Reviews (page 12 of 14)
Have been meaning to listen to this for a long time and just can't say I'm overly impressed
Listening to Moonchild my housemates probably thought I was trying to summon the Goblin King. Objectively I can understand it being a 5, but jazz and prog rock pay a high rent to live in my head and struggle to get over a 3.
Highlights: "Talk to the Wind," "Court of the Crimson King," honorable mention to the fuzz bass on "Schizoid," probably the hugest sound of the entire decade. The best thing about this album is its dramatic sense of transition. Crashing out of the stressful opener into the flute duet is better than either track in itself, and the same goes for the (progressively worse) dithering of "Moonchild" stumbling into a clearing and getting blindsided by the huge Mellotron theme of the closer. It has incredible *moments* that are spread thin. "Epitaph" is an interminable cliche, huge drag in the middle of the album. Everything people hate about prog is here at its start, too. It doesn't help that the band is not tight at all. It took King Crimson their entire career to learn how to lock in, and they were oh so proud of themselves for that too when they got there. The exciting synched staccato section of "Schizoid" highlights the band biting off more than they can chew, but it's roughest on "I Talk to the Wind," where the drummer Never Stops Filling. Production issues, in short. The lyrics are lovably dopey. "The wind cannot hear" always puts a smile on my face; Spinal Tap couldn't have done better. I like the idea of the album more than the execution, and I think every King Crimson fan does too if they're being honest. Grateful for their influence.
This album has more of a historical impact that’s significant more than me Enjoying the songs themselves. Being the influencer for Pink Floyd this band/album is pretty impressive. However some of the songs drag on. With only 5 songs it doesn’t feel long but each song is unique and its own journey. I don’t love the album like some prog rock fans do but I’m here for its significance. 6.7/10
So it was a perfect album to solo listen to while driving in the rain feeling slightly existential after working a shift of dealing with humanity. Definitely went into the obscure. Moonchild was my favorite. Could see myself dancing to the stars by the ocean to that
Late 60s were an… interesting… time for rock.
Interesting album, long tracks, nice changes
Everybody from Doves to The Flaming Lips to Kanye has lifted stuff from this album. And I can see why sampling these somewhat lengthy tracks is the right move. Credit must be given for the hooks, though.
I'm not sure what I made of this. I'll probably try again and see if it makes some more sense...
Rock progresivo. Se me ha hecho un poco pesado, aún así, ni fu ni fa.
It was a pretty weird album, i didnt like how quiet the vocals were but the instrumentals were good.
I was super excited to get this album today. Then I realized the production quality for this album was really bad, even for the remaster version. As a prog fan, I feel like I have to love this album, in fact, I don't. The mix for vocal (actually not just vocal) overall is just weird.
In The Court Of The Crimson King has some really hatable prog but also some half decent late 60s/early 70s rock sounds. Probably lands in the middle at a 3/5 because it captured my attention.
This is really good, way ahead of its time and well worth a listen. Definitely better than the Pink Floyd of its era, but not as good as later Pink Floyd. I still find that prog rock albums set in fantasy world albums are a bit cringey, and this has its cringey moments, but it mostly manages to overcome them. 3/5
Best Song: 21st Century Schizoid Man. Great song, has been sampled well to great effect. Sufficiently prog without overstaying its welcome. Worst Song: Epitaph. It isn't bad per se, but it does certainly take it's time, feeling like a lengthy mourning for someone I don't care much about. Overall: An almost medieval feeling fantasy prog album that is more often atmospheric than it is in-your-face rock. The opener is the best track, but also feels at odds with the rest of the album, resulting in a listening experience that feels a bit scattered. The sparse jazz of Moonchild feels like it doesn't belong in the same album as the raucous electricity of 21st Century Schizoid Man.
I have seen the album art throughout my life, but had never listened or really thought much about it. It is not what I expected, although I can't say what I was expecting. It's lighter, more genre bending, more free spirited, even haunting at times.
its the true start of prog rock, as a Tool man I appreciate it. Wouldn't seek it out though.
It's pretty proggy in a pre prog way. Some great moments, some less so.
It was clear they’re good but I hate chaos noise so much.
Highlights: 21st century schizoid man Guitar break in moonchcild
wish i liked the album more, like a 2,5/5 for me
h ow does king crimson work
Un début d'album extrêmement prometteur complètement gâchée par une soudaine envie de faire n'importe quoi. On commence à être habitué.
Je suis comme vous le savez en ce moment très occupé, le projet de construction d'une enceinte de 4m sur 5 dans mes bureaux étant extrêmement chronophage. Il m'est donc impossible de rédiger des reviews dignes de ce nom pour le moment.
Reminds me of Moody Blues. Check more later.
3 stars. I’ve never quite understood the appeal with this album. I think it just goes on and on too much. Maybe I don’t have a refined enough palate?
I've tried with this album, I really have. I've owned it on vinyl since the since 2005, and every few years I hear people talking about how great it is, and I decide that this is the time that I'm finally going to "get" this album. Except, I never do. I find this album boring, even for a prog rock album. It's not bad, the compositions can be quite intricate, but ultimately it doesn't inspire anything in me. I think the last song on the album is the best, though even that song has a fake ending that really takes the steam out of the track 3/5
This album made me a bit schizophrenic. Maybe that was the goal. It was a decent album to wash dishes to, only to have the wife come back and complain that I didn't throw away her pancakes.
Trip trip songs
Love the album art - one of the best covers of the era, and that’s saying something. 21st Century Schizoid Man is great, but the middle section drags a bit. The rest is mediocre Renaissance Festival fare.
Strong 3
Top 3 Songs: 1 - The Court of the Crimson King (5) 2 - 21st Century Schizoid Man (1) 3 - Epitaph (3)
The lyrics are not great. The oboe is a welcome contribution on the second track and the Mellotron sounds divine. I ended up liking this more than I thought I would. Robert Christgau called it "ersatz shit" which I love but don't really agree with.
Enjoyed this more than I was expecting, I need to be in the right mood for the Prog-Rock, but this was dope.
The album starts and finishes very strong, but everything in between pulls it down a bit.
One of those records that is great in places, but dated prog nonsense in others
S razlogom je ovaj album smatran esencijalnim. Međutva, meni je dobar, ali ne toliko.
Its pretty decent but its as silly and indulgent as the worst of prog
Promising start, and interesting blend of styles throughout.
pretty good just not something i could see myself listening to much
Title track is sensational
I remember being more into this on previous listens so maybe I just didn’t give it the attention it deserved. Based on this listen, high 3*
A little psychedelic, a little jam band, a little classic sixties rock. Not in love, but I *do* love that they kept the album to terse five (eight, with expansion) tracks. If you love them, maybe 2-3 tracks a side on vinyl would be crappy… Three stars for brevity when being weird.
Enjoyable psychedelic prog - at points sounded like the soundtrack to a Zelda game. The rest was big and noisy enough to sound like they were making an effort.
Snooze...and like Greg Lake..
decent album i suppose its special partially for its innovation at the time, reminds me a little bit of rainbow with dio albeit more 'alternative'
Great album. Early progressive rock. After more than 50 years it is nice to listen to it.
Trippy 60s music
How have I never heard this before? I have heard of King Crimson, but this was my first time hearing an album by them. This was really good! Standouts: 21st Century Schizoid Man, The Court of the Crimson King First listen. Can't wait to hear it again! 3.5 / 5
massa o rockzao progressivo
This album is the debut by English rock band King Crimson. It's one of the earliest and most influential progressive rock albums. Hailed today as a classic in the rock genre but receiving mixed reviews at release, this album helped shape progressive rock before it was ever really classified as a genre. The album's music is beautifully mesmerizing and seamlessly transitions the listener from one track to the next. This album is highly ranked in progressive rock or simply rock album lists, and this album has been certified gold in the US. 'Twas a good album to enjoy for an hour during the workday.
Album needs more time Cover art 5/5
Classic
Fun fun fun
Having never heard of King Crimson before, it was really surprising to hear the song sampled in Kanye's Power. The juxtaposition between the cacophony of how 21st Century Schizoid Man ends and I Talk To The Wind's soft and sweet beginning makes it interesting.
Interesting to see early examples of prog rock, just a bit too unrefined for me in total
Oye, oye! Rock sicodelico que, si escucho bien, todavía puede hacer sentir su influencia en el rock del presente año. A estos locos los conozco sólo de nombre, pero me he llevado ina gran sorpresa.
This was alright. Songs are a bit too long for my taste but otherwise forgettable. 6/10.
In my opinion 21st Century Schizoid Man is the one true highlight of this album. Mixes prog, free jazz, rock freak out into a heady stew. The rest is filler.
This should have been the 420th album, huge miss random album selecting algorithm
7/10, proggy! fun! I feel that most people listen to this because of POWER and it ends up being really good in its own right!
Nonsense, but pleasant enough. Didn't realise before that Greg Lake (from ELP/Xmas) was in King Crimson. Schizoid man and the title track were the highlights for me
A little jam, a little rock'n'roll.
I’d like to check out more of their stuff. This one was a little too abstract for me at time. Like their more upbeat stuff the most
* Decent. Prob 3.5
Pretty abstract, enjoyed it. Didn’t think it was the greatest but still enjoyed it
Felt orchestral throughout which I really liked.
Just before 1970 this album when it came out probably wasn't any other at that time. This is must the definition of an outsider rock band. To do what they like. Explorative melodic music with jazz elements . Very cool album
Rock progresivo. Se me ha hecho un poco pesado, aún así, ni fu ni fa.
Some good songs
christ, that album went on for-ever.
Trying a little too hard in spots to be psychedelic and use unique instruments. I can see why some might have found this album to their liking but I can also see why this band fell apart and went nowhere.
Didn't care for this. Too all over the place
4/10
A disappointing album. The beginning of "21st Century Schizoid Man" set my expectations high, but the rest of the album was very lackluster. The epic atmospheric sounds they try to go for are reminiscent of Pink Floyd, but end up being way more hollow. The track "Moonchild (including "The Dream" and "The Illusion")" is offensively bad.
21st century schizoid man sounds super cinematic. Brass instruments sound super clean. I talk to the wind sounds super boring. Epitaph is good. A little slow, but sounds nice to the ears. Self title "Moonchild" is chill, but the songs included on top of the track are straight ass. It sounds like the band ran out of inspiration for a 12 minute song and played random keys on a keyboard for the rest of the song. Final song had some fun instrumentals going but it faded out to background noise rather quickly. Unimpressed, didnt really enjoy this one that much.
Klingt wie der soundtrack eines Fantasy movie.
En ymmärtänyt. ⭐️⭐️
Well damn. After listening to it I wondered to the reviews, assuming it would be mostly a 2 or 3 star album and I was wrong. People respect these guys and their movements to prog rock. Not sure what went wrong for me. I mostly found it disjointed.
Really?
ok progressive rock album. I know this is a classic album. There were a couple of not bad songs on this album, but overall not anything I would listen to again and certainly not buy
I can fully believe this was earth-shattering when it came out, but its just kinda okay to me. 21st Century Schizoid man is excellent, but i could take or leave the rest of the album.
When there is actual music playing it isn’t half bad but these prog rock albums seem to extend their playtime by having tens of minutes of just hitting random notes or making noises which add nothing to the experience.
Talented musicians. Production quality is good. It started off really promising. But for me, this is a hard pass.
Starts great with 21st C. Schizoid Man, only to fall off of a cliff for the rest of the album. Hippy minstrel psych and zappa-esque farting around. Further proof that just because you can play doesn't mean the music is good.
2,3/5
Incredible lead/title track, mid album otherwise
ohhhhhhh THIS is what people are making fun of when they make fun of prog rock
The first track was kind of fun but it was downhill from there
21st Century Schizoid man - holy crap. Like, it's brilliant but I wouldn't add it to a playlist. And at a certain point you might just be making noise. It's like going on an involuntary musical odyssey. I feel like I should be leading elephants across the Alps rather than sitting in my room. Things can be incredible without being enjoyable necessarily. Moonchild - this is driving me nuts. I'm not smart enough to appreciate this, it's just noise. Court of the crimson king - very atmospheric, I was playing hole i.o while I listened and it felt like I was on a quest. A man a city - we're getting through this but we are not liking the experience. If other people can read this - this is my personal thoughts lol I'm sure the album is technically very good don't take anything I say seriously idk what I'm talking about. If anything, today I learned that I am not a prog rock girlie. Valuable experience in all.
Heard before?:❌️ Will listen again?:❌️ Fav: Epitaph Least fav: Moonchild
No me gustó tanto.
not quite my taste, dont think i´ll listen to it again but musically I really liked it
Started string and quickly fell into 60’s bullshit rock.
A lot of people love this it seems. I was just bored. Enjoyed the title song and that’s all. 2.5 rounding down
nop
It was mid as frick, just knockoff psych
Some cool moments but I'll never listen to it again on purpose
Good study beats B) But boring and a little odd. Extra point for the amazing album cover, this is on my laptop full screen and I am loving it.
I just couldn't quite get into this. I liked the other album, but this one just kind of meandered. I did kind of like the bonus tracks.
These songs are too long.
That first track is a force. I think I like the other King Crimson one we got better.
Didn’t like sound but liked how weird it was at least
Moonchild- lord have mercy longest song I ever heard, kind of good for studying ngl A man a city- pretty good reminds me of an old detective/ action film
Only gets a 2 because of 21st century schizoid man. Why are we randomly clanging items that belong in the kitchen together and calling that music? DNF.
Not my thing. I just don’t get it
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
Not interesting
Fav- 21st century schizoid man 2/5
Weird online retailer tried to sell me a copy of this record today too. Very weird.
okay
So, I liked 21st Century Schizoid Man. Which surprised me, because for whatever reason, my preconceived notion about this album was that I would completely hate it (I've struggled with early prog.). And that was about it. "I Talk To the Wind" was too ren faire. "Epitaph" was ok - but kind of dragged. "Moonchild" I can't even...just what was that? 8 minutes of instrument tuning? "TCOTCK" had some decent moments, but just didn't keep me interested for 9+ minutes. Not for me. I will probably keep Schizoid in my playlist though.
No es mi rollo
As with all concept progressive rock the songs are too long, at 40mins the album is to long could of got away with 20mins if all the fillers were taken out. Such as what sounded like a primary school music lesson. Some of it was good but is it worth all the hype, No.
This band has an identity crisis. The sax sounds great, though.
pretentious self indulgent crap
i only like one song but its not that bad
Not my thing.
Very boring
21st Century Man is such a strong opener that it would have gotten a 5 right then and there. The classic book-end...Moon-Child? Just record a EP if you dont have that much music, seriously...just dont.
Slow, quiet progressive rock and symphonic psychedelia built on Mellotron swells, subdued guitars, restrained rhythms, and calm, distant vocals unfolds with lingering stillness. Listening feels like wandering through a vast, empty hall where sounds echo softly and time stretches out. The result to some might be atmospheric and immersive for me its pacing feels overly slow and subdued.
"21st Century Schizoid Man", the first track off King Crimson's debut record is equal parts abrasive and abstract, making it a distinctly unpleasant listen on two fronts. The second cut "I Talk To The Wind" then downshifts into jazzy, pastoral territory that's easier on the ears but is ultimately more narcoleptic than hypnotic. The pivot point of the album, "Epitaph" is a heavy-on-the-strings number that sounds like it wandered in from a Moody Blues record and finds Greg Lake oversinging in a desperate attempt to infuse the trite lyrics with some sort of emotion. "Moonchild" has about two minutes of something *resembling* a song followed by a vast wasteland of barely-audible keyboard 'n' guitar 'n' percussion noodling. (At this point you are fully justified in taking this album back to the record store and making the case that it is defective.) The band tries to make amends for all the goofing off by starting off "In The Court Of The Crimson King" with a monster Mellotron and choir hook but dumps that after several verses to take a needless trip through fluteland for what seems like forever. (A decent producer would have slammed the door shut on that track after 4 minutes instead of letting it run on for 9 1/2, by which time said hook has completely worn out its welcome.) There's a couple of interesting musical patches here and there on this record, but wading through so much musical self-indulgence to get to them makes it a real chore.
Some of it is ok but most are dragged out or drift off into oblivion. A place I'd rather not return.
Pure 70s rock. I've always heard the name king Crimson but never actually heard it. Nothing standout. Pretty standard 70s prog rock
With over 5 songs on the album toping out over 7 minutes in length it felt like I was in actual court
This album cover is so iconic for such a shit album. I get he’s going freestyle or whatever but 11 min songs at a time come on now . Thought the song was over so many times just to have to listen to more tuning practice . Specific rating - 1.7 Fav song - 21st century schizoid ma Least fav - a man a city
The first track is incredible and then it goes downhill into endless noodling, theatrics and ¨atmosphere.¨ I was bored to death by the end of the second song, which would have been halfway through a Ramones cd.
Mostly a slog, not up to the level of later prog rock masters like Rush. There's a lot of tracks with typical 60s and 70s long noisy jams.
Bof
Realizing I’m a bit prog-averse. My fav parts on here are the quiet bits where Fripp is noodling. Have listened to this quite a bit and have even loved it at times in my life. Gah a 2 feels bad but I won’t be returning.
It's fine, but I would never listen to it on purpose.
2/3
lo definiría como radical. fusiona varios estilos muy distintos, siento que no se define como uno solo pero si tiende a una oscuridad por momentos explícita y por momentos implícita. dice mucho
bisschen zu crazy
very smelly
All the king crimson super fans who think that King Crimson is the best prog band seriously need to listen to 1 Rush album. King Crimson isn’t bad, but they’re no where as good as people say they are.
Wouldn't even consider this a bad album. It's a curiosity. It's an experimental and conceptual story. It's hard to listen on repeat, though, and I qualify listen ability as criteria for a good rating. It's interesting.
Sure the musicianship is pretty amazing as it twists through jazz, psychedelic, classical, rock, but the songs are just so pompous and full of themselves. I guess that's prog for you, but I will not be back anytime soon.
Just no. Too much pompous ridiculosity, not enough music you really want to listen to.
Long ahh songs
Si te gusta el progressive rock esto es espectacular para vos. Tocan increíble. Yo desconocía totalmente la existencia de esta banda. Igualmente yo no soy muy fanático de este género, me resultó aburrido. No me despertó muchos sentimientos. Yo priorizo eso por sobre la calidad musical por así decirlo. El sentimiento. Como dato curioso, sentí que en el 3er tema se les bajó el volumen de todo, nose si tendrá que ver con algun error o algo de la época. Me resulto raro eso, nada mas.
I’ve tried with this a few times, folks I respect love it, I like a lot of Fripp's guest work elsewhere...but it’s just...never happening.
i recognize its great music, not my style though.
A little much for me but I get it
Prog rock...and super long song lengths...to quote Han Solo, "I've got a bad feeling about this." Justified, totally justified. The saxophone parts are cool though. I Talk To The Wind is better, but that's not much of a bar to clear. Damnit...it's just Emerson, Lake and Palmer in disguise. It's so obvious on Epitaph that I'm embarrassed I didn't notice before. Now I can't unhear his voice. Why wouldn't you add a bunch of nonsense noises in the middle of a 12 minute long song? Nothing like random noises to enhance a song. Good lord, this is tedious. Ten minutes of gobbledegook. The Court of The Crimson King is the best song on the album.
Nichts für mich😄
Too much
meh
It was interesting. Honestly schizo man and the title track are the most worthwhile ones. The rest sound like...idk sound checks or something.
better than the other one. the highs were high and the lows were low.
First 60 seconds of this: hell yeah, this album rules I spent the rest of the album waiting impatiently for it to end. This album was a slog and a chore to sit through.
I don't think I'm a prog rock girlie
Much of a muchness
Prog Rock just is not appealing to me. I don’t really have much more to say about it.
Impressive in its own way but just not what I'm looking for in rock music.
Funk
Really fucked with I Talk to the Wind. Overall, I don't really think the album was for me. I can see how some can enjoy it, but I wasn't really wowed by it or felt some sort of connection. I probably wouldn't listen again, but I do think it was a decent album and probably has a lot of important messages. I don't have the time to look into that right now, so I kinda just have to take everything at face value. I give it a 4/10.
Self indulgent Tolkien nonsense
Mucha flautita poco estribillo El primer tema esta muy bueno lo demas mmeeee Demasiado progresivo para mi gusto
Cool idea. Not for me though 2.5
Notablebtextzeile: Knowledge is a deadly friend If no one sets the rules The fate of all mankind, I see Is in the hands of fools Bin gespalten. Einige Stellen finde ich richtig gut, aber darum herum ist so viel repetetives getüdel, das es mir im ganzen eigentlich gar nicht gefällt. Außerdem vermutlich schuld an sowas wie Fantasy Metal
Jeder Song hat eine gute Idee in die sich jemand zu sehr verliebt hat. Es hätte beim Flirt bleiben sollen, es wurde jedes mal geheiratet.
I get the context, but this is just boring to me for the most part.
long and kinda boring
Did not enjoy but it had that one song that was sampled in the other song
Not for me
Fun, and long songs... but I didn't finish listening to it while at work
I enjoyed this more than I expected to after generally trying to avoid prog rock for most of my life. Musicianship is obviously top notch, some of the melodies are exquisite, and the lyrics and vocals are nowhere near as bad as I feared. Definitely completely lost me a few times though.
Long and meandering songs with the musicality of an unsupervised middle school band class
Interesting album. Felt like a long jam session, but nothing interesting enough for me to revisit.
Am ANfangd es Album dachte ich mir : Oh Mein Gott.. Nach 15 Minuten darf ichs agend as ich doch überrascht bin.
Trodde verkligen att det här skulle vara bättre. Vilken otrolig inledning men sen så blev det ju tyvärr till stora delar otroligt trist och lökigt på ett sätt bara tråkig proggrock kan bli.
Un groupe de troubadours qui font du rock prog. C’est l’impression que j’ai eu tout le long. Comme des musiques de cirques mais sous un ton assez sombre et mystérieux. Ça sonne assez négatif dis comme ça mais j’ai pas passé un mauvais moment… c'était juste un peu long car prévisible et pas très innovant (pour l’époque sans doute). J’avais aussi une grande attente, notamment sur le premier morceau mais j’étais pas si emballé. Big up au chanteur qui est chaud et le traitement de sa voix est cool. Je garde Epitaph en tête.
Prog sucks!!
Meh
A couple of decent songs but not my type of music
Experimental,
Kind of all over the place Why was it so quiet sometimes? 21st century schizoid sounds a bit like a chase scene in pink panther at some points or something so that was fun
not my vibe. reminded me of Pink Floyd? hated looking at the album artwork when listening to it in my car hahaha
It's not unlistenable but it's not good either.
I dunno, I just have a hard time getting into a lot of prog rock.
Ah, the album Reddit keeps telling me I need to own on vinyl. No, no I do not need to own this. 21st Century Schizoid man was okay, but the rest of the album is not for me.
Not too bad just not my style personally. The songs are very long too, had me waiting for something that didn’t come.
It gets kinda boring
not my personal taste,dull white people music
Thanks for enticing me to revisit this - it's worse than I remember. I think she was as a redhead.....
War ganz okay aber wird nix sein was ich öfter hören werde.
Standouts I Talk to the Wind In the Court of the Crimson King
'Politicians' funeral pyre / Innocents raped w/ napalm fire.' I know that it's branded as one of the first prog rock records, but lyrics like that remind me of what was to come w/ the political metal of Black Sabbath, e.g., 'Burning globe of obscene fire / Like electric funeral pyre.' Instrumentally, that first track also has the heaviness of metal, or, at the very least, hard rock. Yet, things regrettably soften as the album goes on, and that's coming from a member of not-crazy-about-metal-pack. It's soft b/c it's sentimental and nostalgic, corny and pretentious, no matter how compelling their anti-war sentiments were. The sole thinker in the band appears to be Michael Giles - I wonder how much I'd dig this release w/ just the drum parts. He's neat.
Didn't care for it.
A little too psychadellic and experimental for my taste, but some interesting playing.
The album was fine to be honest I did not listen to the entire album
I get that this is a bastion of prog, however this isn't an exercise in recognizance. Hell, I haven't even listened to this before, and I appreciate prog. Ultimately, too much wankery for my liking. There's lots to like about this album, but it's too disjoint and fragmented to qualify as a must-hear experience.
This is definitely an album. A little frantic.
Can see talent but not for me
- In The Court of the Crimson King - I Talk To The Wind - Epitaph - 21st Century Schizoid Man - Moonchild
Ay that sample from the Kanye song. Interesting and unique. Would not relisten. Some very long songs.
Very technical first song and I can't believe everyone in the band memorized it. However, I'm not a big fan of the clarinet or whatever horns they're using. Also every song is way too busy and the way they use the violin just sucks. Most the of album is background music.
Some interesting moments but mostly pretty boring and grating.
This band paved the way for many others. Always innovative and experimental. Not always tuneful but interesting nevertheless. A bit like Marmite you either love them or not.
Hmmm
Oof, that was unexpectedly dull. Starts off with a somewhat half decent more trad rock opener, and then just descended into unexciting jazzy proggy noodling. The Larks Tongue album had much more oomph and variety (even if hard to like it all). Guess they were finding their feet here.
Psychedelia just isn’t my thing
It's an oddball for sure. I didn't hate it as much as I normally do these prog-rock artzy efforts. Side A was the winner, by the time you get to side B, I'm over it. Nothing here is worth an addition to a playlist.
Vinyl enthusiasts seem to go nuts over this album, and prog rock enthusiasts seem to go nuts over this album, and to a small extent I consider myself both of those things, and I don't get it. I guess this is the first instance of what would become known as "prog rock", so kudos to them for forging new territory. I like where prog rock has ended up, but I don't like where it started. This album has the same annoyances as the jazz I don't like (i.e. squeeky burst of sax and 'noise'). The "Moonchild" track sounds to me like someone walking around a small music store trying all the instruments. Note I said "trying" and not "playing" - there's very little musical about the track - it's crazy to me that they chose to record that and sell it.
Odd, wavy, unique
Too high-concept. It just made me impatient. I was kind of disappointed because I was curious about this band.
Not my taste at all. Not terrible so not 1 star but not anything special to me.
Some Parts were good. Some were weird.
Not my style
point9.
I must be going soft in my old age, because I know this album (my dad owns it) and I know I hate it. And yet, hearing it again for the first time in years, I couldn’t help but like “21st Century Schizoid Man” - yes, it’s far too bloody long (which is the case for the entire album), but it doesn’t sound like a song released in 1969 at all. It almost sounds ahead of its time, in a way. I also couldn’t help but smile at “The Court of the Crimson King”, because my dad has always loved that song and it reminded me of him. However, all sentimentality aside, it’s full of prog rock knob twiddling wankery, is far too long, and, at some points, the keys sounded like a toddler was annoyingly plonking away at them (see “Moonchild”, for example - the most prolific offender). Undoubtedly these gents are wonderful and talented musicians, but I much prefer when Greg Lake sings about believing in Santa, or Ian McDonald took his saxophone and guitar and went off to form Foreigner.
I don't quite know why it doesn't agree eith me, but it doesn't. I'm sure it's fine if you like that sort of thing.
the first song is sampled in kanye's power...this is i fear why i love doing this
A little bit too interesting. Don’t need to hear again.
Songs too long. Did like the style but dragged on
Perhaps I am not musically inclined enough to truly appreciate the foundations this group and this album laid but I'll believe the masses.
2.75 main song great, great album but i won’t reach for it
Meh some songs good, most not.
I just can’t with this record. 21st Century Schizoid Man is by far the best track here, but of course it goes down a pointless alley for a few minutes, just to make sure it never gets played anywhere. The rest is just the most insufferable over composed nonsense. Like a good solid 5 minutes of keyboard noodles in Moonchild. Why? And then for good measure, more beeps and boops in TCotCK. Why not. I’ve never understood the appeal of prog for the most part and this really just leaves me shaking my head. For the record, I know it’s me. I just don’t get it
Ekki fyrir mig
really liked the opening track, then found the middle tracks to be a bit story. i get that it's a concept album and it's meant to be telling some kind of story but the opening track was so explosive and fun that it did sort of set the tone for the rest of the album and i was ultimately underwhelmed ! worth relistening though bc its possible that i didnt fully appreciate those slower points
Some good moments but on the whole eh
Reminds me of the Moody Blues. Their early stuff, not the weird stuff from the '80's. I'm not really into prog rock, but I can tell there is a lot of talent and production that went into this. I also understand there was a lot of musical experimentation, innovation, and drugs going on in the late '60's that led to a lot of weird stuff like this getting made. In the end though it's just not for me.
I just don’t get it. Seen a lot of people give this 5 and have seen it on best of lists as long as I can remember. But after the first song it’s just some idiot squealing randomly on a flute while his friend practices seemingly unrelated guitar scales at the same time. Absolutely nothing here after track one for me to engage with at all. Not my thing.
Hyvin vaihtelevaa ja ajoittain hyvää. Liikaa psykedeelisyyttä makuuni, mutta useista instrumentaalisista osioista tykkäsin. Biisit aika pitkiä ja hajanaisia, ilmeisesti sisältävät monta osaa.
This is the Devil's playground.
I've tried it many times. Just can't get into it. Prefer Yes so much better
I have this album. Some great tracks but some haven't aged so well...
Don’t judge an album by its cover except this one
*1969. English prog rock. *I don’t know what I think king crimson was, but this is not it. *Really long songs, most instrumental, that sounded very 1969. *Seemed like the type of music a group of people smoking would put on. *Similar to Phish, where it’s not radio friendly music, but I’m sure they have a big following who appreciates good musicianship. *Didn't mind it, but wouldn’t revisit. RATING - 5/10
The cover art gives me the creeps. The music was ok. Even though this was only 45 minutes long,, it felt much longer.
Generic 70s
I Talk To The Wind is the best (and shortest) track here by a mile. Too much prog pretentiousness and self-indulgence elsewhere for me, which is all well and good - I understand people have a lot of reverence for this album - but it comes across as a bit lacking in personality and character for me. It's all a bit "stange school" and theatrical.
Not a big fan of prog rock and this didn't change my mind. Whatever that was during Moonchild was a bummer. 2/5
Prog rock is so close to being cool rock n roll jazz, but no.
It sounds very 70's/80's, and that's all it has to it for me. It's just boring to me. I did vaguely like The Court of the crimson king.
5/10
Not for me but most of my favorite artists were influenced by King Crimson so they get mucho respect
My dad loves it
There’s a photo of Robert Fripp holding his guitar, its neck crossing his chest at a 45 degree angle. He’s staring straight ahead, his proptotic eyes locked into a hypnotist’s gaze. It’s a picture I first saw about 23 years ago, I think in the “Guitarist’s Handbook” – a gift from my Auntie Paula purchased from Berry’s music shop in Worksop. Up until recently, it was perhaps the most chilling portrait I’d ever candidly encountered. Something about Fripp’s stare just withered me. This was a guitar god, alright, only the god in question was Thanatos. Researching this album, I learned that Fripp and his wife Toyah have been recreating classic metal songs. The covers, which started with a reworking of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” during the COVID lockdown, have been doing well for the couple. It was while flicking through the thumbnails of YouTube videos that I saw it. Fripp, eyes screwed to a tight aperture, sequin cap atop his head, gurns at the camera. Toyah, gleefully standing just behind her famously seated husband, neckline plunging to reveal heart shaped nipple caps. A cover of Limp Bizkit’s “Nookie”. A stinging phantasmagoria I won’t soon outrun. And so into the Court of the Crimson King I travel. Carrying beside me that baggage, I alight upon the courtyard and familiarise myself with the varying subjects. It’s a richly realised realm, one where ideas are explored to their ends. For all its innovation and the obvious brilliance of the talents on display, it’s not a record I’ll readily race back to. Fact of the matter is, I feel guilty to so quickly push something of this richness to the background … but that’s exactly where it’s ended up after each play. For sure, it’s a record I’ll remember though. Fripp’s stare is eternal.
First song rocks, rest of it just wasn’t super interesting to me.
This was an interesting journey. I didn't hate it and I didn't love it.
A ratos me ha parecido un disco de versiones psicodélicas de los Beatles. No he entrado en el disco y creo que este es mi tercer o cuarto intento con el rey, así que no es lo mío a pesar de que debería. Lo siento.
Great early progressive album … had I listened to it when I was young it would have the nastalgia factor … but without that .. the sounds are dated back to the early 70’s …
Hyvin vaihtelevaa ja ajoittain hyvää. Liikaa psykedeelisyyttä makuuni, mutta monista instrumentaalisista osioista tykkäsin. Biisit aika pitkiä ja hajanaisia, ilmeisesti sisältävät monta osaa.
Progressive rock - when you try too hard to be alt that it becomes a bit cliche. Well done art but not an album I’ll revisit.
I preferred the middle of the album more with the more instrumental tracks. I'm not a big progressive rock fan though.
I don't like jazz, or classic rock, or long meandering songs with noodly guitar. I don't think this link should have been to the expanded version also?
The jazz elements were interesting, 21st Century Schizoid Man was best. Most lyrics seemed very Late 60's with a lot of moon child and type of stuff. My mind opened to to them being more than just crimson and clover but still not my jam.
Pas trop ma came et j'ai eu du mal à me concentrer dessus. 2/5
I love prog rock. Yes, rush etc. I have this album, I don't get why it's so loved.
De 12 minutter af albummet, der udgør Moonchild kunne jeg godt undvære. Lidt for eksperimenterende. Ærgerligt, for tværfløjten og hammond er ellers ikke dumt.
Lesser Moody Blues Who mixes the cymbals higher than any other instrument or the vocals? no thanks.
In fact, my birthday theme this year was experimental prog rock Ren Faire opera! Not.
'I Talk To The Wind' has surfaced on a few Discover Weekly's (and I like it!), but the rest of the album was pretty meh and unmemorable.
eh, it was fine. wouldn't listen again.
It's fine. I enjoy listening to "first of their kind" albums like this. But it doesn't change my mind that prog rock is for twee nerds. 2/5
< the Beatles
Never been a huge fan of theirs. I do get the importance and influence they had on music just not for me.
Not a fan.
I feel like it's not a coincidence that the track I enjoyed most on this album (I Talk to the Wind) was also the shortest. That reminded me of Air, which I was not expecting. The plinky, plonky cod-medieval stuff though? Honestly, that kind of is what I was expecting this to be.
This might be a hot take and I want to preface it with I think all of the people in King Crimson are extremely talented, but this album seems more in the category of influential rather than good
Moonchild tickled my brain. This album was cool looked at as a whole piece.
King Crimson is basically the kind of band tailor-made to please a handful of nerds who confuse complexity with genius. They try to push some sort of “psychedelic progressive rock” full of gimmicks, but at its core it’s just a pretentious collage of reheated jazz and recycled medieval melodies — all wrapped in an air of “high art” that feels more like a desperate attempt to seem profound. It’s a completely overrated band: praised as if they reinvented music, when in reality they sound more like a messy jam session of musicians who couldn’t pick a style and decided to throw everything together, thinking that would automatically make it deep.
Happy to listen but not something I would pick on my own.
Prog. I just don't get prog.
Probably wouldn't listen again
Me niego. Lo escuché por primera vez hace unos días y no entiendo nada. Es aburrido hasta el llanto y parce que no hay nadie capaz de cantar ahí. Habría sido más interesante si hubiera sido instrumental.No pienso escucharlo otra vez.
Fun. Forget about them....
Nottttttt quite my jam. The 12 minute songs with just a random slew of instruments didn’t do much for me but the songs with actual lyrics were okay I wish there were more of that I’d like it more
I just don't have the patience for prog rock.
mæh
thought I would like this more :/
Melodramatic, spacey
Yeah this was too weird for me. It was boring with the 9 minute songs and not much going on. Some parts just seemed like it was filling empty silence with strange weird noises. I see their influence, and I’ll give them that.
Long songs but produced very well.
I know it’s a beloved album but I just don’t get it. I’m sure it’s of its time but not for me.
2.5 stars. Preferred the more prog rock-esque stuff (the title track) to the jazz jam-band stuff (closing live track).
Parts of it were good, but the avant garde parts were pretty difficult to sit through (e.g. the second half of Moonchild)
Totally unknown band. His tunes are full of melodrama and melancholy. In my opinion, a fair album.
11/04/25 I get it is unique and it is what it is, but it's not for me.
Frankly not my jam. I know a lot of people really like this album but I don’t get it. I might try listening again somewhere down the line.
Not my thing. I’ve loved some Yes in my time, or Rush...but this seemed dark to me. It seemed closer to like Greta Van Fleet, like, trying too hard to be substantial. Plus the experimental stuff was a miss for me.
I was told that I needed to be in the "right mood" to enjoy this album. Not sure what that mood is exactly, but I can rule out sober and focused. It's weird and unexpected, but it doesn't seem to go any clear direction that I can latch on to and enjoy. Oh well, a lot of people like it.
as a Licensed Progressive Rock Hater, i was surprised at how much i didn't hate this album at first. then it kept going and i did. i don't feel like elaborating today. 2/5 i progged your dad's rocks
I can definitely listen to it, I might be able to appreciate it, but you can't make me like it.
Psychedelic Prog rock is definitely not my genre.
While this is much better than the other King Crimson record I had to endure listening to, it's still not the kind of thing I think of when it comes to progressive rock. Some parts are quite good, but then there are those that I usually skip immediately.
several 10+ minute songs had me praying for this stupid thing to end. Enough with the King Crimson already. I have had enough for several lifetimes now.
**An ok album
Rock, 1969 -> 2
Lukewarm Zappa. Humorless bombast
Better than I thought it was going to be, the length of the songs did become tedious though
There are just too many parts of this that I really don't like to rate it any higher than 2 stars or D+.
I kind of get where it fits in the grand scheme of things historically, but it is - like most prog - very not for me.
Started well, then quickly faltered, and also sadly responsible for the monster that was prog.
p185. 1969. 2 stars. Technically proficient, pretentious prog rock wankage, with lyrics as fey as a pixie.
Not a prog rock girly apparently
non male, ma spesso il male di vivere ho incontrato.. non l'avevo mai sentito, ascolterò di nuovo Frank Zappa