Originally Published: 2002-12-01

It's the 21st century and several eras of this schizoid band are now active at the same time. Performing the classic first album's material once again are the Giles brothers with Ian MacDonald and Mel Collins, while former bassist Tony Leven features "Sleepless" and other 80s tracks he contributed to on his band's new live CD. Meanwhile founding guitarist Robert Fripp's current quartet prepare for a new full-length release after a summer tour with new metal kings, Tool. The title track on this EP seems to be their response to the younger generation, as guitarist/vocalist Adrian Belew comes up with a parody of a grunge-metal chord progression and funny lyrics in search of a chorus. Ultimately "Happy" is a self-parody when the influence of the proto-grunge of the mid 70s Crimson is considered (especially the Red album, heard in the Rollins Band and many others). Fripp & Belew still mine permutations of those heavy riffs themselves, as they present a bluesy take on "Red" in "Potato Pie" and an exciting live recording of "Larks' Tongues In Aspic (Part IV)" (done, in all places, the heart of country, Nashville).

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