I voted an "8". Musically, I really enjoy this album--which came as a surprise since I’m not a big fan of King Crimson. Jakko’s got a decent voice and there’s a nice balance of slower ballad-type songs with stuff that rocks a bit harder. It’s much more accessible than anything I’ve heard from KC so far. I’d recommend that anyone give it a chance, even if you don’t like this genre--some of the songs are quite catchy and easy-to-listen-to. My favorite tracks are "Before I Met You", "It Would All Make Sense", "Uncertain Times", and "Under Lock & Key".
The 5.1 mix is probably Jakko’s best to-date. Harmony vocals, guitars, and percussion are frequently placed in the rears to great effect. “Before I Met You” kicks off with the lead guitar jumping back-and-forth between the rear channels. The overdubbed vocals at the end of “Uncertain Times” are effectively spaced around the room. There’s even a bit of fun panning action on the first guitar solo in “Separation”.
From a surround standpoint, the best track is undoubtedly “The Borders We Traded”--it’s a 5.1 vocal tour-de-force reminiscent of “Seven Bridges Road'' from The Eagles’ Hell Freezes Over.
Overall, my only critique would be that it didn’t blow me away sonically. I mentioned this in the pre-release thread as well, but the entire mix feels rather muddy at times. To my ears, the bass guitar in particular sounds much tighter and better-balanced on the stereo mix. If the low-end was dialed back a bit and the drums were slightly brighter, the 5.1 would be just about perfect for my tastes.