The Power to Believe

Very powerful album; very cohesive. It’s one of the first few king crimson albums i listened to, and I loved every song in this one. This album is different from the rest (which may be a good or bad or neutral thing, depending on your musical taste and preference).

After years of live improv leading up to this, the band collectively jam and compose a great studio album. One of the best albums from any genre of music. Was awesome to see and hear live too.

Its really not the beat king crimson album. I havent really been a fan of their stuff after their first 7 albums, but i can still recognize musical talent and i can see how some would enjoy it. The music isnt as well composed as they are capable of (in my opinion) and the lyrics are definitely some of their worst. Its worth trying out, but since their first 4, each album has been a hit or a miss and for me, this one is definitely a miss

The music on this album is very good, just like all King Crimson albums, but besides Level Five and a couple of the Power To Believe songs, there aren't any songs that I'd listen to again. It just feels very edgy. If you're a King Crimson fan and you like edgy music, you'd probably like this record, but if you don't like edgy music you most likely won't like it.

"The Power to Believe" reminds listeners why King Crimson has earned its reputation as one of the most forward-looking bands in the history of all rock music. "The Power to Believe" charts new territory, though there are subtle references to previous Crimson efforts (The "Power to Believe" reprises are reminiscent of the "Peace" theme from Poseidon, and the buildup of "Dangerous Curves" is similar to "The Devil's Triangle), but there are also new elements, such as the utilization of new electronic music technology (for example, electric drum triggers). The "machine" elements are used tastefully, however, and they enhance the music instead of detracting from it. This music is full of twists and turns, including some really wild sections (Level Five especially). Fripp has been around forever, but 34 years after he started, the music is anything but formulaic. That takes real talent, and talent is in abundance with this group. Like so many other Crimson efforts, the contrast between loud and soft is used to great effect, creating an effect that is both startling and subtle. I find that is album to be more cohesive and consistent than this lineup's previous album The Constukction of Light (though that one had flashes of brilliance), and the production value is kicked up a notch as well. A majority of the tracks here are in non-conventional time signatures, but there is a natural flow to this, not complexity for the sake of complexity. The guitar counterpoint in "Elektrik" is some of Crimson's best, and "Power to Believe II" has a soothing presence to it that is hard to describe. Crimson knows how to close an album better than anyone, and the final soundscape here is just perfect. Highly recommended for prog fans, but also anyone interested to see where modern rock might be able to go from here.

I like King Crimson. I’ve seen them live and they put on a great show. I like some of their stuff more than others, but this is the only album of theirs I love in its entirety. This is one of the very few albums (of any artist) I’ve owned that I have bought over and over again as the disc is lost or damaged. The cleverly written lyrics are thought provoking. The music is entrancing, moving and even a bit quirky at times, and it rocks hard!

They are the kings. They have the the power to believe.