Official Bootleg Vol.1

The single-CD Official Bootleg, Vol. 1, available principally at the group's shows and through their website, is comprised of the first official recordings by the 21st Century Schizoid Band. Cut immediately prior to their inaugural tour, it features the original lineup -- Michael Giles, Peter Giles, Ian McDonald, Mel Collins, and Jakko Jakszyk -- doing new versions of songs from across the King Crimson repertory, from 1969 through 1972. The renditions here are less bold than those the group would subsequently lay down, although McDonald, Collins, and the Giles brothers get into an interesting and entertaining funk-like groove in the last section of "Ladies of the Road," and there are some interesting lyrical excursions on "Formentara Lady," and they sound as though they're having a good time doing finely articulated versions of "A Man and a City" and "Catfood." "Court of the Crimson King" starts off as an instrumental, but the one new alumnus of the group, Jakko Jakszyk, acquits him well on the vocals when the verses get picked up in the second half, and the others provide surprisingly good backing vocals at this late date in their respective careers. The group's later live performances on CD and DVD are intrinsically more interesting, but this release is not to be ignored. ~ Bruce Eder|