In The Court Of The Crimson King

The greatest prog rock album. Maybe ever but at least of its decade.

Amazing jazzy prog rock. I guess it’s not surprising as the genre is progressive rock but this album really sounds ahead of its time to me. Such varied songs and structures. Album cover is iconic too. Maybe I just don’t get it, but that middle section of moonchild kinda just sounded like a bunch of toddlers hitting random instruments for a bit. That is really one of the only negatives of the album for me.

Awesome record. A great recommendation if you're into prod rock. Cant choose a best track because they are all important to telling the story of the Crimson King.

What a monster. I love the proggy excess with the chunky riffs and blasting brass, and I love the pastoral flute-drenched chill out songs. Epitaph is epic enough to theme the third act in a spaghetti western. There is a bit too much bibbly bobby boo in Moonchild, that's certain, but all else is gold. Court of the Crimson King is just fucking magnificent. This is what I wanted from Pink Floyd post-Barrett I think.

I had never listened to this album or any King Crimson jams before today. This was fucking awesome.

One of the best album ever! Every song is a little trip. I wanna vinyl of this album so much.

Okaaay. So we have classic today! This is the proof that it ain't need to fill an album with bunch of songs to be great. In here, we only got 5. 4 classics and 1 weird cousin (moon child it's coo coo). But the album is fantastic!

Beautifully made songs on a beautiful album. Every song is a joy to listen to.

I was vaguely aware that this album was on here and was excited to listen to it for the first time for this list. I expected a really good prog rock album given how basically everyone gushes over it but it somehow still exceeded expectations by being almost anti prog rock. No 15 minutes of fucking around before the good shit, no weird noises really at all just 45 minutes of all killer no filler jazz rock fusion that has the bare bones of prog rock elements. Also blew my mind that the sample from power by Kanye west came from 21 century schizoid man which was also my fav track but the whole thing was great.

I know it’s cliched at this point, but this really is basically perfect. A

Prog rock. I’ve got a lot of nostalgia for this album. Looking at it more objectively, I think it still holds up really well, except for the multiple minutes of near silence in “Moonchild”, broken up by just the slightest of instrumentation. Other than that, one of my favorite albums.

Quel banger !! Renvoyez les pink Floyd chez leur daronne

Buen descubrimiento, muy psicodelico y rockero, suave y cañero

Honestly one of the best things to come out of the project. Iconic, powerful, terrifying, and interesting are all understatements. The writing around this one was really well done too, and the buildup might be the best in the group's history. I just wish Giorno didn't defeat him so quickl... huh?... oh this is about the album isn't it. Yeah that's really good too.

Yeah yeah yeah Moonchild goes on for too long yada yada yada. I don’t care. This album kicks ass. The first time I listened to this was on the school bus during high school. I thought my connection was bad because I thought the final song was backing itself up with how it kind of starts and stops. The drums sound fantastic on here and the vocals are all really great.

Great stuff. Never listened to this before, but upon listening the reputation is deserved. Flows well as an album as an added bonus!

Proper quality the only downside is that moonchild should not be that long. The first 3 minutes are fantastic and the rest we can't get behind at all. Epitaph and I talk to the wind are great though and the title track is a fantastic ending.

Really strong album, really serious album. Not a single light thing about it. Formative in my late teens.

Phenomenal. So happy I have this on vinyl :)

Sinster symphonies, pounding percussions, an overall splendid first time listen. How does king crimson work

4.5★. Practically perfect outside of that dull dull section in Moonchild. The unmatched energy of the opener; the serene, elusive I Talk to the Wind; the dystopian, disarrayed augury of Epitaph ("Confusion will be my epitaph"); the fairy-tale quality of the first part of Moonchild; the combination of the rich storytelling, ritualistic bridges and galvanizing instrumentation of The Court of the Crimson King; it's all just so god damn great.

Modish eclecticism

A dynamic bit of early prog. I dig the slower numbers most.

Another goater

This absolutely slaps. So cool. Love all the weird tangents and how much shit is thrown at this. Mad that it came out in 1969.

i can't believe i put off listening to this for as long as i did

21st Century Schizoid Man is right. This opening track is so anxiety inducing, with its breakneck tempo, start-stop beats, frantic guitar bursts, counter-melodic bass, and bop jazz horn flourishes. The comedown of I Talk To The Wind is so welcome after the seven minute onslaught of Schizoid Man. The rest of the album plays out like a dose of Prozac. It's mostly low-key and understated until the final track, The Court of the Crimson King. But it all feels deliberate too. It's very well laid out; and it does feel like a masterwork. Even if it does (unsurprisingly) sound a bit like Emerson, Lake & Palmer in spots. I liked it. Would do again.

Huge sound, very good

At last, the screaming face record! I knew it would be on here somewhere. I haven't listened to it before, so I wasn't sure it would live up to the hype. I don't feel like it is the best album ever released, but it is still really great, and certainly is never boring. Very enjoyable overall.

Very good! Doesn't sound like 1969

Fripp demonstrating his genius from day one.

UOGHHHHHHHHH AH AH AH AH AH AH OH OH OH OH OH OH king crimson UUOOOOGHHHHHH

This was surprisingly incredible

Prog isn't for everyone, but it is for me, and this album is of the highest caliber.

Visionary. This hardly feels like a 60s album, it's at least 3 decades ahead of its time and totally unique. I'm mainly hearing the jazz above anything else. When I think hard enough, it does have a glitzy blur of psychedelia to the slightly twisted fantasy world it paints. I do hate the album art but it goes perfectly with the music haha. All in all super imaginative

One of my favortie albums to be honest and one of the reasons I started playing music. I still remember the days I would go on family trips with my family and I would spend my time with headphones in the car listening to this, "Red", Yes's "Close to the edge" and "Fragile" as I looked through the window to light passing through the trees. Can't really score it any less than a 5, too much of a personal album for me. I love all the songs on it but "I talk to the wind" is still a special one.

Holy shit THATS what that 21st century schizoid man sample is from! That’s crazy always thought it was Ozzy Osborn. That along make this a five.

Five tracks pretty much following (from a quality standpoint) of Star Trek movies 2-6. If you like heavy prog (or Star Trek) then that’s still large doses of awesome.

This was my introduction to King Crimson and it did not dissapoint. It has one of the strongest opening tracks I've ever heard. Which continues into a slower track and then eventually goes into epitaph. I liked the intro of moonchild. The song then went on to create some freestyle-jazz-ish vibe which is nice, but it was a bit long. We finish this masterpiece with a masterpiece, the titletrack. I truly like how King Crimson mixed rock with jazz influences.

This is my personal all-time favorite album, and normally I would think that's a bias, but I truly think this deserves a 5, regardless of where I hold it. Normally I don't look at reviews, so I can form my own opinion without being swayed. I had an outline of what I was going to write regarding the milestones this album contributed to, and everything in between, but one of the top reviews said almost everything i had to say and more. I would reccomend reading that, because I wholeheartedly agree. (The review starting with 2/14/2022)

Genial

getting an album this well known for the first day is pretty cool, as a music fan I've obviously heard of this album but somehow I never checked it out. the drums at the end of 21st century schizoid man are so cool, never heard anything quite like it. I talk to the wind is fantastic, kinda sounds like a more progressive later Beatles song? FLUTE! Epitaph is also incredible, production is incredible and lyrics are also incredible, why haven't I listened to this album before? holy fuck that build up and release (idk what to call it) at the middle of Epitaph :O mind blown I don't like Moonchild as much as the previous songs but it's still pretty good, drags on too much though imo and has the weirdest sounds. that improv part seemed really boring to me at the beginning but once I kinda turned off my mind it really grew on me and I liked it. In the court of the crimson king is fantastic as well, comes in as such a needed surprise after moonchild. fuck this album is fantastic, should've heard it before. My ears have been blessed

Simply said - one of my favourite album of all time, however cliché that may sound. Just beautifully crafted record, the whole composition and every single part or melody perfectly fits together. Also, one of the greatest opening motifs in history of rock. And it gave us so many great covers (like The Shining one). Bravo!

21st Century Schizoid Man reminds me a bit of War Pigs in the lyrics. I am really enjoying this first song a lot. I Talk to the Wind is a nice chill piece of music. Lyrics are interesting, but nothing out of the ordinary. Beautiful and cryptic lyrics in Epitaph. Lovely and haunting instrumentation as well. Moonchild is so interesting, vivid, and spooky in some parts. The Court of the Crimson King is my favorite song on the album. Love the imagery provided by the lyrics, the vocalizations, the instrumentation.

I listened to this back in 2021 and it shares the same growth as Black Holes and Revelations by Muse does where I've grown on it a lot.

An endearing classic of the Progressive Rock genre, and in some ways still not topped since.

I’m at a 5. I just thought that was great. I don’t even really have that many words – I got completely encapsulated by the soundscape for most of the runtime. Those first 3 tracks are spectacular. Hell, even the long instrumental break during Moonchild kept me captivated for most of it, until I got tired of it by the end. The Court of The Crimson King shot me right back up though. For 1969, this is utterly ridiculous, in a good way; the layered soundscapes here, the beat drops on the title drops… it just feels really ahead of schedule, man. I’m sure this album has eventually been outdone within its space, and I get the feeling it might even come later in one of these 1,001 albums, but as someone listening to this for the first time, I’m just kinda blown away by how well they absolutely fucking nailed it. For a debut record, no less. Easy 5.

Super classic. I talk with the wind, 21st century schizoid man are iconic. Maybe the weirdest prog band to get popularity/acclaim but it's all for good reason. The closer is epic. I get a little lost in the grandeur, solos and fills, chord changes but in an immersive way. Equal parts catchy and weird. Most violently beautiful album cover ever.

ostia tio KING CRIMSON A LA VERGA no me podia haber salido un mejor album pq a este igual le traia ganas pero no tantas ganas como a la rockstar

Love it. King Crimson has never gotten the deserved respect and wide recognition from the general public. This album is a classic.

So far, out the gate this album is exceeding expectations with 21st Century Schizoid Man. I Talk To The Wind was interesting. I like where Epitaph is going so far, this is way better than I expected so far. Moonchild is great too, but it got a little long. I'm digging Crimson King

Peak music 5/5

I wondered when this was going to turn up! This is an awesome album, not an easy first listen, for its time it was groundbreaking and such an influence for many bands. Anyone who doubts the influence on bands like pink floyd is not listening hard enough. I love epitaph To me, this album is almost perfect and there are not many of those around. It’s a 4.5 rounded up! Love it.

What a perfect album. Arguably the first progressive rock album. I can't think of one the predates this record. I really like that Kanye West song in here... I still can't believe King Crimson let Ye sample that... Crazy. Amongst people I know, the always say that Moonchild is the low point in this album... Maybe because it is a slower jam? I don't know. I think it's brilliant. The track order in this record is done perfectly. Listening to this record from start to finish is a journey. I could listen to this record any time, any where, and with anyone.

Fuck Ye

Not sure what to expect. I need to relisten but was nice

Wow that was beautiful. Longer songs, but they worked perfectly. The long instrumentals and perfect vocals were stunning. Saved on Spotify and would buy vinyl if saw in store. Had a similar vibe to some David Bowie music, as well as other late '60s psychedelic rock.

Amazing!

Just an absolute masterpiece. Nothing more I can really say.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: 21st century schizoid man, Epitaph, I talk to the wind, The court of the crimson king

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

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 KING OF ALL MY MOST FAVORITE INFLUENTIAL ALBUMS OF MY YOUTH. 500 STARS

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.

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.

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.

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

A lot of love for this album.

absolutely fabulous progressive 60s rock

Man, this album deserves all the accolades it gets. My only wish is that it was longer.

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"

Finally - some good music! What an incredible 'first' album! Something completely different at the time! Still works for me today!

Scary looking schizoid album cover

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.

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.

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

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.

beaaaaautiful

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.

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.

Wut 10/10

Perfect album

Notable tracks: all

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.

Possibly the first entry in the defining of a new genre in popular music. The prototypical album of 'Progressive Rock'.

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.

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.

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

Honestly awesome jam album. Sounds like the beatles

Really great, loved it all

Nada que añadir

5 - Nice

TWENTY FIRST CENTURY FIVE STAR SHIT

Been listening to this album for 45 years. Still as brilliant today as it was then.

Been listening to this one for decades. Absolutely love it

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

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

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

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.

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

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!

An Epic and Iconic Classic…loved it

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*

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

Peak.

Сјајно, доста подсећа на Pink Floyd. 9/10

One of my favorite prog rock albums

Basado

One of the greatest albums ever made, it transcends time.

The sound was so momentous at times I had to lie on my floor and vibe while listening. Also blends of so many genres done so well while never getting boring or hackey like other prog rock bands. Its like the spiritual ancestor of black midi. Also the first album I've seen on this list that I could confidently say belongs on it 100%. Time to listen to it again.

Housed in a striking sleeve, this iconic album is one of prog-rocks definitive statements. There's lots to enjoy, whether it's the bombastic fuzz laden '21st Century Schizoid Man', melancholic 'I Talk to the Wind' (featuring some lovely flute) or the epic 'Epitaph'. Like a lot of prog-rock, there are a few tedious moments here and there, but that's just the nature of the beast. Pop fans will probably hate this bold and adventurous record.

Outstanding: I originally thought this would be massively overhyped but how could I be so wrong. It felt so new a fresh although it came out in the 60s. How they made a jazzy, funky, rock sound and it went basically completely under my radar baffles me. One of the best albums I have ever listened to, the complexity to it was just stunning.

An album that's as good as its cover!

Thematically everywhere from anti-war to religious doubt to ambigous poetry, finally ending with a medieval epic about oppressors. This is the grandfather of progressive rock. I loved every second of it. The instrumentals were masterful, engaging, and I could listen to just them without the lyrics for hours on end no doubt.

Seamlessly Timing

Kicks off with a nice full sound. Psychadelic rock; Beatles meets Pink Floyd?

I already love this one

A sublime album I’ve listened to in full 2-3 times before this. I listened to the Expanded and Remaster version on Spotify. 21st Century Schizoid Man is a fantastic psychedelic rocker with apocalyptic lyrics. I Talk to the Wind reminds of Odyssey and Oracle. Epitaph is an epic prog folkish song. Moonchild reminds of early Pink Floyd, it drifts along delightfully in the expanded version but never gets old to me. The title track is one of the best psychedelic era prog tunes ever made. Overall one of the best albums of the sixties, and one that gets better with each listen.

Me encantó Epitaph desde el momento en que empezó a sonar, junto con un hermoso atardecer que puedo ver desde la ventana. Sin dudas estos álbumes te hacen viajar a muchos lugares (puntualmente las flautas). Una banda que hacía mucho quería escuchar.

A masterpiece.

Imagine debuting a group with this album, sickening. No rules just right, all the way through. It’s like the soundtrack to a coked up 80’s fantasy film that was never made.

21st Century Schizoid Man (Including "Mirrors") - 9.8 - holy. jazzrock. wow this is good I Talk to the Wind - 9.5 - so different from the first. and yet still so good Epitaph (Including "March for No Reason" and "Tomorrow and Tomorrow") - 9.6 - amazing. crescendo? starting drum thing? damn Moonchild (Including "The Dream" and "The Illusion") - 8.5 - I really like eveything that I hear. but I think it's a bit long. if this song is 8 minutes it is a 95. The Court of the Crimson King (Including "The Return of the Fire Witch" and "The Dance of the Puppets") - 9.7 - first "crimson king" is an amazing experience.

I think you have to be in the right mood to enjoy this, glad I was

gros L encore une fois

Wow. No one band should have all that power... Jokes about the sample aside 21st Century Schizoid Man comes out hot and stays that way. Absolute banger of a first track. I only wish the rest of the album stayed that way. I honestly liked I Talk to the Wind after adjusting from the whiplash but it's sad how hard is sucks the air from the room. Epitaph felt fine and Moonchild was just weird but the title track ends things very strong. Overall amazing debut album. I'll be coming back to this one. It's not perfect but it's good.

I was one years old when this came out. But what wouldn't I give to be able to go back in time and listen to this being performed live for the first time. There's a power here, lurking behind the music, pushing everything along relentlessly. Every single note (and there's a lot of them) has its place and is perfectly placed. It's amazing to think that something so musically dense and complex would make it to number five in the UK album charts. If this were to be released today, I doubt it would make such an impact. It's hard to remember that this is pre-Bruford era King Crimson, although the drums still sound amazing to my untrained ears. Greg Lake also does a fantastic job with the vocals, although John Wetton is my preferred singer. Every track has its place and fits perfectly into the album to form a whole that is even greater than the sum of its parts. I love the changes in tempo and even the improvisation in Moonchild that some people find off-putting. This is one of the few "perfect" albums that I was waiting for on this list.

I like it’s depressing vibe

Terrific stuff from a somewhat difficult prog rock band. Might take some patience but this is required listening especially for those willing to dig deeper into the music. Robert Fripp is a genius.

Starting off by acknowledging the elephant in the room - I can't believe how recently I found out that 21st Century Schizoid Man was the origin for that sample in Power by Kanye West. I'm still young, okay!? Honest! And casting aside any opinions of West as a person for a moment, that one scene/mission from Saints' Row 3 was badass. IYKYK. Going back to the original though - 21st Century Schizoid Man is an awesome opener. It's just has an aura of anger and swagger to it. Then it speeds up and descends into the jazzy chaos that is Mirrors, which I initially wasn't sure about but I have since grown to love. It's just a crazy and fun interlude, and I love how flawlessly it returns to the main riff of 21st Century Schizoid Man. Good shit. Moonchild is fine, but not really amongst my favourites of the album, but one of the things that surprised me on first listen was that this was adapted by Doves and made into M62 Song. I'd say I prefer M62 Song but I'm not sure it's right to compare them, as Doves took the general melody and spun it into a whole other animal. The Dream and The Illusion were just total avant-garde noise with no real substance, but they were pleasant enough. And all is forgiven when The Court Of The Crimson King breaks through the near-silence. The more of this album I get through, the more I recognise elements that became samples or inspiration. I can really see the influence that this had on bands that came after it. What I didn't notice at first was the fact that this album is from 1969! While this was being recorded, humans landed on the moon for the first time. I could never have guessed than an album like this was a product of the 60s. Overall, this is an excellent album that I'll definitely come back to again. Certainly one I could see myself picking up on physical media. Favourite: 21st Century Schizoid Man

POP! had this record in his collection. He was very much a Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull guy so you can see why given King Crimson in this era is like a blend of the two on the one hand and wholly of itself on the other. You could make those kinds of connections and not get totally smacked down. If you were a fan of one of these three bands, it was quite likely you'd like at least one of the other two remaining if not both. That is all to say, I saw this record cover looking out with its frightened stare for many years growing up. POP! likes his music loud — as in shake the house loud. My dad didn't believe it outdoor speakers, he believed in making the house a speaker in and of itself. Your home was a SONOS you lived inside of. This album has some absolute bangers, especially when cranked up to shutter shaking volumens. 21st Century Schizoid Man is the blueprint for heavy prog that many bands would follow. It has some of the best horns in a rock context as well (and I say this as someone who usually doesn't go in for that sort of thing). I'm all in on this record until we slow down for Moonchild. It's a good song, but the tonal shift doesn't fit my modern attention span. Typically, I'd put on something like Moonchild for a particular mood or vibe and have something like 21st Century Schizoid Man on for another. I don't think this is a better way of listening, mind you, but I do think it is indicative of how many folks receive and process an album if they're going to even listen to an album at all. So, this review is now a reflection upon the nature of listening to music in (checks calendar) the 21st Century. Are we more or less Schizoid having a lower tolerance to variables within an album? Does the Schizoid man want things flattened so he can bounce between two extremes or is the Schizoid man truly the one that wants the extremes to be contained within one world? I am going to say that Schizoid Man wants two worlds in extremis. If we want to get historical about this we should also take into account that an album has *two-sides* and Moonchild kicks off side two so there is a break, perhaps a schizoid one, in the experience as originally conceived by King Crimson. Whether or not partial or whole, broken or complete, schizoid or fully-realized an experience this album rules as only a King Crimson can.

אלבום ממש טוב אני לא מחדש פה כלום...

yeah this is the stuff. everyone in king crimson is firing on all cylinders this entire album. really is just a pinnacle of progressive rock. i'm not that big of a prog rock fan, but this is just a truly great album. the only song i am not full throttle all about is moonchild, but i do appreciate its ambiance. just a terrific, complete album.

Classic, huge epic classic! One of the building blocks that had a big influence on what progressive rock would become over the coming years. Great combination of virtuoso musicians, jazz, fusion, ambiance and rock. Every one gets to shine. I never did a real deep dive through their discography, but whenever I listen to this, I know I should! 9 out of 10

starts off so strong, first two are bangers epitaph is life-changing omg oh shit it's the buffalo 66 song!! "call her moonchild...dancing in the shallows of a river" :3 yeah there are no bad songs 10/10 no notes

Awesome songs. I love progressive rock. Unique sound. Love the quitar parts! personal top3 in no order: The Court Of The Crinson King I Talk To The Wind Epitaph

no song makes me feel like I'm on drugs as much as the big crescendo in Epitaph what a goated album

It's like the birth of prog rock. Picking a fave is hard but Court Of The Crimson King is one I look forward to hearing again.

It's the daddy, prog-wise! Iconic both sonically and visually. Fave tracks - doesn't really make sense to break this one into tracks, but I love the pomp of "21st Century Schizoid Man" and "The Court of the Crimson King", and the mellowness of "I Talk to the Wind" and "Moonchild"...

VERY good, the switch ups were great and for being my first rock album I've listened to I loved it, even though it was only really 5 songs there wasn't a single miss In my opinion

Fantastic album! No further notes-beautiful production and arrangements.

huge whoopee from me

Nice flute on a few tracks. Good deep listening album.

122

One of the best prog albums ever. Opening and closing tracks absolutely iconic. I want to know how much acid they were on when composing Moonchild

My HS cassette did not survive, so I have not listened to this recently. I forgot how good it was, but I probably wasn't old enough to appreciate it in HS. Much more than just the title song and Schizoid Man. Really liked Epitaph.

Prooooog rock. Love prog rock. There is like 20% too much flute on took to the wind. Moonchild is a little long. Repeats:21st century schizo man, epitaph, the court of the crimson king

Screaming red man/5

I thought that this album wouldn't be so good even though I knew it was highly rated. Quite suprised - I think that Epitaph is super good, but Moonchild almost made me drop it a star. Low 5

Fantastic. Another album where the first 5 seconds are just as influential as the next 39 minutes and tell you everything you need to know. I’m not sure many people sat, rapt at attention, through dozens of plays of the 12-minute meandering, confused “moonchild.” And sure, it’s repetitive at times, almost boring. But the top half is what counts. That’s the drama. It turns out that I must really, really like prog! A low— but still steady— 5/5. Credit where credit is due at how absurdly world changing this debut was.

Ushering in a new style of art in Prog rock. Another incredible addition to the 1969 Lineup.

Incredible that this was made in the 60s and a very pleasant surprise. Never would have gone out of my way to check this out but glad that I did.

One of the best album ever made !

Kanye sample straight out the gate, it's cool how there's an immediate sense of recognition even though I'd never heard the song or album before. Has happened a few times with samples on these albums. As for the album itself I really enjoyed it.

Such a LEGENDARY record. The influence, the artwork, the timelessness, the everything… it’s all great. I don’t want to live in a world where this album (and everything to come as a result thereof) doesn’t exist.

The pinnacle of prog rock?

There is no band that better exhibits the finest characteristics of progressive rock music than King Crimson, especially with their debut. They laid the ground work for this genre, and the experimental rock scene as a whole, back when music like this didn't really exist. And no group in this space of music would make anything even as remotely impressive and groundbreaking as this for the better part of a decade (Wish You Were Here comes to mind). And there is no better song to start with than 21st Century Schizoid Man. In my mind, this has always been THE prog-rock song. It has every quality of the genre, and does every good thing a prog-rock song should do, and in less than 7 minutes. Not every song on a prog album has to be some 20-minute long monster. And I think they knew that. Giles' drumming on this is the stuff of legends. This is basically the song of my dreams. If you were to go inside my head, you would probably hear this playing. Everything about this song is stellar. Easily one of my favorite songs ever made, period. I Talk to the Wind is an incredibly stark contrast from the previous song, but it works as a much needed break. And it acts as the only break you really get the whole album. The combination of Ian's flute with Lake's vocals is pure bliss. It feels almost jazz-like in its execution. Epitaph isn't my favorite song by any means, but I still love it. Such a tragic and solemn song, with some of the most moving instrumentation on the whole album. I like how orchestral it feels at some points. The Rolling Stones did describe them as like an orchestra, and they weren't entirely wrong. Moonchild is the only song I don't really enjoy. It is almost as disarming and calm as I Talk to the Wind, but that creeping build up throughout the whole song led me to believe something crazy was going to happen, and the pay off never came. It is basically 12 minutes of nothing. It does show off that King Crimson's weird side has always been there, and they have always had a knack for trying interesting ideas. But I guess that pay off that I had been looking for can be found in the closing track The Court of the Crimson King. The cut between those two songs caught me very off-guard, but what a momentous and beautiful way to end your album. The chorus is so thunderous and feels larger than life. That song alone could light up the sky with a million bright lights. Especially the last two minutes or so. You get this very strange and silly woodwind section, and then you are launched into the Crimson King's court. King Crimson's debut is hauntingly alluring, and so far ahead of its time to this day. That album cover still insights uneasiness in me, and I still believe I can see skulls in his pupils. But that may just be me. Rating: 9/10

In the court of Crimson KIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGGGAAAAAAHAAAHAHAAAAAAA

Increíble

This album was great! Really interesting music, a few songs I recognised, really cool name and artwork, I just like this a lot.

What a musically interesting album! So many different genres! Loved this.

a favorite titanic album. so good but the second half of moonchild is... if hitting a cup with a spoon every 10 seconds was a music genre it would be a masterpiece but

long loved loved the shit out of this album

Reeeeal good, will listen again

Very first song sounded like noise, but the rest of the album kinda blew me away.

Didnt know I knew one of the songs 21st Century Schizoid Man but I found all songs on this album to be mystical, alluring and engaging. Very happy listening to this album by a band I did not know. Amazing 5

Just sheer perfection. Fripp is a god unto himself

Classic prog rock

I love this album, it’s such a wild ride. It’s the first one I’ve listened to before (and a lot). An all-time classic.

honestly kind of insane that this was my very first listen like what tf was i doing all these years…. ANYWAY THIS WENT CRAZYYYYY! 5 STARS!

don’t you just hate it when critics are right?

Five stars for me!!!!! It accomplishes everything it wants to, the lyrics vocals instrumentals and song structure work together so well on every single song. Every song works together to make this not just a great collection of songs but a great Album. An exploration of Cold War Vietnam War late 60s paranoia and fear and also an incredible blend of what was going on in rock, jazz, pop, etc at the time. I was shocked that this is from 1969- I had heard the first and last tracks before and would have guessed they were from 1975 or later even. I don't have a favorite or least favorite here, every single song hits in some way. Man. What a closer!!!

YES, I FEAR TOMORROW I'LL BE CRYING (Epitaph) I love this album!!!!

This is a certified hood classic. I love how the overall tone of the album kind of misleads you with the bomb of an opener "21st Century Schizoid Man," which is just super heavy and intense with those distorted, dark vocals and the raw guitar riff with the multi-instrumentalism from Ian McDonald. And then the rest of the album is just chill. It's honestly one of the most beautiful rock albums ever recorded, and you wouldn't expect that from the opening song. I love this album.

Ive heard shits good

One of the most iconic albums of the prog rock album, King Crimson's Court of the Crimson King is dramatic, expansive, packed with amazing songwriting, and a showcase for incredible musicianship. Do not be fooled by the radio cuts of 21st Century Schizoid Man. This is an album that has to be listened to deeply and in its entirety. One cannot just play a few cuts hoping to get a feel for it. This is also the most iconic lineup, short lived as it was. Greg Lake was only half there on the follow up, providing most of the vocals for In the Wake of Poseidon but not touring in support of it. On Court of the Crimson King, the combination of Lake, Robert Fripp, Ian McDonald, and lyricist Peter Sinfield made for inventive and creative music rarely seen outside of art music.

Melhor álbum de prog da vida

I've listened to this album plenty of times before, so idk what to say. It's amazing.

I love the jazz and the lyrics, especially from 21st, epitaph and I talk to the wind

Disappointed in myself that it had been years since I last listened to this one. 5/5 just for being the inspiration for all 70s prog rock to come.

One prog album to rule them all, one to find them, one to bring them all and in the light unite them. If you’re not having goosebumps at the beginning of “Epitaph” are you actually alive?

Oh yeah

Amazing transition work and prog staple. Love all Fripp. Not for every occasion

Это какой-то отлет - вот альбомы как Pink Floyd - для медитации в себя, разные слои, придумывание своих смыслов. Тот же год, что и у предыдущего альбома, но совсем другое. Надо послушать другие альбомы под настроение

I'd listened to songs previously and thought it was king gizzard. Amazing.

This is prog rock. Throughout the entire album you hear the sound that inspired countless bands across countless genres to this very day.

Fripp, Sinfield, Lake, McDonald --say no more!!!

Good tunes

9/10 Light years ahead of its time. Reinvents progressive rock every two minutes (or roughly 1/8 of a song). A bit condescending at times, hard to follow at others, but otherwise, an amazing experience.

Brani Preferiti: - "21st Century Schizoid Man" - "Epitath" - "The Court of the Crimson King" - "I Talk to the Wind" Note: Mai sentito parlare di questo gruppo e non un fan del prog rock, ma questo album è un capolavoro dall'inizio alla fine. Ogni melodia è pensata in una maniera spettacolare, il fatto di mettere rock, jazz e musica classica assieme, rende l'idea dietro questo album ancora più brillante.

Really loved this album. 54 years old but still sounding fresh

5. Great album!

Epitaph is godly. A masterpiece. I Talk to the Wind is good, though it gets old. I do not listen to Moonchild that much, so it is nice to hear. 21st... gets old to me.

Well just looking at this creepy face, I remember the title track being one of my favourites in all of prog. Now does the rest of the album hold up Update: it holds up One thing I didn’t remember from my last listen (sometime in the last decade) was all the jazz influence (see: the wall of noise at the end of “21st Century Schizoid Man”). The amount of freeform noodling is pretty high but they get a pass considering how strong the compositions can be. Crimson King takes full advantage of my soft spot for musical indulgence. 5 stars September 19 2023

fuusio fissio jazz ambivalent post-progressive metal folktronic avant-garde psychedelic noise cock...joo tiedät paljon genrejä vitun prententiuous piece of fucking shit....... 21st century lunatic on the grass.....huutava punainen ukko... toinen crimson albumi ja tähän mennessä toiseksi paras heh....(eli PASKIN kaikista) epitaph

Awful album cover. Just terrifying and would make me not buy this album. Otherwise, a really great album even with Track 4 being a bit tedious. This is the precursor to prog-rock that eventually becomes heavy-handed with references that seem to make up the basis for Dungeons and Dragons, which eventually led to Rush. So that's not great, but overall a really good album and I would recommend it.

An astonishing experience. The free play sections are awesome, and the album closer just takes my breath away.

Thoroughly enjoyed this. A little kooky in parts.I think I like progressive rock?

The first prog rock album and it’s just a classic. I first heard the opener as a sample in POWER by Ye and knew I had to listen to it. I was not disappointed. The mix of jazz and rock is just insane. The jazz embellishments and freak outs are all over this record. Moonchild and ITCOTCK are examples of This. I talk to the wind is just beautiful and the flute is just the Cherry on top.

The quintessential prog rock album. Everything from the lyrics to the music to the album cover. The only slight negative thing I can say is the post-moonchild element goes on a bit too long, but when it thunders into Court of the Crimson King... Wow. Easy 5*

On my previous dalliances with the screamy man, I was not quite sold on what I heard. But my ears have been opened to prog thanks to my more newfound and undying love for another King -- one of the Gizzard variety -- and upon this relisten, I found I enjoyed it more than ever before! This is epic at times, restrained at others. The time signatures shift, which is cool and good! "Epitaph" and "The Court of the Crimson King" are probably my favourites here. As the birthplace of prog, and as an iconic work of art in its own right, it would be sort of screwed up if I didn't rate this at five stars on principle. But on this listen, I finally discovered that it truly deserves them.

Occasionally an excess of noodling but mostly epic and soaring. Reminded me of Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, early Genesis, etc., unsurprising I know. Glad to have heard it.

I have heard of King Crimson and they always felt like something I should have listened to at some point. Today is that point! I loved the jazzy-moody-noodly-psychedelic nature of all this. There was a lot of interesting songs - real versatility on display. Prog-rock anthems, lovely sentimental songs… I love the mix of lovely-weird. Terrific!

this album is fantastic i love it a lot

Funky as hell on the first track so far! Gottdamn. So I've gone through the whole album and I love how absolutely classically BARDIC it is. It's everything one would want from an old-timey fantasy epic, and honestly the only thing that gives away the albums age is the heavy usage of the musical organ. The album is decades ahead of its time. Astounding.

For my third album recommendation, I was given the red screaaammmyyy man album, which I was already a gigantic fan of to begin with. However, there was only one song that has prevented me from giving this album a 10/10 in the past, and that is the track “Moonchild”. Depending on how I feel about it in this listen, I may or may not give this album a 5/5 instead of a 4/5 (it’s soo close to being a no doubt 10/10 for me!!). After giving this another listen, I can say without a doubt that this is a 10/10 album!! While Moonchild is still my least favorite track, I think it actually fits well in the context of the album. It does a fantastic job of putting the listener into a lull-like state before the closing track of the album comes slamming in! What else is there to say? This album has easily one of the greatest opening tracks (21st Century Schizoid Man) and closing tracks (The Court Of the Crimson King) in music history, and the tracks in-between do just as great of a job of engaging myself and many other listeners as well. 10/10

I really loved this album! I laid back and listened and it was a great experience

What a great surprise. Precursor to Pink Floyd.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM TOP TEN FAVORITE ALBUMS EVER THIS SHIT CLASSIC CLASSIC CLASSIC

If I had a dollar for every time I've seen this album cover, I wouldn't have been listening to this on my way to work this morning. However, even though I've seen this album countless times, this was my first time listening to it. I know this album is supposed to be the first prog rock album, but I wasn't sure if I'd like it; I like Pink Floyd, Rush, Supertramp, and Yes, but I don't really consider myself a prog rock fan. Well, after listening to In The Court Of The Crimson King, I guess I can consider myself at least a casual fan of prog rock. I really enjoyed this album from start to finish. The jazz influences were easy to hear right from the start, and I loved these long, orchestral songs. This album is incredibly ambitious, and it blows my mind that it was released in 1969. It's easy to hear that this album had a major influence on all of psychedelic rock that came after it, especially Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" songs. As much as I enjoyed the strings and woodwinds, the drumming was probably my favorite aspect of this album. I loved the cymbal crashes in "Epitaph" and the jazz-adjacent fills on "21st Century Schizoid Man." This album isn't the type of thing that I like to listen to regularly, but it was fantastic, and its importance and influence on rock music can't be understated.

Buckle the f**k up. Court is in session. The opening breaks are raucous and cacophonic. You think you know what it is, but then Schizoid fades into Talk to the Wind and the (probably best on a modernish album) flute floats melodious with what is that (clarinet and some starry keyboard?), and you find you don't really know what is going on-- yet. On the third track, the kettle drum rolls thunder and the strings come in and you think, how many instruments do these guys play?? The vocals are a little more pointed and the strings carry you soaring above the mountains while the completely unique guitar pierces through the void and injects salve. Finally, sweet release and the acoustic guitar takes a role stepping aside only for the somber and somnolent clarinet and still thunderous drums. Moonchild swings in like an old sad friend. It seems simple, familiar, predictable. But is it? What sort of hobbit journey are we on and when have you heard anything remotely like this before? Was it in a dream? At the end, we get like 7 minutes of call and response jazz chaos in fits and starts and might be tempted to think, is the album ending here? Going to sputter out? And then the title track comes swooping in, organs and drums, guitars and then into the quiet little hamlet voice. I wonder at this stage briefly, why do I hate Jethro Tull so much?? Oh because it is totally derivative of this album probably with none of the originality, lyrics, or talent. Overall, this is a brilliant piece of work. I met this album at age 13 and it was way beyond my comprehension at the time-- still on the edge. My dear dreadlocked pal, Troy played it for me on vinyl and it was old then. Somehow it stands even taller and is even more fascinating. A musical pillar.

Si Fragile de Yes est un classique des classiques, In The Court Of The Crimson King est L’ULTIME classique du rock progressif. Puissant, mystique, experimental et tout bonnement bien construit, c’est l’un de mes albums préférés. Ps: Si vous voulez skip Moon Child, écouter au moins la dernière minute, la transition avec la dernière chanson en vaux la peine

Excellent malgré quelques rares moments d'égarement

endormie

This album may still be ahead of it’s time, but I loved it.

Well, those that don’t rate this record certainly get hot under the collar explaining why 🤣. I get it though, music has that unique ability to divide opinion. I marvel at the fact that this was released in 1969. A sound that is a hybrid of jazz, classical, blues, folk and everything else. The opening track is a menacing sound and represents the album art work perfectly. Dropping the needle on this for the first time must have been an amazing experience. I am one of those who believe it’s a classic of its time. I don’t like everything, the middle section of Moonchild sounds like the band are each playing a different song and it drags on. They invented Prog Rock with this album, it’s a record that is both “of” and “ahead” of its time. And fifty years later it is still finding new fans. Essential !

an album i've loved for a long time, in no part that i associate with my bf.

Always loved the main song but now I heard the rest and they're great!

Musicianship and production on point

Rock jazz ambient wtf.. fuusion.....sitte proge vittuilua... jahas proge.... Haistkaa paska...

Prog rock royalty Zoveel coole sounds, zoveel coole ritmes en ingewikkelde patronen. Al paar x geluisterd en elke keer iets anders dat opvalt. Ik moet ze vaker luisteren.

21st century schizofoid man vuuuur. Prachtig album met veel toffe geluiden. Prog rock zoals ik het graag heb.

a classic!

TWWENTY FIRST CENTURY SCHIZOID MAN BEUM BERUMBEUM BEUM esse album é progressivo emocional, não aquelas notas escaladas que soam como um show off. a maneira como tudo progride e se encaixa aqui é unica, principalmente considerando a diversidade das musicas.

Amazing find. Amazing album.

Amazing.

En juvel!!

Starting off with the sample to a Kanye song, very neat! 21st Century Schizoid is a certified jam. Singer's voice is amazing. Very interesting mix of heavy metal, classical, and jazz(?), reminds me of S&M. This album sounds like it could have been released today. This album is amazing. I like the story-telling aspect to it, reminds me of Rime of the Ancient Mariner. The Moonchild interlude goes a bit long, but that's the only blemish I could point out. I love this list for albums like this where I have never heard of the band. There are a lot of masterpieces to discover.

21st Century Schizoid Man really kicked things off with a bang. Then I enjoyed the slowed down more instrumental middle. Whatever that is called that was happening in Moon Child had me on the edge of my seat waiting for it to start up again which it certainly does during Court of the Crimson King. Love this album and happy it was brought up because I have heard of it but never listen to it once.

Epic tunes while still super catchy. Felt like I was listening to an orchestra play Pink Floyd. Pretty fun stuff, 5 star whynot?

The album that launched prog rock. In The Court Of The Crimson King is not an easy listen and you need to be in a place to appreciate it and prog-style music. Once you're comfortable with songs longer than the 3-5 minute range and in the 7-13 minute range you'll appreciate what goes into it, similar to freeform Jazz of the 50's & 60's. 4.5/5.

To have ever called myself a lover of progressive rock and not have listened to King Crimson's "In The Court Of The Crimson King" is a little unbelievable, alas it was very true. This album, from top to bottom, is nothing short of a masterpiece, and to think this was King Crimson's first really set a high bar probably for themselves and certainly any band that came after them. Having said the album is fantastic through and through, my personal highlights would have to be "Epitaph" and album closer "The Court of the Crimson King". Having only a rough idea of who King Crimson were, and being more familiar with their namesake through another piece of media, Hirohiko Araki's decades spanning manga "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure", I came in knowing this album was genre defining and heavily praised, and I can say now without a doubt that I completely understand why. This album will definitely go into my rotation now that I've taken the time to listen to it, and I'll have to explore more of KC's work from here on out.

One of my all-time favorites

good

“21st Century Schizoid Man” is one of the best rock songs of all time and an insane album opener. It’s got that ridiculous heavy metal riff and opens up into an all-out jazz freak-out in the second half. Phenomenal. I love how the gentle “I Talk to the Wind” follows the noise of “Schizoid Man.” Great transition and palette cleanser. And a beautiful song too. I love the flute solo at the end. The drumming on this album is fantastic. Michael Giles (had to look up the name and give him a shoutout) is so precise and on point the way you need for hard rock and heavy metal, but he’s also got this light jazzy touch too, depending on the song. “Epitaph” is a prog rock epic! So cinematic. When I was 14, I would listen to this CD on my Walkman and challenge myself not to skip past the avant-garde section of "Moonchild." I think it helped me build up a tolerance for free jazz and experimental music. 😂 Honestly, it's not as challenging as I remember it being. It's actually pretty calming and soothing. Another epic one with the closing title track. Love those dramatic backing vocals. And more flute solos! 🙌 Listening to this took me back to riding the bus to high school in the morning. This CD was in high rotation for teenaged Steve for a while. One of the best album covers of all time. It might even take my vote for best ever.

Finally- a reason to sit and listen to this album! I've been told that I need to listen to it for my entire life but I never have. Alright yea this is really sick. Incredibly tasteful prog rock. Wow this is really great. It does everything and does it well. It's so beautiful at times, it's so heavy at times, it's so fantastical but also approachable. There's a part of me that wants to make this my first blind 5/5 but there's also a part of me that wants to hold back on a 5 because the one thing this album doesn't really seem to have for me is that it is lacking some real re-listenable hits on it. Like it doesn't have too many choruses or moments where I'm thinking "oh man I'll remember this part" except for the chorus of the first track (which is killer). Ultimately I feel like this has to be a 5 though. It really wowed me in ways that other albums have not on this list and I can't wait to re-listen. One of the best album covers of all time, right? It's so unique but everyone knows what it is.

Album from 69, basically considered the first prog rock album. Such an amazing blend of new sounds but also still showing its 60s flavour. Sounds like something from the future, even now. Giving 5 as it deserves another listen after this. Super impressive

люблю очень

This album cover was ubiquitous in record stores back in the 70s. It was definitely a key LP in the fledgling progressive rock movement with it's symphonic sound and lengthy songs. I'm surprised I didn't rush out and buy it - must have been that cover. When MC and I saw them a couple of years ago, their sets were still peppered with songs from this LP. It's a shame the line-up more or less disintegrated after it was finished. "I Talk to the Wind", "Epitath" & "Court of the Crimson King" are my favourites. Ian McDonald's flute, wind instruments and mellotron create a lush backdrop for Greg Lake's voice and it was a smart move to have a designated lyricist. Peter Sinfield's lyrics elevate the music and combined with Lake's delivery, give the music a regal feel. "Moonchild" wanders off after a great start but the LP is still a classic.

Bestes album cover oat und ein geniales album Decent 9/10

One of the albums that shaped prog rock as we know it. Not my personal favorite of theirs but it’s one of the GOAT prog rock albums ever and experimental as fuck for it’s time.

This is probably the greatest prog-rock album of all time.

Art. I hope this album will be forever remembered, because it is an iconic and essential progressive rock album. So many things to like here - the percussion, the guitars, the synths, the use of silence and phrasing. It was released incredibly early in the timeline of progressive rock and helped pioneer the genre. Fave tracks: 21st Century Schizoid Man, The Court Of The Crimson King (but preferably listen to the album front to back)

Oh man, I love this album so much. An incredible debut from Prog giants King Crimson. Such a good blend of rock, jazz, psychedelic and symphonic sounds, this thing is larger than life. The influence of this album is far reaching, many great prog bands cite it as inspiration, and the first track was even sampled by Kanye 40 years later. Definitely deserves to be on any greatest albums list. Fav Tracks: 21st Century, I Talk to The Wind, Epitaph, In the Court of the Crimson King

If I had heard this during my formative years, it would have been a favorite. Glad I finally learned of its existence.

extremely influential, and impressive progressive rock

The best debut album ever, and also one of the most important albums in history ❤️

Nice rock vibe. Good for roadtrip

Ебучая классика прог рока. Не понял претензий по выебонистости, учитывая что это суть жанра : усложни все что слишком легко и попсово звучит. А обложка - это Мега сексуально Алкоальбом: ты под котиками разговариваешь с друзьями под пиво о смерти человечества

One of the top prog albums

First of all, the cover art. Outside and inside. I'm not a fan of ranking or rating anything to do with art -- music or visual or otherwise -- so I'm speaking exclusively from my own subjective experience when I say it's one of the greatest album covers of all time. I owned this record as a teen and used to get lost in the paintings on the outside and inside. Now, the album, musically. The older I get (now in my mid-50s) and the further I travel along my own music-learning journey -- I am a relatively early-stage guitarist (a little over three years in now) and music student (taking courses via Berklee Online in guitar, music theory, harmony, etc.) -- the more I appreciate the creativity, skill, and innovation I hear in this album. I listen to a wide variety of music, thanks in part to this wonderful project, and although I really do cut across as many genres as I can, jazz still has the largest share of my listening ear. Unskilled as I am as a musician, and still-at-this-point relatively untrained as my ear is, I find an endless source of artistic fascination in all music, especially jazz. My ears are drawn more and more to being challenged and surprised. Even though this is King Crimson's debut album, and they were so young at the time, it's incredible. So rich, so dark, so intricate. I need to dive deeply into the rest of their catalog, of course. I know the personnel changed a lot over the years, but they've always had founding member Robert Fripp. Robert Fripp fascinates me. I have not yet read it, but I did get his recent book, The Guitar Circle, because every time I learn about him or hear him in an interview, it's always so interesting to me. And the way he plays so inventively and so very much in his own way. I just read the full Wikipedia entry on Robert Fripp. I knew he had done so much, but I didn't realize it is THAT much. Whoa. Brilliant, brilliant stuff here. Brilliant!

Didnt fancy today's album and boy am I glad to have come to this instead. The first time an album I didn't know at all has landed in five territory. It's a magical musical carpet ride that takes you through about seven different states every seven minutes. Brilliant.

Radiohead before Radiohead, Floyd before they made up their mind.

Un des meilleurs albums prog de tout les temps. Un classique. 5

10

Perhaps the greatest most beautiful progressive rock album ever. After the madness of 21st Century Schizoid Man, comes the melodic beauty of the rest of this consistently gorgeous album. The melodies are so sweet and poignant that they endure still some 50 years later. Prog rock should have just stopped and left this as the near perfect peak of its existence. Wow!

Honestly, I was not expecting to enjoy this album as much as I did. I knew nothing about it going in and came out pleasantly surprised at the end. All the different sections of the songs are really something to marvel at. I know this came out a long time after this album but it reminds me of how Jesus of Suburbia and Homecoming by Green Day do the same thing. They're both over 9 minute songs and you'd think, "Oh this is gonna be basically the same thing all the way through," but the way it changes tone and really tells a story through the song is very similar.

Absolutely blew my mind the first time I heard it almost 2 years ago. One of those albums you didn't think music could sound like that. "21st Century Schizoid Man" is a chaotic mess of experimental jazz and proto-metal where you're constantly on the edge of your seat, with tons of crazy and memorable moments. Toning it down in the opposite direction, "I Talk to the Wind" is super jammy and peaceful with its flute-based classical influence. "Epitaph" carries on that energy but becomes much more dramatic with its symphonic ensemble. "Moonchild" is literally a filler track and the only remotely weak track. It's a minimalist modern classical track that at times sounds like Indian Classical. There are cool moments, but if only it were cut down by half. "The Court of the Crimson King" sounds like what ever prog band would try to emulate, an operatic approach to music with the instrumentation providing eery psychedelic sound effects in support of Lake's gripping storytelling, and emphatic enveloping segments in between.

Amazing album!

Awesome. New find for me.

Great prog rock album, good stuff

masterpiece

Excellent masterpiece

The keeper of the city keys Put shutters on the dreams I wait outside the pilgrim's door With insufficient schemes The black queen chants The funeral march The cracked brass bells will ring To summon back the fire witch To the court of the crimson king 5/5

Prog rock at its finest. The creativity is overflowing and the production is off the charts. The album opens so strong with 21st century schizoid man and ends perfectly on In the court of the Crimson King.

My ears are oscillating between extremely intrigued and borderline climaxing. They produced this in 69'?

Kanye knew it was big. Samples KC loads. Same as Genesis, all amazing musicians. Lineup changes throughout. Also recommend Discipline from ‘81. SoT 21st Century Schizoid Man I Talk To The Wind Epitaph 4.5/5

21st century schizoid man is a certified banger. Epitaph is my favorite track, great prog rock ballad. Beginning of Moonchild 100% influenced Opeth’s quieter/darker sound, which makes sense since Mikael is a prog rock fanboy I definitely appreciate this album more as an adult than when I listened as a teen. Some of the weirder parts of songs kinda bored me (the last 10 mins of Moonchild as an example) cuz I wanted more BANGER. But now I find them more interesting since I’ve gotten more into ambient music over the years. It’s more about creating an atmosphere than melodies.

Ultimate players

21st Century Schizoid Man- 9.4 I Talk To The Wind- 9.6 Epitaph- 9.8 Moonchild- 7.9 The Court Of The Crimson King- 9.4

Oh I liked this. I liked this a lot. If there's anything I'm a sucker for, it's 10+ min songs that kind of keep dragging, but when done well, feel like a soundtrack to your life. "21st Century Schizoid Man" is going on my 'me' playlist, because no doubt will I shamelessly bulldoze anyone who attempts to cross paths me when it comes on.

Imagine releasing this as your first album.