're all the same ideas from decades past.
I am glad for people who are as enthusiastic about this as Red, but for me this doesn't come close to either the visceral power and searing beauty of Red, or the incredible elegance, invention and grooves of Discipline - although it clearly tries to ape both those albums.

**mozo-pg** · 03-06-2021

Originally Posted by Jacob Holm-Lupo

I honestly never saw what was so great about this or any other post-80s KC albums.

I would add, The Construction Of Light, as another stellar KC release, to accompany PtB.

**miamiscot** · 03-08-2021

Originally Posted by Jacob Holm-Lupo

I honestly never saw what was so great about this or any other post-80s KC albums. I have tried. But considering how adamant Fripp has always been about not repeating himself, and always moving forward, I find this era of KC to be shockingly non-innovative. TPTB is simply a collection of KC tropes collected from the 70s and 80s, and presented with a bit more guitar crunch and a lot less dynamics and elegance. But they're all the same ideas from decades past.
I am glad for people who are as enthusiastic about this as Red, but for me this doesn't come close to either the visceral power and searing beauty of Red, or the incredible elegance, invention and grooves of Discipline - although it clearly tries to ape both those albums.

You "Red" my mind. I like all the post-Discipline records but...

**polmico** · 03-06-2021

Gunn/Mastelotto is the best Crimbo rhythm section.

Yep. I said it.

**Vic2012** · 03-06-2021

Listening to this album on YT. First time ever. V is pretty heavy. Red on acid.

**Painter** · 03-06-2021

I’ve had Dangerous Curves on repeat for weeks. This song is subtle and powerful. It continues in the line of Crim songs that have an insistent rhythm that just builds and builds. Disturbingly powerful and powerfully disturbing.

**davef** · 03-08-2021

agreed! My fav track on the album!

**Vic2012** · 03-06-2021

Level V sounds Voivod-ish. Proggy and metallic as all F.

**JKL2000** · 03-07-2021

Yay, time to pull out the Heaven & Earth box set for a bit of a fondle!

**battema** · 03-07-2021

Originally Posted by JKL2000

Yay, time to pull out the Heaven & Earth box set for a bit of a fondle!

Ironically enough, I had just recently pulled H&E back out when this thread came up. Big fan of this album from the moment it came out, and it still keeps my attention today.

Although yes...I personally would swap out the version of "Thrush" from Eyes Wide Open for PTB3.

**Kcrimso** · 03-07-2021

Love it. Great production also. The best Crimson album since Discipline.

**Zeuhlmate** · 03-07-2021

I lost them with 'Construction of light' - but everybody sez this is much better.

**mozo-pg** · 03-07-2021

Originally Posted by Zeuhlmate

I lost them with 'Construction of light' - but everybody sez this is much better.

It's funny because I think this is the position I've read here for ages, not popular. For me, it's brilliant. Love it all.

**MudShark22** · 03-07-2021

^^almost ANY version of Thrush other than the butcher job w/ out of context solo soundscape.

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**battema** · 03-07-2021

Yeah...I don't love how they did that particular splice job.

I also prefer the live version of Dangerous Curves from the Level Five EP, but the official/studio version isn't a dud by any stretch of the imagination.