Search - Robert Fripp :: God Save the King

Proof that revisionism doesn't always work...

DAC Crowell | 04/05/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Damn, this is irritating. Here we have a big chunk of one album, and two snips from another. None of these add up to anything of the magnitude of the originals. The first two tracks are from the "God Save the King/Under Heavy Manners" album (or dual EP?), and while some might not be upset about missing two of the Frippertronics backdrop tracks, I personally find the loss of "The Zero of the Signified" to be very major, as that piece contains something of the seed of the rebirth of King Crimson in the early 80s. The other part of said seed was embodied in "The League of Gentlemen", from which the last several tracks here are taken. But on that album, there's a clear arc of development that goes throughout the release and which can easily be heard by listening to the course of musical (and subcontextual) development as the recording progresses. Chopping it up, as done here, is really ill-advised, I feel. And the short-shrift done to "GStK/UHM" is all but criminal. Would be rated one star only, except for the fact that what music that does remain here is, of course, excellent quality. Avoid, seek out the originals instead."

League of Gentlemen Best of CD

DAC Crowell | 09/27/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"While using the same cover art as the original "League of Gentlemen" LP, it can be a bit deceptive when you actually realize what is on here. The original album had a lot of philosophical spoken interludes by J.G. Bennett. I would imagine that the copyright on that material ran out, when Fripp went to release the CD version. Or, he found it pretentious, and wanted an album that just represented songs. Whichever, whatever. If you can find the LP, do buy it though, because it's fun to hear the collage theme running through the peice. The two tracks that were added to the original "L.O.G." Lp, are great nevertheless. Again, I would guess that Fripp wanted to compliment the material on the "League" album, by including the song that David Byrne sang, and the other outtake from "God Save the Queen". What I simply CAN NOT COMPREHEND, is why Fripp would not use the extra length of a CD, and simply add more of the "God Save the Queen" songs. It's especially odd songs were cut from "L.O.G.". That great LP should have fully represented its original songs. (Again, since there are outtakes of music by "The Lemon Kittens" on "Minor Man", Fripp might not have been able to obtain the copyright, or was going to be charged too much for its use.) Other of Fripp's LPs from this era, like "The Lady or the Tiger", which he recorded with his wife Toyah, and the 2 LPs with Andy Summers, has simply been deleted. (Odd for someone who, until recently, had his own record company.) Fripp did release a CD of LIVE L.O.G. music a few years back, perhaps as an apology for his chopping job on this minor masterpiece. Or more likely, just Fripp's delight in representing his live sound. Overall, we have to respect Fripp's intelligence, and musical choices, even when he revises his past efforts. This is not a CD which would disappoint any Fripp fan, unless you only liked his 70's "Art Rock" period. Here is Fripp as NEW WAVE ROCKER, hanging out with members past and present of Talking Heads, XTC, and the B-52s. The pedigree of preformers alone demands one's attention, if you liked that era of music. Plus, had this musical experiment not occurred, Fripp might not have partnered with the GUITAR GOD of new wave, Adrian Belew, and DISCIPLINE might not have been recorded. So, what might Fripp say about this chopped up product of two great LPs? "Be Happy with What you Have to be Happy With.""

Fripp Decapitates His Catalog

Brandon Stanley | United States | 09/20/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This is not one album, or the either. This is half of one, half of another. "God Save the King" is a blend of Frippertronic (ambient looped guitar) and vocal Discotronic (funky, disco-esque music) with David Byrne. The "League of Gentlemen" album was a mix of a punk/pop quartet that Fripp had in the late 70's-early 80's before reforming King Crimson. The latter had a blend of songs, concrete sounds (samples of a woman talking, possibly a girlfriend, along with J.G. Bennett the late philosophic mind/disciple of Gurdjeff). Both of these albums have been butchered in two and released as one. To the best of my knowledge, neither has seen a proper release on CD. In fact, Fripp's album "Exposure" was likewise heavily edited and chopped up for some unknown reason sometime in the 80's. If you don't mind hearing two incomplete albums jammed together, check this out. The songs are good, there is no doubt about that. However, you will need to look for older casettes and even vinyl if you want the full experience. Robert Fripp has released everything he's ever plucked out on his guitar to disc, so why not these recordings?"