Sun Jan 29 2023
3
I’ve been pretty high, but never King Crimson high
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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Larks' Tongues In Aspic
King Crimson
1973
- Album Summary
Larks' Tongues in Aspic is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock group King Crimson, released on 23 March 1973 through Island Records in the UK and Atlantic Records in the United States and Canada. This album is the debut of King Crimson's third incarnation, featuring co-founder and guitarist Robert Fripp along with four new members: bass guitarist and vocalist John Wetton, violinist and keyboardist David Cross, percussionist Jamie Muir, and drummer Bill Bruford. It is a key album in the band's evolution, drawing on Eastern European classical music and European free improvisation as central influences.
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Mon Jan 30 2023
1
I really hate prog rock. I get the impression they think they're way more clever than they actually are. They're just farting about and making random noises. It's utterly tedious. There's a bit of nice violin in there which always gets my attention, and some nice piano and musical bits AT TIMES. That's where my 1 star is going. But it's like a feeble ray of light shining on a giant cloud of guff, which can't quite penetrate it and break free.
Wed Oct 26 2022
3
prog noodling outweighs good tunes
Thu Oct 27 2022
5
Ohhh, finally! An album that I already listened complete before I started this challenge! Ok, so let's start by saying that King Crimson is my favourite band. Like, not just my favourite prog rock band, my favourite band of ALL times alongside The Beatles, Queen and Black Sabbath. Each of its albums, except for In The Wake of Poseidon, are extremely different from each other and almost feel like they were made by different bands, and they technically are, since the lineup of the project has changed thousands of times, the only constant member being Robert Fripp. And from all of their studio albums, LTIA is definitely one of the weirdest ones, but it has some of the most talented musicians working on it, namely Jamie Muir and Bill Bruford, and many others. Even though this is not my favourite album of King Crimson (I would put it in fifth or sixth place in a ranking) it is still a great and hugely influential album, mixing classic prog rock with world music, neo-classical sounds, heavy metal and possibly one of the earliest prog metal and avant-garde metal songs in history: the Larks' Tongues in Aspics suite, which has five parts, that span four albums and 30 years in the making. It is possible that bands like TOOL or Dream Theater would have never existed without this album so I guess that deserves at least four stars. Screw it, the album cover is my profile photo of Discord, I'll give it five stars
Fri Feb 10 2023
4
Aspic Rodeo anyone? Headphones are the way to go with this one. First, the headphones are critical to avoid the verbal and visual insubordination of family members who are within earshot. On my first attempt to listen without headphones, before the first song was done my son came home and bribed me by saying he would cook us dinner as long as I turned the damn thing off. I was kinda hungry so . . . . Also, I was not getting into it since it's terrible background music. With headphones though it's a completely different story. The drums / timbales and strings on The Talking Drum are excellent. It has a middle eastern feel to it - even though the album is apparently Eastern Europe influenced. Fripp is a master at getting his guitar to make sounds that other guitar players only hear in their dreams. He is also very good at making his guitar make normal guitar sounds as he shows on Book of Saturday. I invented a game called Aspic Rodeo to play when company comes over. I'll play this album and whoever lasts the longest before asking me to turn it off wins.
Mon Nov 14 2022
3
Not bad but just a bit too much progressive and not enough rock to keep me entertained and intrigued
Sun Dec 18 2022
2
Some cool moments, plus a bunch of proggy nonsense
Wed Dec 21 2022
5
aika perkuleesti on juttua kuultu crimson pojasta..odotukset ylhäällä kuin hepokatti laitumella. ensimmäinen vartti instrumentalllia...sitten tulee roguh wadursmaista vokaalinlyräytystä... ei voi muuta kun antaa aplodit, koko albumi laatu kamaa... exiles
Fri Feb 17 2023
5
not shot these mf actually made this in 1973
Thu Feb 23 2023
5
Hadn't listened to the one at all, I only know the screaming man album. Really enjoyed it, it sounds like the birth of math rock!
Wed Oct 26 2022
2
I don't want to say that one shouldn't record jam sessions, but to me, most of this album sounded like unrefined or unapplied musical exploration – the kind of playing that might be helpful in creating songs or warming up for gigs. This overall impression was overcome neither by the one song I enjoyed in its entirety nor the poetic intro and outro ordering of Parts I and II.
Fri Dec 09 2022
5
What an absolutely fascinating band. Ever-changing, ever-evolving, and always original and creative. Robert Fripp to this day seems to me to possess such an interesting and curious mind. And, of course, what a guitarist. I love the way he uses the instrument; very much on his own path. So refreshing. Great album art, too, by the way. I need to explore more of King Crimson's and Robert Fripp's work. I've listened to some of Robert Fripp's ambient music albums this year, and they are excellent. I know a few people who have seen King Crimson play live, even quite recently, and they raved about the experience. I hope to get out to see them one of these days -- would be such a treat!
Thu Dec 22 2022
5
For me this is one of the best progrock albums ever.
Wed Jan 11 2023
5
Un des meilleurs albummde prog dans ce genre. Mon prefere de king crimson. 5
Mon Feb 13 2023
5
this was definitely as good as a larks tongue in a spack.
Sat Mar 11 2023
5
It is a masterpiece of rock music - not just prog rock - and one of the best albums of this band. I could write endless paragraphs about it. The strongest suit might be the highly versatile jump between complex and challenging parts as well as the the melodies and atmosphere. 'Books of Exile' is reminiscent of the more 'romantic' KC while something like 'Easy Money' shows how banging and jamming goes. Absolutely gorgeous!
Wed Mar 22 2023
5
Thought it was absolutely brilliant.
Sun Apr 09 2023
5
King Crimson is one of my favorite bands. Top 3. Easy Money is one of my favorite songs. Bill Bruford is one of the most brilliant drummers ever, and Robert Fripp is a strange little genius. Lark's Tongue in Aspic Part II is insane live.
Mon Apr 24 2023
5
PROG FUCKING PROG!
Fri May 12 2023
5
What it sounds like inside my head
Fri Jun 16 2023
5
This is wonderfully 'nanas! 🍌 Don't think I've really checked this King Crimson album out before, so thanks 1001 project! Fave track - I love the contrast of 13 minutes of silliness in "Larks' Tongues In Aspic (part 1)" suddenly breaking out into beautiful conventional "Book of Saturday". It's like emerging from a tunnel, or the sun coming out from behind clouds - lovely feeling!
Fri Jun 16 2023
5
I totally dig prog rock and this is totally my jam. Larks' Tongue In Aspic (Parts 1 and 2) and Book Of Saturday are the standouts for me. Also love the bonus tracks.
Fri Jun 16 2023
5
Honestly, don’t know how I haven’t listened to this band before. Incredible. Can’t wait to explore more.
Sun Jul 02 2023
5
Not quite as iconic, but a bit more soundscapey than In the Court of the Crimson King. I still think it was at a solid 5.
Thu Jul 06 2023
5
Another obvious choice of a prog-rock album for the list. Beautiful.
Sun Jul 09 2023
5
It's bonkers. I think it's really good. Can certainly get easily lost on you, though. Favorite Tracks: 3 minutes into pt 1, The Talking Drum 4.5/5
Fri Jul 21 2023
5
It took me three listens, but I loved it. King Crimson walked so Radiohead could run
Wed Aug 23 2023
5
A highly inaccessible King Crimson that grows with every listen. Employing a lot of space, these tracks take their time and involve a lot of carefully planned improvisation that's very entrancing to focus on. No bad tracks, every one stood out and felt necessary, which has a leg over In the Court which has "Moonchild." Overall though, it's not as powerful as In the Court's tracks, but about as memorable. "Larks Tongue Part I" is characterized by a juxtaposition between pleasant but sometimes concerning violin textures, and a high-tone metallic guitar that goes hard. It's simple but has so much to offer, taking so many turns along the way, changing the mood and vibe multiple times by the time it reaches the end. "Book of Saturday" is our short pop song, very pleasant, groovy, and folk-like, as if telling a medieval tale. Just three strings (the guitar, violin, and bass), and they're all unpredictable, going wherever they like, but also clear. "Exiles" has a calming cool jazz structure. Very smooth and colorful with a satisfying conclusion. The second side takes a turn as the mood tenses and starts to rock. "Easy Money" immediately gets into it, with a chilling introduction followed by a confusing complicated middle section that introduces all sorts of strange sounds and effects. Ironically enough, despite having the strangest sounds, it has the most consistent groove (between the beat and bassline) and is thus the most accessible track (after "Book of Saturday" of course), dominated by an easy-to-follow cool guitar. "The Talking Drum" is a personal favorite. It's a couple minutes of quiet sparse noise until instruments come in, forming some krautrock-like sound, gradually and gradually building up in anticipation until it explodes into greatness. It's the most frightening track, with the violin and guitar fighting as they get louder and more dissonant. This segues to our final track, the epic "Larks Tongue Part II." It's our hardest rock, very fast-paced and in-your-face but still has its quiet moments. It explodes one more time before ending the whole record.
Wed Aug 30 2023
5
amazing!
Tue Sep 26 2023
5
gloriously weird. 5 stars.
Wed Nov 02 2022
4
C'est sûr qu'à la base j'aime beaucoup King Crimson, donc j'ai un préjugé favorable envers le groupe. J'aime beaucoup cette série de 3 albums (les 2 autres étant Red et Starless and Bible Black). Red reste mon préféré de cette série, mais Larks' Tongues est très près. J'aime les dissonances dans les pièces et ses côtés très rock par moment. Les percussions aussi sont intéressantes. Le côté deux drums sur Larks' Tongues part 2 donne un aperçu de ce que le groupe fera plus tard avec sa formation en double trio. La pochette est superbe.
Thu Nov 03 2022
4
Un album simpatico. Bello il sound degli anni '70. Interessante la combinazione degli strumenti.
Sun Nov 06 2022
4
Belle découverte, je trouve ça vraiment intéressant, même si je ne l’écouterais pas tous les jours
Sun Nov 13 2022
4
Samo se nadam da je dobar kao što je album cover. 8:21. // 9:07 - ovaj album mi je bolji od In the Court of Crimson King, don't @ me.
Mon Nov 14 2022
4
Normally this progressive songwriting and instrumentals would frustrate me, but I was intrigued from beginning to end! Cool adventure of sounds.
Mon Nov 21 2022
4
ok
Thu Nov 24 2022
4
Sko, þetta er alltaf áhugavert, oft skemmtilegt, og ég mun alltaf vera þakklátur fyrir Robert Fripp. Ég ætla samt ekki endilega að hlusta á hverjum degi.
Fri Nov 25 2022
4
Ein gutes Album, das ich ausnahmsweise schon kannte. Ist nicht zu lang, hat aber ein paar Längen.
Fri Dec 02 2022
4
Of all the prog rock albums I’ve gotten, this is definitely high on the list. It was much cooler than 2112 and the larks tongues in aspic parts 1 and 2 were the standouts.
Wed Dec 14 2022
4
excellent hidden gem. I liked it a lot and would like more listens. probably a 4.5.
Fri Dec 16 2022
4
I was skeptical going in but this was very interesting and enjoyable
Thu Dec 29 2022
4
After a few days of stuff that isn’t Really For Me At All, I was glad to get an album that I know I love. Not one of KC’s top tier releases, but it’s bookended by some of their most lovely compositions. B+
Thu Dec 29 2022
4
Not sure I've ever sat down and listened to a King Crimson album before. There was a lot to like here, but it was pretty spaced-out. 3.5/5
Sun Jan 22 2023
4
I've been taking a deep dive into Prog thanks to a question posited in a Facebook group, "How Prog was Bowie?" The answer: The Man Who Sold the World. Thanks to this discussion, my curiosity, and the movie Mandy, I've been actively listening to King Crimson, early Peter Gabriel Genesis, Can & more of Pink Floyd. To be fair, I had already been lightly dipping my toes into Prog & Krautrock for the last few years. Back to the album - I enjoyed it. It was atmospheric, calming, unnerving, alien, ethereal, and beautiful. You bet I'll be listening to this again. Probably cued up after Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. 4 out of 5 but will likely turn into a 5 pretty soon.
Wed Feb 01 2023
4
Jag räknade på det och det är exakt 79 gånger bättre än Yes och ELP.
Wed Feb 01 2023
4
I liked this. I liked the mish-mash and the quick switch into early metal. I liked it.
Wed Feb 01 2023
4
Real good. Will be adding to my King Crimson rotation along with Crimson King and Red, the latter of which I was compelled to stick on after I listened to this.
Mon Feb 13 2023
4
Lick me bum bum. It's a freakin' masterpiece. A scrunched up sock full of dog shit thrown at your headmaster. A baby in a manger smoking a rolled up cigarette and shouting cruel observations as passers-by. A proud Norwegian woman slipping over in a dance hall. A couple of Nazi barmen pouring a round of orange juice for a group of yoga mums. The ending of Titanic performed by school children for an unimpressed bank manager.
Fri Feb 17 2023
4
Creative, exciting, nerdy. I like it!
Fri Feb 17 2023
4
Speciaal. Maar de willekeur vind ik wel tof
Sun Feb 19 2023
4
I liked their other album better. Ut I have always been a fan of prog rock
Fri Feb 24 2023
4
7/10. Mr. Crimson, were those wet sounds at the start of easy money really needed? A couple pretty cool bits, but some sleepier parts too.
Fri Feb 24 2023
4
8/10 some of the weird animal sounds were grating but overall really cool prog rock, as expected
Fri Mar 03 2023
4
I'm still not sure I "get" King Crimson, but it went really well with the epic thunderstorms sweeping through the area.
Thu Mar 09 2023
4
A typically complexing, rewarding listen. Signs of the direction that King Crimson would take on subsequent albums is evident in the title track, but there still remain traces of the old Crimson in the more contemplative numbers Book of Saturday and Exiles. Easy Money is fine musically but the lyrics haven't stood the test of time But overall a really good album
Thu Mar 09 2023
4
I've never listened to King Crimson aside from the legendary In The Court of The Crimson King but perhaps I should've. This is really good. It does suffer a tad from the pitfalls of prog but it wasn't all that noticeable to me. I could see it being a 5, those title track songs are great. I just can't see it as 5 yet. Maybe after more listens. For now it's a Iron clad 4.
Wed Mar 22 2023
4
A-spictacular album
Thu Mar 23 2023
4
listened to again a trippy prog masterpiece
Tue May 16 2023
4
Smash
Wed May 31 2023
4
Been a fan of King Crimson for decades. Really like the noise aspect of this album.
Thu Jun 01 2023
4
Great prog rock album with some really unique tunes. I'd love to have more structure in it, though.
Fri Jun 02 2023
4
Great
Sun Jun 04 2023
4
Unique blend of psychedelic folk and rock.
Mon Jun 05 2023
4
I mean, is it pretentious, self-indulgent, and pointedly weird? Of course. It's King Crimson. I'd expect nothing less. But it's also really good. King Crimson has the chops to get away with the prog-rock nonsense. It's weird a trippy and painfully slow to go anywhere at times, but that's balanced by the other times. The times when they throw down groves that are so thick and tasty. Or the times when the layering is so complex that you can get lost trying to follow everything that's going on. Overall, it was a great piece of musicianship even if it was exactly enjoyable from start to finish.
Fri Jun 16 2023
4
Some bits are slow, but good payoff
Tue Jun 20 2023
4
A great listen - they really venture into various genres in a way that feels authentic and natural, not forced. Nice flow between songs, no complains. I'm becoming a King Crimson fan.
Sun Jun 25 2023
4
I like prog rock. This album didn’t have as many bangers as court of the crimson king but was overall good
Thu Jun 29 2023
4
progressive and pretty heavy at times. enjoyed this one. highlights: “book of saturday”, “easy money”.
Sun Jul 02 2023
4
I love the more dissonant Stravinsky and Free Jazz sounds, but Wetton is such a vocal downgrade from Lake that its nearly jarring, and knocks this album down a peg for me.
Wed Jul 05 2023
4
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Great sounds. I just wish I had more ears.
Thu Jul 13 2023
4
Now I know a little more about Robert Fripp! This is the first 'progressive' anything album I have heard on this list for quite a while, what a breath of fresh air! Sounds a lot like some of my favourite bands, I can see where their inspiration came from now (in part).
Mon Jul 31 2023
4
Weirder than their debut, but still retains a lot of the signature King Crimson prog sound. Big focus on dynamics, whimsical lyrical delivery, and full-band punctuation. I do feel that Larks' Tongue part 2 crescendos nicely into a bombastic end to the album, and there are a few high points to the album, but King Crimson's slower sound does not do much for me in the grand scheme of the album.
Fri Aug 11 2023
4
There are some rough parts but the soundscapes some songs end up in are absolutely lovely
Fri Aug 11 2023
4
Jazzy prog rock
Fri Aug 18 2023
4
Well, this album was an experience for sure. I definitely enjoy the more accessible material of King Crimson more. Nonetheless, it was not at all a bad experience.
Fri Aug 25 2023
4
nice
Sat Aug 26 2023
4
One of a handful defining British prog for me. I like it though as usual with prog rock, advanced jazz etc., at times it makes me feel sort of dumb and left wondering if the more challenging parts are just artists taking the piss on the strength of their virtuoso abilities.
Sun Aug 27 2023
4
Com a la majoria de discos de Crimson, a 'Larks'...' has d'entrar amb la intenció de predre't; de vagar pels seus desenvolupaments instrumentals i deixar-te anar per cada una de les seves excusions sonores. Indiscutiblement, una de les fites del rock progressiu com a génere
Wed Aug 30 2023
4
Välgjort progrock album. Är inte för intresserade men de e onekligen bra.
Fri Sep 01 2023
4
"Easy Money" dips dangerously close to Pink Floyd territory but the rest of the album is compelling.
Fri Sep 01 2023
4
I had moments, early on in this listen, where I was a little worried about where we were headed. I don't mind my prog music getting a little "far out", but I can't appreciate when it devolves into pure cacophony. It was trending towards the latter at points, but it came back around. There were many pleasant moments here, shows of excellent musicianship that made this an enjoyable listen indeed. I look forward to future re-listens of this one.
Thu Sep 28 2023
4
Nice. I could listen to this over and over.
Fri Oct 21 2022
3
Rock progresivo. Ni fu ni fa.
Wed Nov 02 2022
3
Il s’essaie beaucoup de trucs sur cet album. Je n’y reviens pas souvent, mais j’aime bien.
Sun Nov 27 2022
3
It’s prog rock biatch
Thu Dec 08 2022
3
While I love King Crimson, this album has never grabbed me.
Sun Dec 11 2022
3
Rock progresivo. A veces interesante, a veces aburrido.
Wed Dec 14 2022
3
Before starting this 1001 challenge, I completely misunderstood progressive rock and experimentalism in popular music. So I learned a lot listening to it on some occasions and reading Wikipedia from time to time. It's not my favorite style, and I felt sad when I received some progressive album (apparently, the book's author loves this kind of music). Still, after almost 500 albums, I must confess that I was missing some experimentalism in my daily album. Thanks to "King Crimson" for allowing me to listen to some experimentalism today. I guess that after the subsequent 200 albums, I'll become a fan of progressive rock.
Tue Dec 20 2022
3
Can hear so many modern prog bands here
Sun Dec 25 2022
3
Rating: 6/10
Tue Jan 03 2023
3
Was that Donal Duck at the end of "Easy Money"? If so, amazing Overall, a really decent album enjoyed listening to it too, exciting use of drums, violins, and cello. 3/5
Thu Jan 05 2023
3
I like the violin. I feel this album could have been stronger if there was more structure/direction.
Tue Jan 10 2023
3
I don't think I've ever heard King Crimson, although I know they're huge in prog-nerd circles. Could go either way. Ok it's ultra-prog. Sound-wise, it's kinda like if Led Zeppelin substituted songwriting talent for nerdy technical ability. There are heavy rocking parts and folky sensitive bits, extreme displays of jazzy music theory knowledge, long as fuck songs, etc etc. It's all there. It's not bad, and I like ultra-prog to an extent, but for some reason the lack of real songcraft sticks out. Vocals are a weak point as well. Can't say I'd listen again. 3/5.
Sun Jan 22 2023
3
Interesting for sure. I cant disrespect the talent
Sun Jan 29 2023
3
This album's name is BAD This album's music is FINE At times it gets kind of prog rocky, and that's GOOD. At other times it does this ambient Brian Eno but in China thing which is VERY GOOD. At other times it's generic 70s stoner crap and that's BAD.
Fri Feb 03 2023
3
Not my favorite King Crimson album. The studio recording bonus track kinda was the most interesting.
Mon Feb 06 2023
3
Pretty good but not as good as In The Court of The Crimson King.
Fri Feb 10 2023
3
I'm just not a prog rock guy. I find it kind of exhausting. That being said, this isn't an awful record, it's just not really my thing. There were a few tracks that I could enjoy but overall I can't really see myself choosing to put this one on again. Standout Tracks: Exiles, Easy Money, The Talking Drum (enjoyed parts of this song)
Fri Feb 10 2023
3
I must admit I'm one of those weenies that likes Prog. And of all the Prog groups, King Crimson is one of the best IMO, just behind Genesis and Yes. This group never ceases to impress, constantly evolving and changing their line-up, with Robert Fripp the band leader being the only constant. This iteration brings in one of my favourite drummers, Bill Bruford and bassists, John Wetton. David Cross' violin adds another interesting dimension to their sound. I think the two bonus tracks that Spotify tagged on to the end are really good, but to be fair they shouldn't be rated with the original album material. Their almost heavy metal prog sound was highly influential on bands like Porcupine Tree and Dream Theatre and the improv noodling shows that they can push the envelope. However, I think In the Court of the Crimson King and Red are better albums so I hope they show up on this list.
Fri Feb 10 2023
3
Robert Fripp is an impressive guitar player who’s not afraid to experiment. I like the way he jumps around from heavy rock to jazz to acoustic. David Cross’s violin is also a highlight. Some of the longer songs don’t hold together too well, with the sudden changes of pace, lack of melody and structure, and Fripp’s penchant to create jarring experiences for the listener. I’m not crazy about the vocalist – it’s kinda like they asked, out of the five of us, who’s the best singer?