In The Court Of The Crimson King

I'm feeling a bit shit today, and am in need of a warm hug. Despite having listened to this before, I thought this album was going to be too jarring and frenetic to listen to on a sad day, but pleasantly surprised. I Talk to the Wind and Epitaph, Court of Crimson King, all excellent. Moonchild I liked, the 5 mins of bleeps + bloops didn't bother me.

What happens when you get four of the best studio musicians in the same room together? Magic! The problem if this is not everyone’s magic. There is no dispute that King Crimson were the kings of Prog-Rock. Each one of them were masters of their instruments, and you can heard their influence in everyone from Genesis(early and late) through Tool (whom Danny Carey even played in their tribute last year). But there no passive listening here: you are all in or you have no idea what is going on. Key songs for me were The Court of the Crimson King, and Epitaph, partially because the bass clarinet inclusion which few bands can pull off in rock. This is definitely 1001 Level and a classic. It should come with a warning label that you will be going on a journey and you may not be returning the same or at all….

Great album but ruined by Moonchild. If you're wondering why it's not a 5.

I really liked every song on this album

Great and influential album Standout songs: 21st century schizoid man The court of the crimson king

Already a huge favourite of mine, with one of the greatest opening tracks of all time. Excellent in the pocket proto-prog. Little bit far out at times, but it's reaching for something special and catches it for the most part.

PRoggy. Not bad.

Cool to find a sample that’s used in Kanye’s “Power”

A great album. However, one or two tracks alienate me. My musical sense is apparently not good enough for Moonchild. 4/5

Such a vibey album, still sounds fresh after decades. Favorite track: 21st century schizoid man other picks: i talk to the wind, epitaph, the court of the crimson king

Very impressive album for its time. Ambitious song structures and complex instrumentation. I think this is the earliest I've heard double bass drum, which would become a staple of metal about 10 years later. I can forgive most of the far out sojourns and weird free jazz parts here and there. Alas, I have to deduct a star for pretentious lyrics and over-long songs.

Det var en del af de første progressive rock. Blandede avantgarde, jazz classical og rock. Intense majestætisk Og mørkt. Virkelig godt inspirerede pink Floyd bl.a.

Well I am clearly biased by my own random. This is how they became important, but the adventure really just started relatively conventional. Great songs, great delivery, nonetheless much more outdated then what was to follow.

HEAT, 4.4

The first 30 seconds had me worried but then it shifted and I got excited.

Jazz, rock, psychedelia and inspired musicianship with a few great melodies to boot. A prog classic with all the occasional interludes of indulgent noodling.

But I Fear Tomorrow I'll Be Crying 1001 Albums Generator 21 (05/01/2025) After graduating from Chelsea College Of The Arts, Barry Godber decided to become a computer programmer. Disillusioned with the working world, he later left this corporate job with his friend Peter Sinfield. When Sinfield asked him to paint an album cover for his band's debut album, Barry painted the only piece of album art he made in his short life, featuring a distorted representation of what he saw when he looked in his bathroom mirror. Soon after this (self-)portrait of the so called "Schizoid Man" found its way to hundreds of record shop windows, Barry Goldber died of a heart attack in 1970. He was 24 years old. While researching this album, I learned the word phantasmagorical. Don't act like you know what it means. Phantasmagorical means "full of different images, like something in a confused dream", and I think this word describes perfectly Barry's art, Sinfeld's lyrics, and the musical world that King Crimson was able to build on In The Court Of The Crimson King. Personally, this is not my favorite album by experimental English proggers King Crimson, as I believe they peaked with the proggy new wave of Discipline and the proto-prog metal of Red, but this is still a classic album for a reason. As there are only five songs here, I feel like I can go track by track. The opening 21st Century Schizoid Man is King Crimson's most well-known song, owing in part to its iconic use in one of Kanye West's finest songs, Power. Even removed from its use as a sample, this is clearly one of King Crimson's strongest songs, and may be objectively their best. I said earlier this week that Leonard Cohen starting his career with the sublime Suzanne was amazing, and 21st Century Schizoid Man is a similarly unbelievable start to an artist's career. Taking inspiration from both the psychedelic acid rock of Jimi Hendrix and the jazz sensibilities of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, this song redefined what rock music could be. In the same year that Miles Davis "sold out" to rock audiences by embracing electric elements to his jazz on In A Silent Way, King Crimson was approaching this fusion from the other side by incorporating jazz improvisation and instrumentation into a rock context. The formerly opposed rock and jazz worlds were coming together and in both cases, the results were fantastic. I Talk To The Wind is much more tame by comparison. Led largely by Ian McDonald's flute, the second song on In The Court Of The Crimson King is hardly a rock song at all. Playing more like a folk song, I Talk To The Wind was originally penned by Giles, Giles, and Fripp, the precursor to King Crimson. It's a good song and a nice reprieve from the cacophony at the end of the previous track, but not the strongest moment here. Special shoutout to Michael Giles' super interesting drumming on the chorus. The following track, the similarly chill Epitaph, is another triumph. This song also has some folksy moments, but it allows itself to rock out more, and it features some of Sinfeld's best lyrics. This song was a chilling statement against both the deadly Vietnam War and the mutually assured destruction of the Cold War. To this day, politicians play with the lives of the common man while they sit in their bunkers twidling their thumbs. As with many of King Crimson's pre-80's output, the second to last song here, Moonchild, is a piece of free improvisation, and as with many of these free improv songs, it is the weakest on the album. After a two and a half minute ballad, the song devolves into about 10 minutes of pure improvisation that goes beyond even the experimentation of free jazz that Ornette Coleman famously spearheaded in the early 60's. While that music still maintained some sort of jazz sensibility, Moonchild is something different, where even the most key elements of music, such as rhythm and harmony, are eschewed in favor of complete chaos. This is not an aggressive piece of free improv like AMMMusic, but rather a more chill, folksy take on the radical genre. By virtue of personal preference, this is just not my thing. The final song, the nearly titular The Court Of The Crimson King, is fantastic. I love the acoustic guitar arpeggios in the verses and the huge multitracked vocals of the chorus. It is also extremely jazzy and has a silly little flute part near the end. You can't go wrong with that. So, is this the first true progressive rock album? Perhaps not, as both Caravan and Soft Machine had released their self titled albums by the time In The Court Of The Crimson King released. Don't mishear me; this isn't to take away from what Fripp, Lake, McDonald, Giles, and Sinfield did here on their debut. It is a remarkable album and while its status as the first true prog rock album is shaky at best, I don't think it's a stretch to say that this is the first GREAT prog rock album. With that said, the weakness of Moonchild, which is the longest song here, puts this album at a strong 4/5 for me. Favs: 21st Century Schizoid Man Epitaph The Court Of The Crimson King Least Fav: Moonchild

A scary place to be in "The Dark Tower".

Like early Pink Floyd and Rush I always thought I would like this album/band. Unlike the aforementioned bands I actually do! This is a wonderful proggy sound in a band where Greg Lake is actually allowed to shine without having the unlistenable madness of ELP. It has a Jethro Tull feel with the flute and the songs are beautifully layered. After my first time listening this will be one to buy.

Great album. Strong start and strong finish. Love parts of the slower songs and the flutes. Parts of these songs really slow down and cause the songs to lose momentum. 8/10

Really enjoyed it, full of clever music

Man… where do I begin, this album firstly, haunt me like a phantom but I truly do feel it in my blood. I often find myself having to battle the tendency to listen to it under the stardust in the sky. This album truly makes me feel like a destined crusader on an adventure but alone it puts me in some moody blues… However listening to it with my friends doesnt do so because being close with someone keeps my spirits up due to our bonds. Which, like diamonds, are unbreakable. Overall this album has truly been a golden experience while the melody makes my conciousness fall into the ocean like a stone.

Wonderful sound, especially for 1969. In one song even reminded me the last album of Valentine Strykalo Lol this album is the same age as my mum

Solid.

Interresting. Surprisingly good. Lyrics are a bit... insane. 4/5

I like it it’s fun and jazzy rock

I don't know if I'll ever add any of the songs to a mix, but I will definitely return to listen to the album as a whole. Was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it

This is a wild album that I don't properly have words in my vocabulary to describe, but I like it.

When this album hits, it's amazing - the title track and 21st Century Schizoid Man are phenomenal tracks, and it's clear that everyone in the band knows exactly how to play off of each other. But by God, does it ever go on with meaningless noises for far too long. I've mentioned a few times on other albums how they could be about 10% shorter, but this one feels fully twice as long as it needs to be - there's so many opportunities to go and have a piss, make a cup of tea, read a book, and still come back without missing an actual song that I can't give it a better score. Which is a shame, as the two key tracks are so absolutely my jam that the rest feels like a real disappointment.

I've seen this album cover many places, but surprised I've never listened to it. Seems to be an album a lot of people get first when collecting vinyl. Way more jammy than I thought. Probably very experimental for the time.

Seems so far a head of it's time, really lush production, another new find I'll be coming back to.

Fantastic album.

329/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Meandering, but would listen again. I get why this so such a big deal. It gets a high four from me. Faves: 21st century schizoid man, the court of the crimson king.

Some good stuff in there, but some things that I just couldn't listen to more than once.

Early prog, but pretty good overall. I think the entire band fell asleep during Moonchild and just left a faucet dripping on the cymbals, but they woke up and recovered nicely.

Ganske bra. Einaste albumet eg har på 200-grams vinyl, I think

Onhan tämä mainio progelevy, ja erityisesti avaus- ja lopetusraidat ovat lajinsa helmiä. 4/5

Excited to roll this, I’ve been told forever it’s the best album ever by Twitter.com. An insane debut album, so good and so influential to all the prog that came after for good reason. I really loved the arrangements on this and how unafraid it was to be sparse at times. There are a couple moments on here where it fits its reputation of "I listen to this bc I'm a music guy, i really love music man I listen to prog rock, those time changes bro???" but I feel like even if you listen to this because you want to be cool you're gonna find out quickly that it rules. Really high 4. Isn't it crazy that the Kingdom Hearts Dearly Beloved/Kayne's Stronger mashup wouldn't exist without this album?

I have a great fondness for this album because I used to listen to it with my college boyfriend while properly tripping. It's not quite the same without hallucinogens, but I can still conjure up the delight of hearing it for the first time while watching the birds from his tapestry dance across the wall. They are the Kings of prog rock for sure.

The amount of people I went to high school with who were obsessed with this album put me off of listening to it for years. It's good. It's best parts are REALLY good. A bit excessive, but that's prog for you.

Great at time. Decent at others. Never bad

Think i'd tried to listen in the past and not got on with it, but this time i thoroughly enjoyed this. You can hear some Dark Side of the Moon in this but they definitely sound distinctively different. Great album, will listen again.

A goddamn masterpiece 8.5/10 fave: epitaph

21st Century Schizoid Man on kyllä nerokas kappale. Odottelin että levyllä olisi enemmänkin samanlaista sekoilua, mutta ei. Kerrassaan hieno kokonaisuus. Eipä ollut tätäkään tullut kuunneltua ennen. Parhaat: Sanotaan tässä tapauksessa heikoin, I Talk To The Wind. Muuten ihan priimaa.

This album feels like a sonic journey into a Love, Death, and Robots episode. It's absolutely full of color! You can just walk yourself into the world of the Crimson King and visualize moonlit abandoned cities of dark blue, green seas colored by a strangely mossy sky, or a violent ruby arena with crumbling moons above. It's a rich world that's brought purely by sound. This album is a masterpiece of progressive rock. For me, it's not because of its historical significance (though I'm not downplaying it), but it's on how it builds a story purely by an album so short and sonically disorganized, that it somehow arranges itself like a book with chapters. You can just sense the dystopia through the headphones. Beautiful start. Can't wait for more.

Great progressive rock album.

Very cool album, 21st century schizoid man was sampled in a Kanye West song that I knew which I was not expecting at all.

Solid rock album. I knew 21st Century Schizoid Man, but the rest was new.

A widely applauded and celebrated album. King Crimson's prog rock is not something I've been a fan of in the past but this album works well. It does occasionally creep into "noise for noise sake" which can be an issue with prog sometimes but overall an enjoyable album. 7.25/10 (3.625/5)

Progressive rock really hits.

The funny haha yelling guy album. 21st Century Schizoid is a classic and there are some good songs throughout. 7/10

Et album man bare må sitte og høre på. Litt lange partier der lite skjer drar karakteren ned.

Pretty good.

Classic brilliant ground-breaking stuff. Great to listen to but this TYPE of prog never really resonates with me in any deeper way than just enjoyable listening.

Mad for this to be a debut album, it’s completely its own thing & fully formed which I have to appreciate. Love that the album conveys this sense of a grand scale throughout by changing pace & introducing a huge variety of instruments. Makes the album feel like it’s made to be performed with a ballet or some action on stage alongside the band - though that may just be me getting mixed up with the hall of a different king. We start heavy, mellow out then finish big and operatic. Really appreciate this, even if overall half the songs did nothing for me themselves they added to the vibe of the album as an experience.

Fell asleep listening to it, lol. Good vibes

Liked it a lot more than I expected, some really cool sounds. A little bit of a drag at times but much more listenable than I thought

One of my husband’s favorite albums. His Mom painted the back of a denim jacket with the cover image. For that I’m giving it a four. Some of the songs haven’t aged well. Moonchild sort of unlistenable. Also, reminds me disconcertingly of Spinal Tap.

I couldn't listen to this album yesterday as I was in hospital. However, I did give it a listen today (Tuesday). Why many people see "In the Court of the Crimson King" as a classic is easy to understand. The songs are outstanding. This week shall be epic. 4 stars for "In the Court of the Crimson King".

This is awsome.

slaps 4/5

Overall a brilliant album. Only thing stopping it from getting all 5 stars is I thought Moonchild was quite boring.

An album I can appreciate!

I've seen this record cover so many times before, and never really been aware of what King Crimson had to offer. Turns out he can offer quite a deranged hour. It starts really strongly, despite the slightly proggy nature of the songs (and the proggy length). It dips into self-indulgence quite a bit at times, but overall, I found this to be a really interesting listen, and one I suspect I'll persevere with.

Solid album. Can see the impact this had over the years. Got a few plays

Flute very nice

a thrilling unique work of prog rock history

Man, this cover art and opening track really throw you off from what’s coming next. Glad I was finally given a reason to check out the whole album, because I could not understand why on earth people spoke so highly of this.

4.3 - This was really cool, very indulgent in parts and didn't need to be so long but liked it a lot

Can't believe I've never heard this before. Loved it. Not much to say beyond that. Kinda felt like being a band kid hearing a profound piece of classical music for the first time.

I've avoided King Crimson for years as I thought they'd be the worst of prog, but this album wasn't that. There is a lot of the rawness of rock mixed in with the more indulgent elements. It was enjoyable, the playing was good, and it was over the top without becoming cartoonish as prog sometimes has a tendency to do.

Wow, what a mixed bag. You had some moments with great riffs, interesting key changes, and a diverse instrument riff. Then you have other songs where they're just noodling for 12 minutes. Anyways, the things that were good were so good. Loved the opening track, such a solid gritty riff to keep coming back to with great instrumental bits mixed in. Nice jazz influences. Great key change in Epitaph. Would almost go 5, but some things were pushed just a bit far or a bit repetitive. But I actually enjoyed this one and relistened to a good bit of it.

This was very interesting to me as it had a Dark Side of the Moon vibe to, and was released 4 years earlier! Gonna have to listen to it again but there is a definite chance this ends up in my vinyl collection.

Enjoyed this

Prog Rock Icon!!! Favourite songs: 21st Century Schizoid Man, Epitaph, The Court of the Crimson King Least favourite songs: Moonchild 4/5

This is an band I had judged for decades by its album covers, and their name. King Crimson sounds like a band that should be playing N'Orlean's style jazz, not a 6 man Prog Rock band from Europe, but here we are. While the the album definitely jazz inspired the first song 21st Century Schizoid Man sounds like a rock band was playing at Mardi Gras. And I was pleasantly surprised at how well these genre can meld

21st Century Schizoid Man I Talk to the Wind Epitaph The Court of the Crimson King

Court of the Crimson King is an all-timer. Great prog rock album and helped cement Children of Men as my favorite movie.

Schizoid Man blasts so hard that I was able to look past all the super experimental BS in the latter tracks. I Talk isn't bad either. The drums have that awesome tempered 70s sound that I love.

Absolute classic album with some amazing songs. Some boring moments but overall you can see the vision of the album. Hugely influential too

Progressive rock? Jazz? Who cares? Crazy stuff here; really interesting. 8/10

Heck yeah

A classic. And second king crimson from 1001 this week.

A classic. A little too much music theory faffing for my liking, and I think rock has aged poorly. But there are unbeatable moments on this album.

8/10

One of the initiators of progressive rock, of course I like this album. It feels less like symphonic rock, and more of a musical based on a dystopia novel. Very dramatic and intense but not the kind of music I'm looking for in progressive rock. Perhaps that label is misplaced for me. Still, it is full of inspiring and innovative rock. 4/5 for personal preference. 4.5 for influence on future rock.

So many sounds. Not every song is a banger, a slow burn.

Okayyy I like this one - really want to listen to it again while tripping. There's so much happening and it changes up so fast. I think my favourite on second listen is 'Epitaph'

Better than expected, more variety of instrumentation and ambient sounds than I thought there would be. Enjoyed it. Moonchild could be skipped, Count of the Crimson King and I Talk To The Wind are the highlights here.

A milestone in rock albums, a standard among prog-rock albums. Honestly, not a bad album. Do I love it? No, not really, but I appreciate it for what it is and what the musicians are doing. It's worth a few listens, anyway.

I was really into this album for most of it. I usually don't like prog rock but I found this to be pretty innovative and fun even despite what massive dorks these guys are. Then came Moonchild. I don't respect what they did on that track - thought it was way too much disparate noise for the sake of disparate noise. I was actually going to give this a five but that track is going to bump this down a whole star for me.

I liked it a lot.

Side A is absolutely iconic and outstanding, probably better than anything that Pink Floyd had done up to this point. 21 Century Schizoid Man and Epitaph are both songs for the ages. Side B starts out pleasant enough but then loses me in the middle with the long directionless outro of Moonchild. I also could have done without the epilogue that doesn't really add much after the false ending of the quasi title track. But those are minor quibbles.

Amazing album. First track blew me away. All the best of prog rock! Never heard of this band before, love this find.

I still just don't like Moonchild. It's way too loose for my taste. That said, the rest of it? Gold.

I guess this is the progenitor of all the great progressive groups that would appear in the next few years. Such talented and inventive musicians would add to the canon of King Crimson and continue to produce great music up to the present day.

I think I like it! 4/5

yeah, yeah king crimson

it's king crimson, a group that embodies progressive rock and it could never gone wrong

Very impressive. Needs more listens, but so far really enjoyed "21st Century Schizoid Man"

its a fun album. I like their other one and I like this one. 4 stars.

its a classic, eye opener,

4.25

Oh, I liked this. I like the similarities between this and the Moody Blues (which came first, I don't care - give credit to whoever it is - I just like the way it sounds). 4/5

En av pelarna för musiknördar. Aldrig velat se mig som en men är omöjligt att säga att detta är något annat än fantastiskt

Not sure why but I wasn't expecting to enjoy this, so it was a pleasant surprise.

Cult album. Quite popish for progressive rock. At a certain point it becomes quite boring.

First side is better, second side is a bit too experimental

Very good

One of the classics, for good reason. Moonchild is a little bit filler-ish, but there are plenty of amazing moments to make up for the few lackluster ones

Not much to say and do it justice. Amazing album that does not get stale. It is, I think, too different of modern day, I want to say punk rock, but I do not feel confident in the characterisation. Too different as in, nothing compares. No album realised in 2025 can be like this one. It, too, has a nostalgia factor in it, even though I only knew of parts of each musical piece. I have to say that it is an instant save and a respectable choice for the "Hall of Fame"

well i liked it!

Incredible prog rock, this album deserves the acclaim it gets. Very approachable yet avant garde at the same time. My want to increase the rating on a repeat listen. The album really felt like a journey more than just music which is what I want from prog rock

4.5

Never heard one thing they've done. I love this. I will listen to more now. It's long, a bit over an hour, and only 8 songs but worth listening to.

An essential progressive art rock album which also packs an unusual punch. A great mix of bombast and melancholy accentuated by Peter Sinfields imaginative, unnerving lyrics. Save for 'Moonchild', I think this album offers something for those who are not necessarily sold on Prog Rock.

Quite nice

The songs that are songs are pretty good.

Molto bello

Yes. This is the origin of progressive rock, an it is very avant guard, experimental, genre fusion, etc. It is also pretty amazing. I admit that I don't understand what is going on, but I also can appreciate what is here in my limited capacity.

Brilliant album ruined by 12 minutes of literal silence in the middle

Quite groovy and enjoyable. Prog fun

3.8 2x not what i was expecting. cool jazzy album

This is a quintessential prog rock album. Very good!

Experimental and fun .

Title song is masterful. Great band behind this album.

This one had me feeling like I Talk to the Wind.

It was really interesting. Trippy

Really enjoyed some of this, awesome stuff

Pretty good actually. New to me but i enjoyed all of this and really got into some of it. Some great tunes here and clever use of wind instruments. Very good progressive rock album indeed

Somehow this all holds together, despite the sprawling, monstrous ambition and maximalism of the approach. Opener is dull and dumb, but everything else "I Talk to the Wind" and "Epitaph" are good, particularly the vocals on the latter. Musically, it's interesting and maybe not as altogether out there as its reputation suggests. "Moonchild" and title track are slightly less good, mainly long. Cover art is dumb and not at all representative, which one believes it should be, especially for a record like this. Overall, however, history seems to have been kinder to this album that some other KC outings.

Screamy man screamy man! If you collect vinyl you know this is a prog rock all timer, how have I not listened to it before? This was epic. The only track I didn't like was the boring ahh Moonchild, only reason I brought this down to four stars. Maybe I'm just not high IQ enough to enjoy it.. but I was bored. Every other tune was a pleasure to listen to. I thoroughly enjoyed and will be revisiting this album for years to come. Now I just need to get it on vinyl.

I just want to say that this is my favourite album cover of all 1089 albums. I'm really not sure why, but it's obviously a striking, jarring, memorable piece of art. Anyway, I liked this more than I was expecting to, given that it’s prog! Pleasantly surprised by this one.

Great album but it lost me near the end. Moonchild was simultaneously the best and worst song on the album. 21 century schizoid man is a great name.

hey that was actually pretty good. it felt less indulgent and silly than a lot of other prog that i’ve heard, much more dynamic…these guys know how to edit! i know this is revered as one of the best albums of all time and i suppose i don’t have any reason to dispute it, but i also don’t think i’ll become obsessed with it anytime soon…i quite like robert fripp’s guitar playing on a lot of other songs out there in the world (especially on ”hammond song” by the roches AKA one of the best songs ever recorded) so that tracks.

I liked thaaaaaat. I feel like prog rock is very hit or miss for me (see: Pink Floyd 😀 vs Yes 😐) but this was cool and experimental and interesting, and ultimately not too drawn out. The songs were long but they didn’t feel long because the different movements/”suites” within each one felt dramatic and necessary rather than overkill. The sound of this album has an edge to it that I really enjoyed. But at the end of the day I’m still biased and will choose the Kanye sample as my favorite track because I do think that stands out compared to the rest, even though the album ended really well. *Best tracks: 21st Century Schizoid Man*

Love the first and last songs

What a bold album to release as your debut. Feels very ahead of its time for an album released in 1969. Cracker of an opening song. Talk to the wind - nice. The meandering components of songs like moonchild where there's extended periods of meaningless noodling gets very tiresome - like I get this is a prog album but seriously... It's memerorable only in it's ability to create irriration in the listener. Besides that lull in the middle, a strong album. 4/5. The court of the crimson king is such a breath of fresh air after the snoozefest of moonchild.

The album is one of the earliest and most influential of the progressive rock genre. 1969. Distorted vocals, great guitars and drums. Almost sounds like Jazz, super lively. DNA of a lot of later bands and music. Very abstract at times, then back to very traditional prog rock. Ambitious album.

Surprisingly enjoyable.

While it had its moments of getting way too noodly, I get the hype for this one. Very much ahead of it’s time for progressive/experimental rock

前摇的神，无需多言

Liked this more than I thought. Really grew on me. Started a bit weak and then got into it at the end. The song The Court of the Crimson King rips.

Really enjoyed, it was a bit mad but I liked it

Despite being an avowed prog fan, I've never listened to this and never tried to get into King Crimson, always telling myself I'll give it some dedicated time later. That time is now! Unsurprisingly, I really enjoyed it! Not much to say other than it was a great time, just slightly losing me when it gets a bit more free jazz than I'd like. Will definitely listen again.

A landmark prog album. There's nothing really like it. God I love the drumming. All amazing except the 10 mins of pointless noodling on side 2. It's a 5 otherwise.

Second album de KC généré dans la liste. Je l'avais écouté une première fois fin 90, sans vraiment accrocher sauf sur 21st Century Schizoid Man. Et cette opinion moyenne est restée. Depuis j'ai découvert le jazz, et d'autres album de KC, en particulier Red que j'ai plus apprécié. Mais pour moi la révélation a été le DVD 'Eyes wide open' que j'ai trouvé vraiment fantastique. Ce premier album me parait maintenant bien plus intéressant, l'instrumentation, les improvisations très libres et les harmonies originales m'ont finalement conquis. Je ne lui met cependant pas la note maximale, la période avec Trey Gunn étant de mon point de vue la meilleure dans la vie du groupe. => 4.5/5

This is exactly the type of record I’m into. Beautiful, gentle compositions with complementary vocals in well-choreographed frequency. It’s reminiscent of a very good movie soundtrack. Well sequenced and seamless as a listen. This one is really nice.

This was really cool. Need to give it lots of relistens.

good listen, not my style rn but its quality is always enjoyable as the titan for progresive rock it was and it is

If you like prog rock at all this is fundamental for understanding where bands like rush and genesis got their influence from. It’s such a beautifuly composed debut album full of jazz and experimental drawn out compositions. Even moon child which is a huge change of pace holds its own. Also, Kanye even reused the iconic 21st century intro… says enough. 4.5

I’ve heard the album before, and enjoy it. I just don’t think it lives up to the first listen.

“Nice argument. However, I have depicted you as the schizoid man and myself as the crimson king.” “Moonchild” was weird huh.

Pretty good album, I know I’ve seen/listened to some of this but not straight through. There were some times where the mix levels felt off, like the drums were too loud in relation to vocals, etc.

Half of this is a magnificent prog rock album. The other half is trying to be, but not quite getting there. Sure, it may be one of the first, if not the actual first properly prog rock albums and therefore you can justify it taking a while to find its feet, but objectively, this album finishes way stronger than it starts.

Fantastical, and jazzy at times, it's a incredibly fun listen... Experimental and patient too, love the drawn out middle on Moonchild, what a special song

been meaning to listen to this for a long time so i’m glad i got the opportunity! i like some prog but it’s not like my favorite genre or anything, obviously very cool to hear the source of so many samples. i can appreciate the technical merits without wanting to revisit it, and nothing else on the album really comes close to matching that first song imo. but a great time!

Gives me jethro tull vibes, I quite like

already listened to this album, but its a very solid album nice precursor to gybe lol

I was so close to giving this a perfect score, but then the latter half of Moonchild left me feeling irritated and impatient. It got a little too weird and wacky there for me. Outside of this, I love this album. It denies being held within only one genre and walks around between prog rock, folk, and straight up jazz. This album is an easy recommend.

Meant to snag a picture of who this influenced and send it to Jesser. Cool album with a good amount of notable inspirations for other bands to come.

I have enjoyed this album a lot; however, Moonchild really lets the album down by having 10 minutes where nothing much happens which made me feel bored.

Liked it, then didn’t, then did… Some of this was so good and other parts were so-so. Hate the album cover. Overall for me, probably a 3, but I think it’s deserving of a 4.

How did they cook this up in 1969 Would be a 5 if not for Moonchild

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: 21st Century Schizoid Man, I Talk To The Wind, Epitaph, The Court Of The Crimson King Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Was expecting it to be a lot less accessible due to its reputation as a cliche audiophile pick. When they remember that they're recording an album it's awesome, if Moonchild was like 5 minutes shorter this would probably be a 5.

Man kan i stort sett höra resan från Beatles till Black Sabbath hända i realtid. Inspelningen är som vanligt helt fläckfri. Musikernas förmåga lika så. Stundtals blir det bara konstigt och delar av albumet tillför inget annat än ett tidsenligt utlopp av drogkreativitet. Överlag, en bra platta.

Classic Prog Rock album. Had only ever heard 21st Century Schitzoid Man so it was good to hear the whole album.

Mad

Never heard of this but I really enjoyed the album

4.5☆/5 10.07.2024

Really really enjoyed it. Like pink Floyd, the Doors and the Beatles had a weird 3-way baby. Moonchild was the only track to let it down

Loved 21st century schizoid man and epitaph. Enjoyed the quirky psychadelic tinge

Probably overhyped but still great. Basically sounded like the Beatles writing a 40 minute long Bond theme on LSD 21st Century Schizoid Man is such a good song 4.25/5

Unsure if it was the fumes because I was painting whilst listening but very enjoyable, epitaph and crimson in particular

4.5

4 of the most legendary and timeless prog rock and music rock songs of all time. Plus Moonchild.

Second to last song loses me but everything else is sick. Big fan of this album and what it did for prog rock.

A good beginning but later albums like Starless and Bible Black really capture them better.

Thought this was pretty cool - lots of similarities with Tull. Funny to hear the Kanye sample source here. Fripp also played guitar on the Eno/Byrne record - this was better!

Big nostrils on that guy. So nerdy but a lot of cool songs and the improvisational one reminded me of Tom and Jerry

More prog. Why do critics love prog so much I can see why this was so influential, most of the tracks are epic and create a grand sound. I like the softer track I Talk To The Wind as well as the rocking ones. Moonchild is rubbish though so it's a 4/5 for 4 good tracks out of 5

Proper prog done proper. It does get a bit over-weird (Moonchild's second half could do with getting back in its box) but otherwise really good.

Classic. It’s somewhere between Zappa and Jethro Tull in a very very good way.

Always love finding the sample source to newer songs. Very cool album

Great experimental album really lets the drums shine on track 1. Moonchild feels like it got away from them.

For a 5-track (long-ass tracks) prog rock jazz odyssey this is surprisingly accessible. It's actually a gas.

Overall, I really like it!! I realize I haven’t listened intentionally to a whole lot of 60s music aside from the Beatles! So I could definitely hear some similarities in themes and even in the melodies and the mix of instruments that reminded me a bit of some Beatles songs. Over all, it felt like a super cohesive album, like the sonic story was so distinct. When I listened without looking, sometimes it was hard to know when the songs would end/the next one would begin! I loved the use of woodwinds, especially flutes in “I talk to the wind” and sax in “21st century schizoid man” 🎷 I could hear a lot of rock as well as jazz in the album! I loved a lot of the lyrics, I think they seem to be quite political a lot of the time, which can be hard to interpret as I’m so removed from the politics of the time. But from what I read online, there might be some anti-Vietnam war commentary on here, and some anxiety about the direction humanity would be heading. A lyric that stood out: basically the entirety of Epitaph, but maybe in particular, the line “will no one lay the laurel wreath when silence drowns the screams?” Haunting, and really sharp. I’d interpret it as commenting on the sadness and confusion of war, how there is longing for it to be over and to “win,” but there’s also this dread in knowing that when the violence is replaced by silence, victory may not matter the way they thought it would.

Prog rock makes for good listening. Not my fave though

21st century schizoid man is holding this album up by itself. Influence cannot be d denied, though it gets a bit slow in the middle.

Particolare, non lo comprendo, ma bello.

cool sound with great, dramatic instrumentals. the songs are just a little long for my taste

Excellent and not at all what I thought it would be

Love this album

Really cool, inventive album. I listened to the original album version. It starts off insanely strong, and it’s weird that it takes a much more subtle turn after 21st century schizoid man. I loved the 5 song album structure, and I thought epitaph was also phenomenal, but the other songs fell a little flat. Maybe it was the 20+ minutes of avant garde sound making that they slapped onto the songs. There’s a 12 minute song here that could EASILY be 4 minutes, it’s just sound making after that. Either way, almost an insanely good album, gotta bump it down to just really interesting.

Talk To The Wind is lovely.

Classic

Banging album. Definitely one to sit down and listen to, as opposed to a casual listen. Really loved how the varied instrumentation across the album kept the songs feeling varied.

Pretty cool all in all My problem with prog rock is theres always something to ruin it for me 2 minute flute solo being the issue here

I liked this very very much. I can definitely tell Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues were highly influenced by this band. I enjoy the richness of this album. There's a lot happening here, yet I don't feel overstuffed. It's a musical feast for the senses. I also learned that Kanye sampled 21st Century Schizoid Man - is there any genre West didn't sample? Anyway, I will definitely revisit this. I am a fan.

Always wondered why this was so popular with borrowers at the library I worked in, now I know.

4.5 great prog goodness

The album that arguably may have spawned prog rock. 21 century and ourt of king crimson are absolute classics. I talk to the wind feels out of place and moon child is 12 minutes of noises. If it weren't for those two tracks it would be a 5.

If no one man should have all that power, how did the majestic Crimson King acquire these weapons of mass percussion?

very beautiful....if you skip the first track. the range of emotions I felt during is truly difficult to encapsulate in one word so have a few. acceptance, fear, shock, annoyance, etc.

Music is an interesting thing. With 50+ years of hindsight... yes, this style has arguably been done better elsewhere, and yes, this arguably isn't even among the best albums that came out in 1969. But, without any hindsight, this album must have felt super unique and interesting when it came out. And it does still hold up today - particularly, 21st Century Schizoid Man is a jam. In historical context, this is a 5/5. Today, probably a 3/5. So, averaging out, I'll call it a 4/5.

Wow - this was really good. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t quite this. Definitely not the generic psychedelic rock I sometimes assume when an album is from the 60s. Every track is unique and good in its own way; there are elements of prog rock, folk, and improvised jazz, and the whole thing has a mysterious, otherworldly atmosphere. One of the rare albums where I listened to the whole thing a second time right after it ended. I’m stingy with my 5*s, but this is a high 4. Favorite tracks: Epitaph, 21st Century Schizoid Man

Oh wow! This blew my mind! Looking forward to many more listens

Amazing debut album, it's like King Crimson emerged fully formed and mature.

Interesting sound...not sure how to feel. Music used is great buy long tracks aren't my favourite

Fun album. I wish I liked it a bit more, and maybe I would on repeated listens, but as it is, it's only "very good" 3.5/5

I liked this. I should relisten to Lark’s. 3.6

not a big jazz fan, which makes it inaccessible to me. production is good, but i prefer poppier jazz such as steely dan. 4/5

When going into this album, I did not know what to expect as I hadn't listened to very much stuff from the time period with the exception of The Beatles. The first track, 21st Century Schizoid Man, was a great introduction with its memorable but chaotic sound throughout. I talk to the wind was next, and it was my favourite song in the album all the way until the end, I love the calming nature of it in stark contrast to the first song. The third song, epitaph is quite similar to I talk to the wind, and really helps strengthen the middle of the album. Moonlight, however, was the low point of the album for me as I found it quite forgettable and its length did not help as I believe 12 minutes is too long for any song. However, the final song, the title track, did make up for it and is my favourite track on the album, I love just about everything about it from the instrumentals, vocals and the rhythm. Overall, I rate this album 8.5/10, as it was similar to what I've listened to before while different enough to offer something completely adrift from what I've previously encountered, while also having several incredible tracks that I will remember for years to come.

I liked this a lot, it sags a little in the middle, which is the reason I'm not giving it 5*, but there's a lot a good things going on here. 21st Century Schizoid Man is a great start to the album. On Spotify, the only version that is available is a remastered version with bonus tracks that add nothing to the overall experience - which is frustratingly common with older albums, but I'm not marking it down for that.

This is cool. Looking forward to checking this out. Truly never listened to this artist, I know how legendary they are. This is great.

A good album, I liked 21st Century Schizoid Man, Epitah and The Court of The Crimson King.

Awesome.

Thoughts before listening: This is a massive prog rock album that gets praised highly by those who like prog rock. I tend to enjoy prog rock although it can sometimes be a bit over the top for me. I definitely know the title track to this album, and I'm pretty sure I have listened to the whole thing before. I'm sure I'll enjoy this. Review: Oh yeah....I've heard this before. The opener "21st Century Schizoid Man" is as well known as "The Court of the Crimson King", especially with the refrain being sampled by Kanye West on "Power". These are both powerful songs that push a lot of my musical buttons, as does "Epitaph". As a whole, this is definitely proggy, and there are some parts that get a little out there for me, but all in all its an enjoyable listen. 4-stars

Surprisingly good

Listened Before? N I've been meaning to get around to these guys for years, and never have. This album is pretty damn amazing. Contemporaries of Pink Floyd, they use a lot of the same techniques and lyric structures. I really enjoyed this and will revisit. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: The Court of the Crimson King

Beim ersten Reinhören dachte ich, das wird nichts. Aber das ist ja genau der Charme des Progressive Rocks, das er sich entwickelt und verändert. Entweder man hat die Zeit zuzuhören oder es gibt keinen Zugang.

....

I often see a lot of praise for King Crimson, but this was my first time listening to them. Most of it wasn't what I expected, but it's quite nice. I can do without the second half of Moonchild though (The Illusion). That's a bit too experimental for my tastes.

Very interesting

So famous, and yet I'd never heard it before nor really paid attention to who was in the group. I enjoyed it, and it brought home to me just how much happened in pop music in the 60s - from where it started, to the amount of experimentation that was going on by the end of the decade, is incredible (and nicely set up the 70s, when pretty much every genre we have today seems to have been established). Anyway, I did enjoy this, I can hear that it influenced many others; prog rockers of course but also I thought of early Roxy Music, and also (to my surprise) quite a bit of Bowie's Man Who Sold the World. Of course it's a bit daft but I don't mind that. Can't decide between 3 and 4 but I'll be generous.

Bookended by two of the greatest prog rock songs ever.

В музыкальном плане прям понра

I think the first time I heard of this album was when watching "Children of Men" as this album is featured as contraband. The album art is worth a star by itself. I've come to realise I don't really like progrock but this is an exception. The first and last track have really cool riffs. "I talk to the wind" a killer flute solo and though I've never appreciated it before, "Epitath" is pretty cool too. Only dud, and what a dud it is, is "Moonchild". Cool album where you can see many other artists took inspiration from. I think it deserves a 4.

4/5 tytułowa piosenka nie aż taka dobra, ale 21st century schizoid man bardzo dobre

no one man should have all that power

I thought King Crimson was a heavy metal band. Psychedelic jams were a pleasant surprise although the vocals were a little too goody goody, sounded a lot like America. The music was fun but the entire album needed more grit.

This is a Mateen album.

21st Century Schizoid Man (including Mirrors) 4 I Talk to the Wind 4 Epitaph (including "March for No Reason" and "Tomorrow and Tomorrow" 4.2 Moonchild (including "The Dream" and " The Illusion" 2.8 The Court of the Crimson King (including "The Return of the Fire Witch" and "The Dance of the Puppets" 4 Score: 3.8

Much better than the other one (Aspics). Seems less prog, still lengthy songs, but better instrumentation.

Very good. Whimsical, and instrumentally intricate. Prefer Close to the Edge tho

4.5 favorite: epitaph least: moonchild is the reason this isn’t a 5

Very good

Enjoyed this one. Not my favorite King Crimson album, but still great.

Funny thing keeps happening. I press play on the album, then immediately I find myself at the end. Looking at the clock, I can see that the time has passed, but don't remember listening to the songs. How does that work?

It certainly doesn’t feel 50+ years old. Could be 10 years old I wouldn’t know the difference.

Ok Picasso

21st century schizoid man epitaph the court of the crimson king

Another first. Loved it. Had no idea 20th Century Schizoid Man was them.

Favorite Tracks: The Court Of The Crimson King 21st Century Schizoid Man

Omg

I should have liked this album more than I did. There was a lot of well played, varied music on there and they explored a bunch of interesting ideas, but the quiet parts were too long and too quiet for me - I lost interest and it was hard to pick it back up. Still a very interesting album though

the defining progressive rock album. their lineup completely changed after this album and they never made an album as solid as this one. Greg Lake's vocals are on point and mesh well with Fripp's guitar. Moonchild is the lone weak song.

I really liked it, sounded smooth and had style

New to me prog rock. Pretty good as that kind of thing goes.

Only notes, can’t rate for some reason

Some albums are best experienced and appreciated windows down and blazing down the highway, while others need 100% focus with over ear headphones in a recliner (and maybe some Indica). This album definitely falls into the latter category. 21st century is a jam, to say the least. So many layers anchored by some complex and well thought out drumming. The middle three tracks are slower and more mellow for sure, but still brightened up by creative back beats, and symphonic elements. This album is a journey, with the two strongest tracks anchoring the start and finish. I can see why it is acclaimed for its influence and associated with the prog greats. There is a lot of ground breaking styles and experimentation going on here, enjoyable listen.

Man I so wanted to give this a 5-star, but a slight downgrade most likely due to long moments of space or too much avant-garde here and there. But still, it’s impossible to argue that this band and album were not part of the foundation for many prog bands soon to come from Jethro Tull to Gentle Giant to Rush to Dream Theater and beyond. The precision and execution are truly mind bending. The drumming alone on 21st Century Schizoid Man merits its own discussion. And what many have probably written off as pretentious and random overall is anything but that. It’s calculated next level stuff that at many times is hard to comprehend.

Oof, this is a tough one for me. I legit love me some 21st Century Schizoid Man. Shit goes hard, y'all. The rest of the album can't really match that greatness, but there's still some solid stuff...and also long sections of beeps and boops, which can make for a challenging listen. My mind is telling me this is probably a 3* album, but my heart wants to give it 4* for the first track and its influence on Prog Rock (even though I'm not exactly sure what Pro Rock truly is). The heart wins out today. 3.75/5

I was unexpectedly surprised by this album. 3.75 if quarters and halves were allowed.

Not usually a huge prog rock fan but I really liked this album! Favorites were ‘I talk to the wind’, ‘the court of the crimson king’ and’21st century schizoid man’. I can definitely see how this sound influenced Pink Floyd.

Red is better

pretty nice

Don't ask me why I haven't heard this album before today. You'd think being the progressive rock fan I am (i.e. I love Pink Floyd and two/three Yes albums and don't hate ELP) I'd've heard this sooner. But, no. Blame it on the thing's overwhelming popularity, blame it on the fact that I wouldn't be able to have its cover shown on Last.FM... Most likely, blame that I just never got around to it. Whatever reason, it doesn't matter. I've finally gotten to this album, and, boy, am I glad I did. This is some premo-prog rock. Seriously, every song (save maybe one) scratches that exact itch. From the bombast of "21st Century Schizoid Man", to the way it quiets down for "I Talk To The Wind", to that Mellotron riff on "The Court Of The Crimson King". An exception aside, I don't feel there's a moment wasted. Impressive for an album where the shortest song of five is **six minutes**. (And that one exception, by the way, is "Moonchild". That's not an unpopular opinion, I hear; most fans of this don't like how "Moonchild" just... Doesn't end. I'm aware there's a remix by Steve Wilson that chops off two minutes and fans prefer that version—but that's besides the point. I'm not into all the free improv, in short.) In fact, "Moonchild" dragging on as long as it does is the only reason I'm not awarding this album a 5. Believe me, otherwise it completely deserves a 5. I mean, with how it lives up to being the codifier for prog? You bet your entire ass. But... Eh. If the remix were the version I listened to, maybe. In any case, I'm just happy to finally have this one under my belt. And I should actually go listen to other prog albums, too. Like THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY or... I'unno. TARKUS? I meant to get around to that one but never did. Maybe with this album on my mind, I can—... Eh, later.

schöne Bombast- und Eso-Rock Band aus den 1960ern

Epitaph and TCOTCK only good tracks

Loved this even if it gets a bit slow at times. It has all the markings of a great prog album but also isn't afraid to veer into other themes and genres. I can see why this is a classic. Standout Tracks: 21 Century Schizoid Man, Epitaph

Where has this album been my whole life? I LOVED THIS! Peak the Kanye sample.

Very helpful to put this in context. This is 1969. This is when the White Album came out. Really ahead of its time, and I always thought this was a little later, like maybe ‘72. I’m a fan of prog because I enjoy the composition of it, and the lack of pop structure.However, I very much feel the gaping hole where the soul and the warmth is missing. That said, I do feel a visceral response to the final track, which is powerful. Great album no matter how you slice it though.

really fun and creative album, especially considering it came out 1969 - big fan of it and the creativity it sparked on everything from Kanye to future prog rock.

I can see why this music influenced so many. Just sparse and captivating.

Epic, impressive that this was recorded in the 60s. Maybe a bit too much flute in the second track. Classic prog rock drumming throughout the album which is very prominent. 4.5

Another four

3.5

If I have one major complaint of this record, it is pacing. It knows how to take a song that grooves super hard, and immediately superglue a brick to the brake. It's a very impressive record, aside from aforementioned pacing and the, dare I call it, "studio noise" during "Moonchild". But man, it really hits a lot of the right notes. Favorite tracks: "21st Century Schizoid Man", "I Talk to The Wind", "Epitaph"

Great album to start with. Something I would never have chosen to listen to and I really enjoyed it. Great to get away from the same old.

Well for me, this is the acceptable end of the progressive rock spectrum and I have something of a soft spot for this album from my student days (when it was only 7 or 8 years after release. The cover is a classic - look at the panic in the eyes!. Anyway, I can give this a strong score not just because I kind of like it but because it was a pretty influential album.

A classic. Nothing is as fun or as bonkers as the opening track, I was losing my mind the first time that I heard it. I love the punchiness of the drums, especially the snare, even if the technicality doesn’t match the Bruford years. (4.5/5)

4.5/5 Really solid album, def one of the psych rock/ art rock bests and the instrumentation is sublime, amazing album

Really enjoyed the vibe of this one. Listened to it on a rainy day and it was perfect.

I know of King Crimson but can't say I know any of their songs. If you like prog rock, you undoubtedly love this album. If you aren't a prog rock fan, I think you'll still appreciate it as very good. I'm in the latter camp. For me, it's the mixing of sounds that is so interesting and cool. It gives it a medieval sound. And so a lot of credit to Ian McDonald's work on the flute (I Talk to the Wind), sax (21st Century Schizoid Man), and Mellotron (Moonchild) among other instruments (so many on Epitaph and the title track). Robert Fripp's plucking and playing on guitar also gives it that vintage allure and there's something about Michael Giles' timing and dexterity on the drums. The lyrics are pretty good too (really make you think), which I should hope given that Peter Sinfield's only job was to write lyrics. I can't say I noticed Greg Lake's bass all that much but he shows some nice vocal styling going from snarling on 21st Century Schizoid Man and the title track to more soothing on Epitaph or Moonchild. But then we get that noodling (as it's called) on Moonchild - band members just playing around with sound. I just. I'm sorry, I don't get it. Is this part of prog rock experimentation? At first I was bored as the song slowed to a crawl not even 3 minutes in and then I was a bit puzzled about 2 minutes later when the noodling made me think Mister Rogers' trolley was going to come by. Maybe it's experimental genius but to me it felt like 7 minutes of aimless play (not heaven) that I probably could have done without. Thankfully it was followed by (and closes with) the title track, which was more like the opener 21st Century Schizoid Man (a true masterpiece - the sax layered over guitar and the lyrics, chef's kiss) in its energy and ferocity. You really feel the emotions in both songs. Although again I could probably have done without the last 3 minutes of experimentation. Still, that fusion of rock (guitar, bass, drums) and other sounds (keys, winds, horns/brass) on this album is a revelation.

My first ever listen to this album. Super intrigued by the album cover. Its brilliant tbh. Its an album cover you'll never forget. Wow, 21C schizoid man goes absolutely bonkers half way through. Cracking way to open the album. Great tune. An absolute banger to be precise. I really enjoyed how mellow "talk to the wind" went. That solo was beautiful. Could have listened to it for another 5 mins. Absolutely nailed the flute work. Epitah. Some real nice acoustic and slide guitar. Quite a euphoric track. I love how much the drum beats vary throughout the songs. Very different styles. Moon child really goes out there. I enjoy the start then it goes into a total mind fuck. Very experimental. Its like a bunch of mates tripping on LSD whilst having a little jam session not giving AF who listens. Court with the crimson king is a cracker. Its wild when it slows down and blasts out tones which remind me of the mario bro's on the NES. Its genuinely hard to believe this is a first album. I think it would be a near perfect album if it wasnt for the lull in moonchild. Nevertheless, excellent album. I'd give it a 4.5 but i cant. So it will have to be a 4/5. Not quite a full 5 for me because of moon child. Great stuff though. Definitely an album ill come back to.

Knew the name but don't think I ever listened to the music. Except for the first track really liked this. Worth exploring more.

I was nervous about another prog rock album, but I enjoyed this quite a bit. It ranges from pretty standard rock to video game-y to very 60s renfaire. The tracks are long and wandering, the sort of thing that lends itself to getting stones in a basement and listening to. Not sure it needed an extended version, though.

A classic for a reason. I have this on vinyl, so clearly loved it enough to buy it at one point, but I think it's so classic that I just rarely turn to it. It's also probably the only King Crimson album I know well enough to make any sort of commentary on. Might dig into other stuff now that I'm back here. I hear 1974 is their year.

4 for variety. I’ll probably revisit this one, but get the setting and substances right.

The flute on I talk to the wind is everything. Hadn't heard any of this apart from 21st century schizoid man before. Wigging out and jazzy with it. It's pretty good but probably won't be listening to this on the regular. But in a certain time and place this is sweet and the flute and mellotron make it 👌

I really like the wind section on song 2

I had never heard of King Crimson and my only familiarity was from Kanye West's sampling of 21st Century Schizoid Man. I really liked this album though on first listen and am looking forward to a future relisten. The only song that didn't do much for me first time through was I Talk To The Wind. The other 4 at least I found interest in. Hard to pick between 21st Century Schizoid Man, Epitaph, and Court of the Crimson King for favorite from first go around. I loved the heavy feeling of 21st Century Schizoid Man. The lyrics were a little hard to pick apart on first listen but I liked the vibe. The lyrics of Epitaph were both comforting and horrifying in the fact that they felt like they applied to today, as well as the time in which they were written. Court of the Crimson King had a familiar feeling so maybe I have heard it somewhere along the way once or twice and not remembered it. I absolutely love the imagery in this one.

Me gusta mucho y he estado dudando mucho rato, pero creo que no quiero ponerle un 5. Pero vaya maravilla de disco, merece su fama.

Dog the meandering guitars, layered instruments, and LOVES EPITAPH!

Listen to the lyrics. Very cool! Variety of instrumentals is unique

Pretty okay

the first few tracks were kinda weird to the ears but the last few were quite good

Great, dynamic album with incredible instrumentalists. Drums and woodwinds in particular flash a lot of skill. Like much prog rock feeling takes a back seat to technicality and fantasy/sci fi themes take themselves a bit too seriously.

#204. Albums like this are why I started doing this. To find albums that I have never heard [and would probably otherwise never listen to] that are good and that I like. But unfortunately this list is pretty weak. Out of the probably like 150ish so far I've never listened to previously, this is only like maybe the fifth one I want to listen to a second time. I don't know why I never listened to this before, it's fairly similar to shit that I do like, but here we are. Definitely adding this one to the list. 4/5: yarp

This is one of the albums I have been meaning to listen to for the longest time. I knew 21st Century Schizoid Man going in, and I kind of expected the rest of the album to sound like that, but only the title track has the same sound. The slower songs aren't bad, just not what I was expecting. It is crazy that this album came out in 1969, it is way ahead of it's time. Great drumming on the songs that bookend the album. I don't find the album cover super appealing, but it is definitely iconic.

classic ahhh rock

4.5/5. A staple in progressive rock history. 21st Century Schizoid Man is a feat unto itself, love it even more now that I know it’s meant to be an anti-Vietnam War song.

The Large red man is staring at... something. What is he looking at? Why is he so frightened. Further we tread into the maw of madness but what do HE see? a great album! I love the mixing and the use of horns. Fantastic early prog rock.

Glad Kanye plucked these songs out of obscurity

This is one of if not my dad's favorite band. I expected not to like it but found it enjoyable. 21st Century Schizoid Man was my favorite track. I laughed at the horns towards the end of In the Court of the Crimson King. Listening to this makes me want to give an honest try to their other givings as well as progressive rock in general.

What a delight! So surprised because I confused King Crimson w/ King Diamond and I really didn't want to listen to satanic metal this morning. Thoroughly enjoyed this album especially the atmospheric sounds of Moonchild. Also I had no idea that Kanye West sampled from this album.

Þessi lét mig endurhugsa alla skoðanir mínar á proggi fyrst þegar ég hlustaði. Aðalega 21st Century Schizoid Man. Hlusta enþá aðeins á þessa plötu og Red. Geggjaðir gítarar hjá Fripp. Talk to the wind fallegt þó það sé smá nördalegt prog. Epitaph aðeins of mikið prog samt fínt. Moonchild geðveikt svo furðulegt og þunnt sound á öllu. Og svo The Court Of The Crimson King bara epískt. Sorry pabbi 4.5

I liked this far more than I anticipated and it sticks in my craw to say it for personal reasons that don’t belong here lol. I can see their influence and I guess I can’t really claim to like The Mars Volta and not like this