Form your own Prog band here

[black max]

Ah, get the Crimhead going, why doncha?

Belew definitely has his silly side. Who would have ever thought to hear a Crimson song with the words, "Get jiggy with it!" Boo-dow! But the music is as complex and challenging as ever, just more compact -- 2003 Crimson is doing in 5 or 6 minutes what 70s Crimson was doing in 14 or 15. I do wish they would lose their fascination with variations on the chromatic scale (the famous "let's throw the instruments down the staircase" effect), but I think Belew's silliness lightens up the band. They certainly seem to enjoy themselves playing together, and all four members are willing to subordinate themselves a la classic Pink Floyd when appropriate.

The last album, "The Power to Believe," didn't catch me right off, but the more I listen to it, the more layers I hear. There's a tremendous amount going on that doesn't immediately strike the ear. But there are times when I miss John Wetton's dinosaur-stomping bass and David Cross's beautiful violin ("delicacy and wood," in Fripp's terms).