Reviews (page 11 of 14)
Just an absolute masterpiece. Nothing more I can really say.
Extremely progressive and fantastical, a landmark album. But, travels far from rock at times. Definitely one of the first and most progressive acts of the genre and of all time. But not for everyone.
Really enjoyed the vibe of this one. Listened to it on a rainy day and it was perfect.
Even without the first track, that iconic first track, this album has so much going for it. So much that brings us into the world of prog (I world I dearly love). You've got "I Talk To The Wind," which is pretty much where we start with prog songs with flutes. Peter Gabriel, Tull, and so many others probably wouldn't have gotten very far without this. Then you have the dark keyboard mellotrons of "Epitaph". Such a great track that Lake revived it in the live set of ELP. "Moonchild"... the intro is great. The noodling... at first I didn't care for it at all, but when you realize this is where all of that 72-74 improv stuff the band did COMES from, it makes a bit more sense. Still, you feel like you had to be there. And back to the mellotron with the title track. Picturesque lyrics, grand vocals, acoustic guitar and flute solos. Great, great stuff. And can we take a moment to appreciate the drum work of Michael Giles? It's just stellar, on every track. Personally I like his work on "Moonchild"; it makes the intro that much more interesting. And now we come to "21st Century Schizoid Man". I have heard this song so many times I can't tell you how many. Live, studio, covers... it's one of my favorite tracks of all time. Without a doubt, I could listen to this track at least 2 or 3 times in a row. It's essential to this album, and essential to the history of prog rock. A must for me.
I know of King Crimson but can't say I know any of their songs. If you like prog rock, you undoubtedly love this album. If you aren't a prog rock fan, I think you'll still appreciate it as very good. I'm in the latter camp. For me, it's the mixing of sounds that is so interesting and cool. It gives it a medieval sound. And so a lot of credit to Ian McDonald's work on the flute (I Talk to the Wind), sax (21st Century Schizoid Man), and Mellotron (Moonchild) among other instruments (so many on Epitaph and the title track). Robert Fripp's plucking and playing on guitar also gives it that vintage allure and there's something about Michael Giles' timing and dexterity on the drums. The lyrics are pretty good too (really make you think), which I should hope given that Peter Sinfield's only job was to write lyrics. I can't say I noticed Greg Lake's bass all that much but he shows some nice vocal styling going from snarling on 21st Century Schizoid Man and the title track to more soothing on Epitaph or Moonchild. But then we get that noodling (as it's called) on Moonchild - band members just playing around with sound. I just. I'm sorry, I don't get it. Is this part of prog rock experimentation? At first I was bored as the song slowed to a crawl not even 3 minutes in and then I was a bit puzzled about 2 minutes later when the noodling made me think Mister Rogers' trolley was going to come by. Maybe it's experimental genius but to me it felt like 7 minutes of aimless play (not heaven) that I probably could have done without. Thankfully it was followed by (and closes with) the title track, which was more like the opener 21st Century Schizoid Man (a true masterpiece - the sax layered over guitar and the lyrics, chef's kiss) in its energy and ferocity. You really feel the emotions in both songs. Although again I could probably have done without the last 3 minutes of experimentation. Still, that fusion of rock (guitar, bass, drums) and other sounds (keys, winds, horns/brass) on this album is a revelation.
The Big Bang of Progressive Rock. 21st Century Schizoid Man is a tour de force - the main riff and verses are pure metal - in 1969, no less. The middle instrumental is jazz/rock greatness. All the band members are on fire and it's no surprise that Jimi Hendrix said to Robert Fripp: "Shake my left hand, man. It's closer to my heart." Simply put, it's one of the greatest songs ever written. That's right. I Talk to the Wind gives us a calm moment to recover from the chaos. Epitaph is a post-apocalyptic funeral dirge. "Confusion will be my epitaph" - such a great lyric, and Greg Lake's singing is outstanding. Moonchild is the only weak track for me. The verses are nice enough, but then it's mostly noodling. But that's ok, because then it brings us to The Court of the Crimson King, the quintessential mellotron track. Seriously, if I was told I could only play one album to explain progressive rock, this is the album, start to finish. An absolute classic.
My first ever listen to this album. Super intrigued by the album cover. Its brilliant tbh. Its an album cover you'll never forget. Wow, 21C schizoid man goes absolutely bonkers half way through. Cracking way to open the album. Great tune. An absolute banger to be precise. I really enjoyed how mellow "talk to the wind" went. That solo was beautiful. Could have listened to it for another 5 mins. Absolutely nailed the flute work. Epitah. Some real nice acoustic and slide guitar. Quite a euphoric track. I love how much the drum beats vary throughout the songs. Very different styles. Moon child really goes out there. I enjoy the start then it goes into a total mind fuck. Very experimental. Its like a bunch of mates tripping on LSD whilst having a little jam session not giving AF who listens. Court with the crimson king is a cracker. Its wild when it slows down and blasts out tones which remind me of the mario bro's on the NES. Its genuinely hard to believe this is a first album. I think it would be a near perfect album if it wasnt for the lull in moonchild. Nevertheless, excellent album. I'd give it a 4.5 but i cant. So it will have to be a 4/5. Not quite a full 5 for me because of moon child. Great stuff though. Definitely an album ill come back to.
Knew the name but don't think I ever listened to the music. Except for the first track really liked this. Worth exploring more.
I was nervous about another prog rock album, but I enjoyed this quite a bit. It ranges from pretty standard rock to video game-y to very 60s renfaire. The tracks are long and wandering, the sort of thing that lends itself to getting stones in a basement and listening to. Not sure it needed an extended version, though.
3+
Not sure how to categorize. Sort of rock, sort of improv jazz.
You know, I feel kind of bad for the last album I got. Cut by the Slits should be an album that I remember for what it is. A unique, inspired album that, while it isn't really my thing, is an album worthy of my respect and time and was way better than I thought it would be. Instead, it seems I will only be remembering that album as "the one that came between two of the greatest prog rock albums of all time." I got The Dark Side of the Moon the day before, and now I've got In The Court of the Crimson King the day after. That's neat. Anyways, I say these are two of the greatest prog rock albums of all time not just because they both have immense cultural significance, but because they're also both amazing. I already talked extensively about Dark Side in that review, so now it's time to explain why I like King Crimson so much. Compared to Dark Side, In The Court is a much more somber album, with the lyrics focusing on heavy allegories for the Vietnam and Cold Wars. This is perhaps most evident in songs like "Epitaph" and the title track. The variety on this album is great too. Despite there only being 5 songs, it feels like there's more, mainly because some of them are split into multiple sections. If you compare a song like "21st Century Schizoid Man" to one like "I Talk to the Wind," you get two pretty different sounds. I've mentioned 4 out of the 5 songs now, so I might as well say something positive about "Moonchild" just to say something about all 5 songs. I like that one. Despite being 12 minutes, it surprisingly doesn't overstay its welcome. None of the songs do, and neither does this album. The singing is pleasant, even with the crunchiness of the aforementioned "21st Century Schizoid Man." I love the sound. The chord progressions are just beautiful. Overall, this is another amazing album that I get the hype behind. 5/5.
Meh
Probably one of the most "iconic" rock albums! Up there with "The Velvet Underground & Nico" and "Abbey Road." Practically, "In The Court Of The Crimson King" is fantastic. "Schizoid Man" is among the most futuristic numbers at the time, and the title track contains great arrangements and wonderful vocals from Greg Lake, whom later went on to form Emerson, Lake & Palmer. "Epitaph" is mind blowing too, it is a really strong song and conveys deep meaning with simple words, "Will no one lay the laurel wreath when silence drowns the screams?" The Achilles' heel of the album is "Moonchild - Including The Dream and The Illusion", which is incohesive and drowses on. But that doesn't stop me from rewarding "In The Court..." a solid 5 star.
First song is good and the last song is ok. Not sure what was going on in the middle there. Never got the hype around this album.
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: 21st century schizoid man, Epitaph, I talk to the wind, The court of the crimson king
Good mix of music. Some good classic rock. Some nice jazz room spots.
I want to like this album, I really tried. There are some great pieces but then it loses me. Great horn parts followed by weird prog rock chaos. I’m glad I finally gave it a listen but it’s just not working for me.
Sigh…I’ve tried several times to give this album another chance. 21st Cent. Schizoid Man IS a fun song, but it’s not indicative of the rest of the album. The rest of the album is why “prog rock” gets a bad name. Far too meandering, overly pompous, very much in love with its own cleverness. And fairly dull. The 2 stars are only for the opening track’s catchiness. Maybe save the
Oi banger deze, goede gekke prog En wat een hoes, nog steeds blij dat ik deze op lp heb, alleen al daarvoor Wat blijft moonchild wel een random nummer zeg
Had deze nog nooit geluisterd, wel heel vaak voorbij zien komen qua naam, wilde deze al heel lang luisteren Meteen de Kanye sample om mee te beginnen Hoe kan ik deze nog nooit geluisterd hebben, wat een album
A classic for a reason. I have this on vinyl, so clearly loved it enough to buy it at one point, but I think it's so classic that I just rarely turn to it. It's also probably the only King Crimson album I know well enough to make any sort of commentary on. Might dig into other stuff now that I'm back here. I hear 1974 is their year.
Good, but blown out of the water by bands that came later and did it better.
21st century schizoid man bangs of course but like every song has an extra minute or so of outro lol
DNF. Fand den ersten Song anstrengend. Ist glaube ich nicht so meine Musik
4 for variety. I’ll probably revisit this one, but get the setting and substances right.
This album is the prototypical prog rock record. Experimental and grandiose it begins with the punchy 21st Century Schizoid Man before plunging into the more introspective and meandering middle three songs before ending with the melodic and anthemic In the Court of the Crimson King. The music here is sometimes driving, sometimes whimsical, and is influenced strongly by jazz, especially bebop. The musicianship is top notch featuring exceptional guitar, bass, and saxophone/horn work.
The flute on I talk to the wind is everything. Hadn't heard any of this apart from 21st century schizoid man before. Wigging out and jazzy with it. It's pretty good but probably won't be listening to this on the regular. But in a certain time and place this is sweet and the flute and mellotron make it 👌
In some parts we’re really cool but I personally can’t get into prog
The last two songs are good. 2/5
I really like the wind section on song 2
I had never heard of King Crimson and my only familiarity was from Kanye West's sampling of 21st Century Schizoid Man. I really liked this album though on first listen and am looking forward to a future relisten. The only song that didn't do much for me first time through was I Talk To The Wind. The other 4 at least I found interest in. Hard to pick between 21st Century Schizoid Man, Epitaph, and Court of the Crimson King for favorite from first go around. I loved the heavy feeling of 21st Century Schizoid Man. The lyrics were a little hard to pick apart on first listen but I liked the vibe. The lyrics of Epitaph were both comforting and horrifying in the fact that they felt like they applied to today, as well as the time in which they were written. Court of the Crimson King had a familiar feeling so maybe I have heard it somewhere along the way once or twice and not remembered it. I absolutely love the imagery in this one.
it was decent. i took a nap to it. it felt kinda melancholic , possibly. imaginative. i dunno if its really the type of thing i'd listen to a lot, but it wasn't bad.
Me gusta mucho y he estado dudando mucho rato, pero creo que no quiero ponerle un 5. Pero vaya maravilla de disco, merece su fama.
Meh
Dog the meandering guitars, layered instruments, and LOVES EPITAPH!
THE KING OF ALL MY MOST FAVORITE INFLUENTIAL ALBUMS OF MY YOUTH. 500 STARS
Listen to the lyrics. Very cool! Variety of instrumentals is unique
Pretty okay
This album took me a long time to get through. The first song absolutely goes, but everything after that is a painful, twinkly, snoozefest.
I like this album a lot. It's very interesting and I love the fusion of genres and sounds. Incredibly creative for the time and it ended up being such an inspiration. Definitely a classic that's worth listening to.
Super rad album! I loved all the jazz influences as it starts out. It's kind of all over the place with jazz, rock, blues. I do start to get fatigued by the end, but I think that's a mood thing. Its crazy this one came out in 67!
Prog rock was, I suppose, *necessary* for rock to evolve and avoid the trap that US country music now finds itself — self-referential anaemic reverence of tropes so worn out you they’re like muslin in the sun. But did it have to be so outright dull? There are two ideas, maximum, on each of these tracks. And then there’s buggering about on a keyboard, committed to tape, and regarded as some sort of innovation. No. This says nothing, means nothing, evokes nothing. Dirge.
the first few tracks were kinda weird to the ears but the last few were quite good
Can appreciate why people like it but it's not for me. Found it kind of uninspiring.
Great, dynamic album with incredible instrumentalists. Drums and woodwinds in particular flash a lot of skill. Like much prog rock feeling takes a back seat to technicality and fantasy/sci fi themes take themselves a bit too seriously.
#204. Albums like this are why I started doing this. To find albums that I have never heard [and would probably otherwise never listen to] that are good and that I like. But unfortunately this list is pretty weak. Out of the probably like 150ish so far I've never listened to previously, this is only like maybe the fifth one I want to listen to a second time. I don't know why I never listened to this before, it's fairly similar to shit that I do like, but here we are. Definitely adding this one to the list. 4/5: yarp *this is the twenty third album I purchased from this list Song added to playlist: The Court of the Crimson King I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
This is one of the albums I have been meaning to listen to for the longest time. I knew 21st Century Schizoid Man going in, and I kind of expected the rest of the album to sound like that, but only the title track has the same sound. The slower songs aren't bad, just not what I was expecting. It is crazy that this album came out in 1969, it is way ahead of it's time. Great drumming on the songs that bookend the album. I don't find the album cover super appealing, but it is definitely iconic.
classic ahhh rock
4.5/5. A staple in progressive rock history. 21st Century Schizoid Man is a feat unto itself, love it even more now that I know it’s meant to be an anti-Vietnam War song.
Not my cup of tea
Really nice blend of some classical instruments and the more rock oriented sounds I'm used to from later music. I know this band is one of the prog forefathers, and it's good that I'm finally listening to them.
The Large red man is staring at... something. What is he looking at? Why is he so frightened. Further we tread into the maw of madness but what do HE see? a great album! I love the mixing and the use of horns. Fantastic early prog rock.
Spectacular, avante garde, irreverate. This album feels fresh and exciting. The Kanye West 'Power' sample running through the first track is a brilliant Homage. This album is emotional, melodic, grand, everything I would look for in progressive rock.
Glad Kanye plucked these songs out of obscurity
One of the masterpieces of progressive rock, but obviously polarizing if you have negative opinions about the entire genre. For me, the only stinker is the ending of Moonchild, but even then the rambling second half serves to calm everything down before the big hit of the last track. Everything about the instrumentation in this album is so good. The harmonies, the absolute mastery of the instruments, the composition, everything. All timer.
I should have rated yesterday’s album a 3 This whole thing should allow for half stars Had never listened to this before but well acquainted with the sample in Power Interesting to listen to one of these foundational text type of albums
This is one of if not my dad's favorite band. I expected not to like it but found it enjoyable. 21st Century Schizoid Man was my favorite track. I laughed at the horns towards the end of In the Court of the Crimson King. Listening to this makes me want to give an honest try to their other givings as well as progressive rock in general.
A lot of love for this album.
Didnt like it at all prog sucks ass
absolutely fabulous progressive 60s rock
What a delight! So surprised because I confused King Crimson w/ King Diamond and I really didn't want to listen to satanic metal this morning. Thoroughly enjoyed this album especially the atmospheric sounds of Moonchild. Also I had no idea that Kanye West sampled from this album.
Man, this album deserves all the accolades it gets. My only wish is that it was longer.
Not my style.
Woah...21st Century Schizoid Man...I never new what that sample was saying on Kanye West's Power but now I do. That's super cool, I know Stevie catches samples much better than me, and this was an easy one, but still cool to get it from a band I learned to like on their last album here.
Screamy red man album. This one is the stuff of legends, it's up there with Dark Side of the Moon as the album that your pretentious music nerd friend won't shut up about. Memed to oblivion, but I haven't heard it in full yet, so let's see if it's worth the hype. Of course, it's got "21st Century Schizoid Man," infamously sampled by Kanye West on "Power." That's a cool song, sounds nothing like "Power," which is why sampling is so fun. A few other great tracks on here too. I'm into this prog stuff, I'm not entirely sure if I like this album or Larks Tongues in Aspic more, but safe to say I'm a fan of these guys. That said, I also don't see this as "best album ever" by any stretch, so it doesn't quite live up to the pedestal in the way Dark Side of the Moon absolutely did. But it's still a great ride, and knowing this is one that I'm sure would grow on me too, I'll give it the half-star bump. Glad we finally got this! Favorite tracks: 21st Century Schizoid Man, Moonchild, The Court of the Crimson King. Album art: Screamy red man. This poor guy looks like he just noticed the door of the room he's being wheeled into is labeled the "Penis Explosion Chamber." 100% iconic, no notes. 4.5/5
Þessi lét mig endurhugsa alla skoðanir mínar á proggi fyrst þegar ég hlustaði. Aðalega 21st Century Schizoid Man. Hlusta enþá aðeins á þessa plötu og Red. Geggjaðir gítarar hjá Fripp. Talk to the wind fallegt þó það sé smá nördalegt prog. Epitaph aðeins of mikið prog samt fínt. Moonchild geðveikt svo furðulegt og þunnt sound á öllu. Og svo The Court Of The Crimson King bara epískt. Sorry pabbi 4.5
Fínasta stöff. Mér fannst það samt smá leiðagjarnt. Á örugglega skilið 4 en persónulega fannst mér þetta vera 3.5
Talsvert betri plata en ég átti von á, enda með innrætta fordóma pönksins gagnvart proggi. Ágætis vinnutónlist og 21st century schizoid man finnst mér magnað lag. Þó líklega ekki eitthvað sem ég á eftir að hlusta á aftur.
Meh
Good stuff, drum solo and flutes are a nice mix. Moonchild was too trippy for me. Also noticed the first track is sampled on Kanye - Power.
So Psychodelic and harmless.
I liked this far more than I anticipated and it sticks in my craw to say it for personal reasons that don’t belong here lol. I can see their influence and I guess I can’t really claim to like The Mars Volta and not like this
The album cover that was prominently placed on my Introduction to Probability and Statistics in my Bachelors degree in maths. A clever way to introduce a new generation to prog rock.
Mixed bag of orchestra rock and psychedelic noodling
I like it :D
great album mayb 9/10
Regardless of what the band would do in the years following this, King Crimson's debut is undoubtedly the album that would lay the foundation for the genre of progressive rock for years to come. From the thunderous vocals by Greg Lake on the opening track backed by a furious and up-tempo instrumental featuring heavy guitars and loud horns at its start, the calm before the storm in the folk-like I Talk to the Wind featuring some pleasing flute, the soaring yet dark horns and synths of Epitaph as Lake sings about the fears of the what will come tomorrow in a world frightened by the Cold War, the ambient and jazz improvisations of Moonchild, to the grandiose closer, every moment on In The Court Of The Crimson King never fails to impress even well over 50 years after its release. "The fate of all mankind I see is in the hands of fools"
Sure!
I’m just not into it. It’s a ground breaking interesting album that is not for me.
Finally - some good music! What an incredible 'first' album! Something completely different at the time! Still works for me today!
The title track is of course the standout. The rest is maybe a bit too abstract and experimental for me.
Not badddddddddddddd. Some great dynamics going on in this!
A mish-mash of overly long songs rock songs paired with megaphone vocals, gentle breezes, blaring saxophones and fairy-filled flutes all crammed altogether. I didn't hate it and I could clearly seen see what they were going for. "I Talk to the Wind" felt like they finished the song and then kept recording for another 3 minutes while some members of the band continued to screw around with their instruments until they ran out of tape. Standout track on this album is "Epitaph." On a side note: I'm not sure who I like less - King Crimson or Jethro Tull.
While I can understand why this was unusual aand attractive after the musical stylings of the early 60s, I've come to the conclusion that prog rock just ain't my bag. It's long and unnecessarily drawn out songs are more distracting than enjoyable listening.
Didn't really like yjis one.
Scary looking schizoid album cover
I bought this on vinyl 25 years ago, and it's always a favourite listen. The first Crimson I heard was from Discipline, so I was used to that slicker version of Crimson with Adrian Belew. Hearing this rougher version of the band, with Greg Lake singing is mind blowing enough, but the idea that Court of the Crimson King was originally written as a country song by the guy from Foreigner. It's a treasure!
Loved the bookend songs, the stuff in between ranged from kind of cool to annoying. I can hear the beginning of so many of my favorite bands in here.
My husband gives this album a 5. He even painted this album cover in the Freedom Tunnel, with a train coming out of the mouth. I’ll be generous and give it a 3.
Could not finish. Didn't like. 1/5
King Crimson opens with a absolute masterpiece with In The Court Of The Crimson King. This album, in respect to its influence, is undoubtedly one of the most driving forces behind the era of appraised greatness for rock in the 70’s. King Crimson accomplished this by combining sounds and genres of the past into the Rock Scene. My personal favorites, 21st Century Schizoid Man and The Court of the Crimson King, can show this perfectly. Take the opener. The sudden rush of those guitar strings and instrumentals plus the rave singing, which goes quickly away and comes back, is one of the BEST things I have heard in Rock (might be a bit biased because of Kanye’s Power). All in all, In The Court Of The Crimson King is an amazing album. Best Song: 21st Century Schizoid Man Worst Song: Moonchild
This is one of my favourite albums of all time.
some parts of I Talk To The Wind really reminded me of the Beatles. this album is one of the (recently relatively few) instances where I absolutely agree it's a must-listen. the musicians kick ass, all of them, but I love the drums in particular (especially on The Court of The Crimson King), an incredible blend of jazz and rock drumming. cool stuff
A strange mix of jazz and psychedelic 60’s music. Didn’t enjoy it. And all the songs were so long!!
Liked the first track. The last track/title song is good but also very generic. Overall, loved the album. 4 stars.
Not my cup of tea.
I had never listened to this album despite seeing the album cover a bunch of times and being intrigued. This was definitely up my alley. Will keep this in my regular rotation.
It was a good album. I really liked the first couple of songs.
10/10. Felt like a more experimental Beatles to me. Loved it. Moonchild got a little too experimental but 21st Century Schizoid Man and Court of Crimson King both made 5 ⭐️ song list.
Timeless
Gear: Dunu SA6 Mix (2014 Remaster): wahnsinnig detailverliebt aber ein bisschen schwach auf der Brust Musik: der Einfluss auf Prog-Rock des blendenden “21st Century Schizoid Man” überstrahlt den Rest des Werkes deutlich Wertung: 😱😱😱(😱)/5
Not just a pillar in progressive rock, but a fantastic album in its own right. Expansive, indulgent, at times nightmarish and a bit silly, a listening experience that you’ll never forget.
Fun
A really good piece of rock music.
beaaaaautiful
Too Ozzy.
Lots of great highlights on this album, but it bogs down a bit in places.
this album is like the abbey road of prog rock. since it's initial release people cannot and will not stop talking about how amazing it is. this album's first side starts like a beautiful nightmare and the second shifts into a very colorful dream. it's almost perfect if not completely perfect in terms of how it's written and played. probably the best usage of a mellotron i've ever heard too.
not sure about the first track but the rest of this album is awesome
Wish the songs were separated, both in terms of track list and content. Some really great classic rock moments separated by half-empty challenging soundscapes. Favorite: 21st Century Schizoid Man
I liked this a lot more than I predicted! The straight up noise was grating at times but this guy is very very talented!!
It was pretty damn good. Can see why it influenced so much prog
I think meandering tends to be a style feature of prog, one I don't particularly enjoy. There are individual parts I like but just as often there are parts I find diffucult to understand why they were included in a particular song. This happened a ton while trying to listen to this album, including a few times I had to check my phone to see if my player had accidentally stopped.
As I said in Discord, too much prog, not enough rock.
I really enjoyed this! I think I’m learning I’m into prog rock. Moonchild was cool and also wavered further into the art rock side and lost me just a bit. Overall a really interesting listen with some great musicality!
A masterful prog rock album by prog rock giants. I tend to forget how jazzy and smooth it is because of the overexposure to the 21st Century Schizoid Man and the title track. How this band isn't in the HOF is beyond me and one of the true crimes of the music world. I'm really hoping there are more KC albums for this challenge. Favorite tracks: all of them!
This album would be perfect if it weren't for the last eight or so minutes of "Moonchild." I know a lot of people share this sentiment, but it really is frustrating how great the rest of the album is compared to it. If you haven't already heard this album, you should give it a try. Highlights: 1, 2, 3, and 5.
This record has so much reputation to live up to I am not sure it ever could. It's a great record, but it lags at some points. So the highs are crazy high, but there is a lot of just meh in here as well.
a must listen to anyone semi-interested in music
Tight, influential and inventive. Ahead of its time.
There is a time in my life, when this would’ve gotten an easy five stars. It is still a great album, certainly notable and influential, great album cover, challenging and memorable. But I think I have become somewhat disillusioned by the sheen of progressive rock, and some of the things that I once loved about this album— like the extended instrumental noodling on “Moonchild,”—feel too self indulgent now. But the journey of this album is tremendous. “21st Century Schizoid Man” is so heavy. I love the use of Mellotron on this album (I’m a sucker for that sound). I think what’s keeping me from giving it a full 5/5 is how self-serious and humorless it is. I also feel like if we’re talking about early prog albums, this list egregiously omits “Days of Future Past” by The Moody Blues, so I’m pouring one star out for that album.
Wut 10/10
Some pretty incredible stuff on here. And some pretty tasty noodles, too.
Hmmm, heard of this band for ages but this is the first time I’ve ever listened to them
Now, this is what this list is for! I have listened to quite a lot of music in my life. For the most part, I know what I already like and I know some of the things that I don’t like. What I was really hoping for was to find some of these gems that I just didn’t know existed. Now, this is a perfect scenario. I was driving on a beautiful spring day in an area I wasn’t even familiar with with the windows rolled down. This album was absolutely the right album at the right time! The differences in textures and tones, instrumentation vocals kept light and springy I’ve heard of King Crimson for many years, and somehow missed the boat. I just bought a new ticket. All aboard!
Perfect album
Notable tracks: all
What a strange album. The first track, 21st Century Schizoid Man, is awesome. So much energy. (Am I right in thinking Kanye samples it at some stage?) After that it's much more laid back. It's fine, but nothing comes close to the first track. 3.5 stars
Ok.
psychodeliczny jazzorock. Gdybym palil trawe to pewnie bym tego sluchal. Ciekawe ale na raz.
I, Giorno Giovanna, have a dream
Now I know where Kanye got that sample.
21st Century Schizoid Man - GREAT SONG. I Talk to the Wind feels very Beatles-esque
As suspected, I did recognize the first track and it just made me want to listen to Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album, which I did almost twice through on Friday. Loved that first track of this album and liked the rest enough.
Well, another 5 star gem from my teen years. I remember hearing this first while visiting my brother Dan in I believe 1970. A weird, startling open number and then 4 lovely prog rock songs following. This was my first mega box set, with 20 CDs, 2 DVDs and 4 Blu-ray Discs, purportedly covering everything they recorded or performed live in calendar year 1969. A pretty fun package. Also a staple of card playing evenings in high school.
Reddit’s favorite album. Just listened to this a few months ago as I gave it yet another chance. I think it’s always going to be good, not great for me. Epitaph and ITCOTCK are my two standouts.
21st century Schizoid man, gesampled door Kanye in Power, prima binnenkomer! Sowieso benieuwd, ik ben er achter gekomen dat ik progrock best wel kan waarderen en vond Larks Tongues... best wel nice. Dit is volgens mij hun bekendste album! Hm, waar Larks Tongues een soort episch album was vind ik dit juist veel rustiger en ingetogener.. Beetje jammer! Enige waar iets van dat vorige album gebeurd is The Court Of The Crimson King. Dat is dan ook denk ik mijn favo nummer van dit album. FAVO: 21st centruy Schizoid Man, The Court Of The Crimson King
Possibly the first entry in the defining of a new genre in popular music. The prototypical album of 'Progressive Rock'.
samo prva okej ostalo nista spec
Five stars for the gorgeous vocals of Greg Lake, the sublime flute work of Ian McDonald, particularly on the bonus track duo version of I Talk to the Wind, and the masterful guitar performance by Robert Fripp. Standouts also include The Court of the Crimson King and the perfect Lake song, Epitaph. I have to subtract a star for the free-form jazz influence. I got into prog/art rock in high school, and the classical music and Medieval or Renaissance influence was part of the draw. I get that when this album was first released in 1969, it was hailed as the New Sound, but years have passed and the free-form jazz-rock hybrid has been parodied too successfully. "Tap into the Future," indeed. Opening the album with 21st Century Schizoid Man, and having that devolve into the rock version of an orchestra warming up, was off-putting. In conclusion: centuries old influence = great music; free-form jazz influence = get this song over with already.
Psych/prog with all the bells and whistles. Very spectacular at times. Also quite experimental at time - almost learning towards slow experimental jazz.
Super -
I was young when this came out. But my older cousin wanted this for his bday. I listen to it and it was incredible. It helped me growing up to develop an ear for music, especially if it’s ground breaking like this one.
no
Slightly knew one song, decent but not very me
Not my bag
I've been waiting for screamy man as I'd never listened to it in it's entirety. Enjoyed some but I think it peaks with Epitaph
Some of the albums make me question just how they were recorded when they were, and this is another one of those. It sounds SO crisp and clean. I think Moonchild is the obvious low point here but I really enjoyed the other tracks.
So fresh and experimental. New sound for me.
In The Court Of The Crimson King is a pretty good and interesting album. The album contained quite a bit of unique elements going beyond just rock with elements like jazz and classical which i really appreciated. I felt that the singing also fit the album quite perfectly. This album might not be for everyone with the long length of the songs and the progressive and experimental elements but it still had enough interesting elements to keep me engaged. Best Song: 21st Century Schizoid Man Worst Song: I Talk To The Wind
+1 estrella extra por la portada
Sheesh. Ok I know it’s a classic and yes, of course, well done this lot but it’s way too jazzy for me.
Solid
5 prog rock epics all on one album. While I think 'Red' is their best album, this one comes reasonably close. Hard to think of a more fiery opener to an album than 'Schizoid Man', 'Epitaph' is hanuting and epic, and then the closer is a wild journey to finish it off. Love it.
I imagine one doesn't get into the Crimson King's court without an audition in which the moorings of your mind are thoroughly examined. Do you question war, religion; do you have equal love for pastoral flutes and jazz-rock? Have you committed William Faulkner's Nobel prize acceptance speech to memory?* Welcome. I hear bits of this album strung far and wide across prog rock's 70s heyday, from its smooth, streamlined full-bodied sound to its minimalist experimental textures. *(an excerpt) "Our tragedy today is a general and universal physical fear so long sustained by now that we can even bear it. There are no longer problems of the spirit. There is only the question: When will I be blown up? ... It is easy enough to say that man is immortal simply because he will endure: that when the last dingdong of doom has clanged and faded from the last worthless rock hanging tideless in the last red and dying evening, that even then there will still be one more sound: that of his puny inexhaustible voice, still talking."
very atmospheric album. really gets you in
Listened to it as I was falling asleep in the Love Library trying to do comm 103 homework. Good to not fall asleep to
Makes me want to put on flip flops and smoke a pipe in my vegetable garden
Only last half way...
Tiens, du rock progressif. Un album d’une heure mais avec 5 titres, ça ne trompe pas. Évidemment ça part en free jazz par moment et c’est bien relou. Évidemment il y a des expérimentations sonores j’imagine trippante et c’est bien relou. “21st Century Schizoid Man” part bien pendant 2 minutes, le reste part en couille avant de retomber sur ses pieds à 1 minute de la fin. Ca enchaine avec “Talk to the wind” toute douce, assez agréable en admettant une impro de flûtiau sur les deux dernières minutes. “Epitaph” repart sur du plus grandiloquent, peut être une des meilleures de l’album. “Moonshine” est bien pendant 2min30 avant de virer en trip complètement vide de tout pour 9 putains de minutes. Et pour finir “In the court of the Crimson King” qui nous apprend que Polnareff leur a tout pomper pour écrire “Lettre à France”. Encore une très bonne chanson. Il y a donc de l’excellent et de l’intolérable sur un même album. Il faut savoir trier, mais dans l’ensemble c’est effectivement très bon.
I thought this was going to be soulful sax. I was very wrong.
A stone cold classic
Couldn't get through the first song.
I enjoyed this. It was wild and weird and I felt like I was at some sort of medieval fair.
Partly good. I’m no fan of the prog style of singing and lyrics. 3.2
I didn't really care for this one. Nothing catchy.
it was hit and miss, but mostly miss.
All of those things I may have said about prog not being so bad during the Genesis listen....I take back. I made it through the record though, so I guess that means it gets a two.
Anfang vom ersten Song ganz gut, zweiten hatte ich auch schon in der Playlist. Rest zu eintönig, nervig.
Enjoyed it, but wasn't face melting.
Yea it was ok. Another prog rock album. And perhaps the first of its kind. Different in an OK way.
This was an alright trip into prog rock in the 60's with some nods to English antiquity. Great to listen to at work.
Prog rock has been one of my best takeaways from this project. Its a genre I'd never really explored and the more I hear the more I'm into it. For me this wasn't up to the level of Yes or Rush, but still a great precursor.
“21st Century Schizoid Man” was great, the rest a bit too prog for me. As far as prog goes it’s solid but it’s not something I tend to go for. Great album cover though.
Amazing album especially for its time. Really interesting changes almost never felt bored, drummer was pulling out some fucking beats - great listen. Feel like this should be a 5, but despite enjoying listening to the album I won’t be rushing back to hear it again. I think 5 stars should be reserved for albums that I want to put on and listen to again and again. This felt more like going to Thorpe park, I had fun but probs won’t be back for a couple of years. It still is a very very high 4 though Stand out songs: 21st century schizoid man The court of crimson king
Can't believe I had never really listened until now. It is the 6th highest album on rym and I have always been meaning to. It is so highly regarded for good reason though I did love it and would much rather play it over other albums from this era. I think it would be one of my favourites if it wasn't for the utter waste of time moonchild was. It doesn't kill the vibe or need skipping it just does nothing for me. But for an album that came out in 1969 it is amazing. All in all still has to be 5 stars. Stand out songs: 21st Century Schizoid Man Epitaph The Court of the Crimson King
Solid album, own it. Really trippy and weird with a huge reputation.
This is really unique, super interesting album. It seems like it's generally classified as progressive rock (and I haven't been a big prog rock fan so far), but it's very early prog rock and pretty different from what came in the '70s. It's definitely a rock album, but it's also really jazzy and classical music influences too. The original release is 44 minutes but only five songs, so they're each pretty long. There's long stretches on most of the songs that are like jazzy and symphonic, it's really unique. This is also partially famous in more modern times for Kanye sampling "21st Century Schizoid Man" on "Power" (I had no idea where it was from until listening to this). The part that he sampled has this super like fuzzy electric sound that seems way ahead of its time on here. Beyond that, "I Talk To the Wind" has this really simple beautiful sound that's really enjoyable, "Epitaph" is great too, and "The Court Of The Crimson King" is really big and grand sounding to finish. "Moonchild" loses the plot a bit for me (it's long and a bit more meandering than the others), and there are times where the long songs lose my attention a bit, but overall I really enjoyed this a lot. This is one that was great to listen to closely and I can also see playing in the background and enjoying too. Favorite song: 21st Century Schizoid Man Other: I Talk To The Wind, Epitaph, The Court Of The Crimson King 3/1/24
Gostei Mt desse, de vdd, não achei que ia gostar tanto, escutei só ele o dia todo, e escutaria mais, são Mt gostosas de ouvir, uma vibe boa, onde não eh Mt sobrecarregado de coisa mas ainda tem uma história Mt boa em cada música, uma progressão de acordes e uma composição musical realmente boa. O rock eh clássico mas não eh brega, que eh um estilo de rock que eu não gosto nada, a estrutura de cada música não segue um padrão continuo e repetitivo, assim não fica brega, cada som parece único e cada estrofe cantada tem um significado artístico legal. Além disso, gostei da dinâmica de repetir as músicas so que mais enxutas e com diferenças pequenas mas significativas. 8/10
Honestly awesome jam album. Sounds like the beatles
Really great, loved it all
Mjög gott progg. Progg sem ætti eiginlega að vera hlustað á í þreyttum La-Z-boy í brún-teppalögðu herbergi með appelsínugul-mynstruðu veggfóðri á veggjunum.
Really cool psychedelic album. From what I’ve heard it was ahead of its time.
Yuck
to jazzy
A crossover between Eagles and Jethro Tull.
Yay! Prog rock is invented, now to have a ten year musical arms race to see who can have the smallest tracklist, the most esoteric lyrics, the most complex, key changiest song structure and longest most wanky instrumental sections and solos. 5/10
OK, not really my kind of thing.
Instrumental
1. 21st Century Schizoid Man - I thought I was pretty familiar with and liked this song. I must’ve been listening to a radio edit. The intro and all of the parts with vocals are great, but the long instrumental section in the middle loses me a bit. I’m not anti long instrumental sections… I went to 8 damn Rush concerts. But this is a little too close to free jazz for my taste. Still adds up to a great song, even if the ponderous instrumental takes it from a perfect song down to a merely great one. 4/5 2. I Talk to the Wind - Didn’t expect there to be so much clarinet on this album. Also flutes. Kind of pleasant. Also ponderous. Not what I was expecting from an album credited with giving birth to progressive metal. 2/5 3. Epitaph - still with the flutes!!!! That said, this is way more what I was expecting from this record - there’s a haunting moodiness that makes it feel super timeless. The chord progression is really effective, and the way King Crimson uses the mellotron on this record is unreal. 4.5/5 4. Moonchild - The title is threatening me with some hippy dippy bullshit. And it’s 12 minutes long. On paper, this doesn’t look promising. For the actual listening experience, I can’t decide whether I find the vocal melody kind of haunting or kind of goofy in that vaguely medieval way that makes me unable to take a lot of prog seriously. Once the vocals end, oh boy does it get ponderous - to the point of it sounding less like an instrumental section, and more like they had the tape rolling as the band sat down and noodled for a few minutes before playing for real. Like this song is 12 minutes long and once the vocals end, it’s as if they’re just running out the clock to get to a full 45 mins. Yikes. 1/5 5. The Court of the Crimson King - Among the best openings of a song ever. The drum fill, the mellotron melody. Ugh. It’s so good. …and then there’s a flute interlude? God dammit. On a positive note, the vaguely medieval vocal melody actually works in the context of this song. Clearly the best song on the album and you can understand why it’s so effective as a movie soundtrack, but it’s still undermined a bit by the ponderousness in the middle. 4/5 Overall: This record is substantially more mellow than I was expecting. I know not all early prog is quite as aggressive as what came later, but with 21st Century Schizoid Man as a starting point, I would’ve expected more bite and fewer woodwinds throughout. On the whole, it embodies some of what I like about more proggy music, as well as much of what repels me from that genre. There are moments of transcendence, the musicianship is pretty much flawless, and I can imagine that the stylistic development must have been mind blowing in the late 60s. But it’s also so ponderous in spots, and even the two great songs that bookend the record get sidetracked with momentum-killing interludes. That thought that “this is probably way better if you’re high” kept popping up for me, and I kind of resent music that needs extra assistance to be impactful. No shade to getting high, but the best psychedelia still works even when you’re sober. So, I guess I admire how groundbreaking and influential it was in its day, and there are stretches that are really hit, but listening to the whole record required far more patience than I would’ve expected.
Nada que añadir
Ik schrok wat van het eerste lied, maar de rest is echt wel nice
A couple of great songs with dragged out weirdness in between
YES. YES. YES. How have I gone my whole life without knowing about this album? This album is testament to how valuable this project can be. By doing this, I discovered a 5/5 album and a gateway to a piece of music history I once never knew.
"21st century schizoid man" lives in my head rent free the rest of the album is ok. i get a little bored with the long tracks
A+ Album title and art. Starts super strong, love the gear change into the second track. Loses its way a little the further we get in, but overall quite an enjoyable trip. Confusion will be my epitaph As I crawl a cracked and broken path If we make it we can all sit back and laugh But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying If that isn't 2016 - 2024 in a nutshell I don't know what is.
Powerful. I understand it’s place but not my favorite.
I really liked Epitaph. Moon child is nice and some of the ending part is nice but too long for my taste to add to my library, however fun listen and i don't mind the songs just not my kind to sit down and listen as i have never been a fan of long songs.
5 - Nice
3.5
Le rock progressif est vraiment de la musique narrative. Ça paraît parfois cacophonique, mais je trouve ça plutôt contemplatif
TWENTY FIRST CENTURY FIVE STAR SHIT
Not for me
classic
Unexpectedly awesome
Been listening to this album for 45 years. Still as brilliant today as it was then.
As a prog child, this hits all of the right spots. It does get TOO creative in sections, but the title track "Court of King Crimson" is a forever banger.
Been listening to this one for decades. Absolutely love it
Never heard of these guys, and I will definitely come back to this one a few times. There are some drum and guitar runs here that remind me of Yes but with a more straightforward structure.
Listened to this late but I kind of liked it more than I expected
Must admit, listened while at work so didn’t catch all the lyrics. It’s okay for background music, but I didn’t enjoy as much as I anticipated based on the Wikipedia description.
Best Song(s): Epitaph, I Talk to the Wind
I was big into Jethro Tull in my youth back in the 70s, and this album conveyed a lot of the same vibe. Really enjoyed this one.
All new to me. Great album and I can tell how much it influenced other bands. A classic for a reason.
5/5 - An Observation by Bacon
As album covers go, I was expecting something different. As band names go, this was exactly what I was expecting.
Really enjoyed this. Playful and inventive in all the right ways. Wasn't crazy about the more jazzy bits especially the second half of Epitaph but 21st Century Schizoid Man and In the Court... stood out to me as highlights. I think I like prog now
prog classic
Awesome discovery, instant fan ! Good old progressive rock
I can see why this is a bit of a divisive album but I think it's very very good. Songs like I Talk to the Wind and Epitaph could so easily have come across as twee and Beatlesy, but there is a sincerity that shines through and turns them into incredible pieces of music. Every song feels instantly iconic. Fav track: Epitaph 4.5/5
This has been in my orbit forever but ive never given it the time. Didn't have a seismic reaction to this in the end, but we know this psyche/prog vibe is not so much for me. Regardless, found a lot of it to be quite engaging and its performed very well. Three and a half. Fave track: 21st Century Schizoid Man
Enjoyed this more than I expected to. This band never seemed to fully click for me but this listen I definitely appreciated a solid accomplishment in dramatic and progressive rock. First track is levels above the rest, though. Three and a half.
Has some great tracks on here, but also a lot of experimental tracks that are just annoying.
Great prog-rock album. Probably not for everyone but I was really into King Crimson back in high school so this one holds a special place for me.
Album Nr. 32 60iger Rock'n Roll. Nicht mein Geschmack. Nur die Titel "I Talk To The Wind", "Epitaph" und "The Court Of The Crimson King" haben die schlechtest mögliche Bewertung verhindert.
yeah this is good shit
21st Century Schizoid Man I Talk To The Wind The Court Of The Crimson King
Sound adventures that keep surprising you. When my dad gave me 3 vinyls to start my collection, I was replaying this one endlessly and falling in love
Cosmic horror music! Really all about the first and last tracks, but damn, ain’t they something!?
Unusual album, but good.
This is giving me Meatloaf vibes, in the best way. I really love the orchestral touches and evolution in this. A lot of really interesting bits exist only because they challenged the expectations of what rock and roll should be. I also wish there was more through-composed popular music like some of the songs on this album.
I listen to some modern progressive rock bands but regrettably have never done my due diligence into the roots of the genre. This is phenomenal. Very cool to see the obvious influence on modern music I like. I will be spending much more time with this album in the near future I think (maybe skipping the second half of Moonchild...).
5/5. Okay, a little biased, this is my holy grail of Prog Rock, which is one of my favorite genres. Just a world and vision of spacey creation without feeling derived from drugs, which is hard to come by, especially in the 60s. Fantasy for music lovers basically. There are only 5 songs and each one is very distinct from the other. Schizoid: Banger. Wind: Relaxing. Epitaph: Haunting. Moonchild: Sweet and chaotic. (Sure it lasts a little too long imo, another song would have been cool, still an interesting choice adds to the vibe). Court: Fantastical. It's just really cool okay! Listen to it in a dark room with headphones, nothing better.
Begyndelsen af progressive rock, kanye-sample, til tider ret godt
Interesting…don’t know that I’d ever listened to the whole thing before…if it was the starting point for prog-rock I get it, though I’m pretty sure Genesis and Yes already had their thoughts in mind by this point…they all seemed to be coming at it from different points, no doubt because of different influences and goals
i mean i get the hype but was not for me personally
I've liked this album for a long time. Also liked the bonus tracks on Spotify. Reading the Wikipedia article, I'd love to hear the country version of the title track.
Yessir
Much of the music I listen to today can draw a direct line of influence back to King Crimson and prog so for that alone it gets a 5 even if it's kinda weird and slow in parts
Debut album. Bof.
Kind of jam bandy. Liked it.
Lovely prog
Some recognisable bits but overall not my kinda thing.
Nein Danke - zu experimentell
Man …… this is some amazing stuff. A lot of times, albums that are credited with being groundbreaking and inspiration to other artists just don’t sound that good. This album is timeless, sounds relevant and current today as it did (checks math) 54 years ago. This is the magnum opus of progressive rock albums, every bit as good as Pink Floyd’s albums from the same era. Wow, what a trip!
4.2 I’ve never heard most of this album before and I really enjoyed it. Musically it is very good.
I don’t really like prog rock, it’s often so pretentious and bloated. This album is a rare exception, maybe because it was one of the earliest it wasn’t self aware or self absorbed and so it comes across as earnest. There are a lot of horrifying moments (as in 21st Century Schizoid Man), but also beautiful moments (I Talk to the Wind). The two lengthier tracks on Side 2 feel more like classical suites than rock songs, but they avoid being too abstract by retaining an overall form and theme. I couldn’t decide if this was good or great, I think I’ve had differing views over the years, but it doesn’t have many spare moments and it’s really a well executed document for its time.
Well, I think I can safely say this is the first time I have heard this album and likely any of the songs. Quite an array of material from hard rock to more melodic and epic songs. I had heard of Robert Fripp, but did not know of him being part of this group. It is probably worth giving this another listen given that it is recognized as the beginning of progressive rock and a precursor to groups like Yes and perhaps Genesis.
Cool soundscapes, but lengthy songs.
Remember this album coming out in the days when progressive rock bands didn't release singles from albums. Not a massive fan of this music genre but again some of it I don't mind too much. Listened to this album and thought it was OK apart from the opening track which I wasn't keen on. Give it 3 stars
While I can't help but love Pink Floyd's material in the next few years after the release of this album, there I definitely a certain level of appreciation I can't help but have for the first ever prog rock album. The guitars are absolutely phenominal with how loud yet simultaneously dreamy they are, and the incredible vocals also can't be overlooked. There were definitely a few moments that dragged on a bit and didn't really feel like they added anything, but on the whole this is an amazing album to create a new genre with.
An Epic and Iconic Classic…loved it
Mad Magazine cover was disturbing but the music was ok. Thats about it. Tolerable? Maybe I was primed to listen out of relief because of that techno crap from the last few days. Well, tolerable but also snoozefest.
This is a classic album that aptly represents the times. Always worth and end-to-end listen.
Quite good, did not finish.
54 Years Old and a classic in the symphonic and prog (hard)rock. Of course Moonchild is always a small stain on this otherwise magnificent album, but lets just be happy that it allows us to rejoice when the first notes of In The Court Of The Crimson King fade in. 4,5*
Funky, moody, experimental. Somehow futuristic and old school at the same time.
ein paar sachen ganz ok, aber sonst irres gedudel
Quite an interesting album. Definitely goes on a journey all over the place! Liked parts and not others. Interesting listen though!
Early prog rock. It seems that the halfway point of this record is the precise moment that the genre disappeared up its own bottom. Side 1 is really accessible but still epic. I love, love, love the strings. All three tracks are really cool. The start of Side 2 tips into territory of experimentation at the cost of enjoyment and is barely music for the 12 minute long 'Moonchild'. Fortunately the record comes back to epicness for the closing quasi-title track. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Epitaph Date listened: 30/01/24
Great album with a nice psychedelic and progressive ambience from the 60s. It is clear how it influenced the whole genre in the next decades.
One of the all-time great prog rock albums.
I really liked the vibe of this album
nå så det blev ikke den her, der fik 5 over hele linjen? 👀
Prog-pladen der får alle andre prog-plader til at skamme sig over at de ikke er bedre. 21st century schizoid man er en vanvittig åbner.
Et af de der covers man har altid set og som har sat sig fast. Tror faktisk kun at jeg havde hørt The Court Of The Crimson King før. Pladen er fed progressiv. Jazz i første nummer, men altid med rockede undertoner.
3.5
I'm familiar with songs and hung out in a basement and listened to this on vinyl at some point in my life, but a top to bottom listen of this album is not an experience I had done often or in a long while. I know how influential it is though, and that always makes me excited to listen. 21st Century Schizoid Man is just...excellent. Banger track doing a bit of everything and being lovely about it. It is like an over the top movie chase sequence is a song. The rest of the album doesn't hit the same highs for me and the three longest songs REALLY feel their run time, but there is a lot of musically good stuff happening and I did enjoy listening to the entire album even if it did drag in a few moments.
This was a strange listen, it felt like a lullaby at times or what Led Zeppelin sounds like without the actual rock. Quite pleasant in the background!
I can see why people would enjoy it, but not for me
Increasingly my yard stick for this endeavour is "Would I buy the vinyl album of this?". Yes, yes I would. It sits at the junctions of all sorts of musical alleys that I enjoy. Psych, jazz, prog, rock. It never strays too far into the weeds. For 1969 album it simultaneously sounds of it's exact time and the future.
It’s amazing how well this album stands the test of time. My wife and kids asked if this was a new band I was listening to, twice!
Iconic album, labeled as the birth of Progressive Rock, some great stuff here although”Moonchild” and” I talk to the Wind” tend to put me to sleep. Five stars for originality
Could t get into it.
Meine Fresse, was ein scheiß Gedudel. Sollen Jazz spielen gehen.
Bästa opening track på ett debut album. Schizoid Man är en perfekt låt med otroligt starka lyrics. I talk to the wind lugnar ner albumet med en jätte vacker melodi. Epitaph precis lika vacker melodi som på i talk to the wind men mera dyster, min favorit låt på albumet. Moonchild börjar också med en vacker dyster melodi med fin sång text som sedan förvandlas till ett ganska underligt men underhållande avant garde instrumental jam. Albumet avslutar lika starkt som det börja med en vacker ballad. 5/5
Spacey, trippy, historic. Blends pop and jazz into the quintessential pro rock album of our times.
only becouse there is no zero stars
nicht mein Ding
Very prog-y, in a good way
2.7
he de decir que no escuché demasiadas canciones pero tenía buena pinta y me gustó que kanye west sampleara la primera canción. no le pongo nota porque no lo acabé 😔
Two great songs, but the rest just seem overblown.
Better than expected.
I never listened to this band before. Don’t know how I missed it. Good listen.
Very cool album, considering it's from the 60s too. Got a bit pretentious and filler-y in the middle but it's bookended by two phenomenal performances so I'm quite pleased
Unequivocably one of the GOATs!
A little over the top, but that’s kind of the point if prog. A classic of the genre - not for everyone but I dig it a lot.
I listened this album a lotta times, KC it's one of my favorite bands from all time. It deserves another listen. 21st Century Schizoid Man - It doesn't matter if this song invented metal, or if were The Beatles, The Who or Steppenwolf, this song is just terrifying and exiting at the same time, Fripp made an incredible job setting the feelings. I FUCKING LOVE IT. I Talk To The Wind - Greg Lake voice was on another level, the winds by Ian McDonald are incredible, I do float when I'm listening to this song. Epitaph - Depressing, sad, Greg, Ian and Giles set the feeling again and Fripp uses the mellotron to empower the lyrics by Sinfield making a perfect song. Moonchild - Maybe the weakest song on this album, just because it's weird, but the lyrics explain why the sudden random noises and the silence, it's as weird as a dream, nailed it. In The Court Of The Crimson King - The end of everything, feels like the beginning of a cataclysm, the interludes makes me feel like a sensation of peace in the middle of evil, and the Sinfield are powerful. Outstanding ending. This album changed music forever, although I still prefer Red, I have to admit that this the best work of the band. Top 5 (cause too few albums) Epitaph In The Court Of The Crimson 21st Century Schizoid Man I Talk To The Wind Moonchild
Not my jam. I'm sure prog rock is interesting to some people. But not this person
I can appreciate an album is technically very impressive while hating almost everything about the album !
I really liked most of this album but didn't love the first song (or its reprise). Pink floyd/Beatles vibes
Trippy, cool experimental moments but ultimately not something I feel the need to revisit
Well, what can i say here, THE daddy of all Prog-Rock, a masterpiece record. First record during this list that i heard before and with my unbiased opinion :) i happily give this album 5/5. First time i heard it, i was like wow Kanye sampled "21st Century Schizoid Man" then it grew SO much on me, like idk what story to tell here, if you into progressive rock, just listen to this most influencal album of this genre. Favourite song(s): "21st Century Schizoid Man (including "Mirrors")", "I Talk to the Wind", "Epitaph (including "March for No Reason" and "Tomorrow and Tomorrow")", "The Court of the Crimson King (including "Return of the Fire Witch" and "Dance of the Puppets")".
21st Century Schitzoid Man // I Talk To The Wind // Epitaph // The Court Of The Crimson King
This album is a real mix. It has some good melodies, like I Talk To The Wind, or the main part of 21st Century Schizoid Man. But it also has plenty of sections that are just too experimental / artsy / crazy for my taste. The crazy drags down the album to the point where I don't really feel like listening to it again. If someone created a "sane cut" of this album, I would rate it highly.
Waffled between 2 and 3 stars. After listening to it several times now, I do appreciate some of it. But, too often they wade off into what feels like self-indulgent jam-prog territory.
Slightly better than the musical the gang from 'Always Sunny' put on. But similarly bombastic with lyrics that make me think of a tween who really loves sci fi.
Interesting and atmospheric at times, but leaves a little to be desired enough. Not weird enough to be eclectic, but not normal enough to fly under the radar.