In The Court Of The Crimson King

Very strange and silly, I enjoyed it when he was talking about his onion something because that's the kind of wacky late 60s psych I want. If you're on psychedelics making music in the 60s, at least make it abstract and camp! I respect that a lot!

Finally some good fuckin prog, really enjoyed this, pompous and overblown but also like, good? Fun to listen to, creative, without just being purely self indulgent.

Orchestral, proggy odyssey into King Crimson's feelings on the cold war, capitalism, the military industrial complex and more. Incredibly varied, gentle and beautiful at times then abrasive and brutal at others. Considered to be the first prog-rock album, a really captivating listen. Absolutely one to return to, 8.5/10.

21st century schitzoid man is one of the worst songs I've ever heard. The other tracks were better though.

Beautiful compositions, lyrical and so much storytelling. But it doesn't quite capture me in a way that I would recommend it to others

Would be a cool thing to play in the background of a gathering

I know this is a "classic" on some people's best of all time lists, but I cannot stand this album. I bought it and didn't like it now I listened to it on spotify. Hate it

The best

Masterpiece

I can see how it was progressive and influential, there’s some really great instrumentals in there and I loved the jazzy elements. I think it’s a little all over the place in terms of style, it doesn’t really progress with any sort of flow in my opinion. I thought it was okay to listen to but I didn’t really feel connected or excited by what I was hearing.

Widely considered the first pure progressive rock record, this album has a delightful and sometimes disorienting mix of styles. Rock is intermixed with folk, jazz, and classical. Going from aggressive songs with heavy vocal distortions and an industrial feel to songs that are melodic, gentle, and dreamlike. There’s a constant musical contrast between light whimsy and grandiose darkness, though it can feel a bit disjointed at times.

I like listening to it. but this requires further listening.

21st century schizoid man - 5 I talk to the wind - 4 Epitaph - 4 Moonchild - 3 The court of the crimson king - 4

The subjective nature of music means there is no perfect album, but this is pretty damn close.

A fantastic album, unlike anything else.

21st Century Schizoid Man is an amazing song, unbelievable, 10/10. Unfortunately, once that ends, I am bored out of my gourd for the next 35 minutes of the album. I really wish that this did more for me, but I always feel myself sitting around and waiting for something more to happen, especially during Moonchild when I tend to wish I was doing anything else.

Crazy that this was recorded in 1969. It sounds like it should be from way later.

Don't know much about progressive rock, but I could immediately see the influence this had on Pink Floyd, which is my most accessible reference. It was interesting that despite trying to break away from what the rock genre was in the 60s, I could still sense some of those 'bluesy' influences here. I guess this was the first step toward something new. Some of the tracks felt unnecessarily long to me, but Schizoid Man was absolutely incredible

Vivid.

Dober👍🏼

Most of this album was just okay or plain annoying (cough Moonchild cough). BIG HOWEVER, The Court Of The Crimson King is a masterpiece of a song. Singlehandedly brought this from a 2 to a 3. When that chorus hits with the "ahhhhhhhh, ahhhhh, ah ah" and the organ? Amazing stuff. Other than that though, a meh album. Prog rock just isn't for me. Favorite Track: The Court Of The Crimson King

Effective, yet mildly annoying. The best version of Prog rock, which is a genre I really don't like all that much Best Song: Self Titled Rating: 7/10 Stars: 4

Such a great album!!! It’s so groovy and kinda of jazzy in a way, and so fun to listen to. Also great music for doing homework.

Back to the '60s again...but less objectionable this time.

As the first prog rock album, this is a worthy inclusion on the list. For an album released in the late 60's this is an incredibly refreshing sound (Kanye sample and all), and I liked this album a lot more than I anticipated I would. Even though every song was 6+ minutes long, I found this entire project incredibly listenable. King Crimson handles the transition from the powerful, booming entrance of 21st Century Schizoid Man to the melancholic whisper of I Talk To The Wind with aplomb, and carries the momentum into what is my favorite track: Epitaph, which in my opinion contains the conceit of the album. Lyrically, there is a strong Modernist bent to this album, with the breaking of traditional songwriting structures, descriptions of a fractured, impersonal, and chaotic world. I got a hint of T.S. Eliot's "The Wasteland" in some of the lyrics, though that might just be me. Still, the entire project carries a weight that lends it substance beyond its musicality. If it weren't for the free-form jazz halfway through Moonchild where they just started fucking around with random instruments, this would be a pretty easy 10/10. Alas, pobody's nerfect. 9/10 Favorites: - literally every other song except for half of Moonchild (and the Bonus Tracks)

When I read this album was the cornerstone of progressive rock my expectations were set sky high due to the heights the genre has peaked. I was not disappointed in the least. The dramatic intro (There’s that sample for “Power” by Kanye), the folksy ballad, and two of the boisterously beautiful songs you’ll ever hear wrapped around the sole blemish on this record. Just an absolute banger of a record. Song notes - the riffs and drum fills in this song are insane. The escalating sax leads, the distorted vocals on the all time hook. Whew what an opener. - A disparate direction in the second song. A ballad chock full of mellifluous flute harmonies and solo giving it a folksy sound. - The orchestral beginning with the heavy drums and plethora of reverb. Echoing guitar with dramatic chords that build to multiple crescendos throughout the song. - Moonchild noooooo… this was on pace for another rare 10/10 until this track - Similar to Epitaph with its theatrical flair and harmonized guitar led crescendos. I love the long, heavy, and slow drawn out chorus succeeded by drum fills of which I cannot get enough. A prodigious outro embodying all that makes this LP one of the greatest of all time… Bravo King Crimson Rating: high 9/10 (damnit moonchild)

Reasonable prog rock, I wasn’t overwhelmed with excitement about it but I thought it more or less ok

Really good, 21st century schizoid is a banger love the drumming on that thing. The rest of it is super grandiose and epic, kind of reminded be of the muse album but like better

I always think King Crimson is more hard rock/metal, but it is closer to Pink Floyd than Deep Purple. Certainly a good listen.

Epitaph made it

4.8/5 revisiting this actually so good at keeping it interesting

Look I'm sorry I didn't like it

Prog rock is so far above my head technically. I enjoyed listening to this album, and it was not crazy and messy sounding like other prog rock albums but I was still left wanting for better and more lyrics that I could sing along too. I think its a me thing, not a them thing.

“21st Century Schizoid Man” is such a great opener. Heavy, chaotic, weird, and still catchy somehow. I also remembered all the legal stuff around Kanye sampling it for “Power,” so it was interesting hearing the original again knowing how much of that track ended up becoming part of something completely different. The title track was another banger. I liked how huge and dramatic it sounded, almost medieval in places. The whole album does a good job of moving between really heavy stuff and much calmer sections without feeling completely disjointed. “Moonchild” was where it lost me a little. The first part was fine, but eventually it got way too proggy for me. It reached a point where it just sounded like everybody was noodling around and playing random notes waiting for someone else to decide where the song was going. Still, for something from 1969, this sounds surprisingly modern in spots. You can hear how many prog and metal bands probably took something from this. A little self-indulgent here and there, but overall a really good album. Favorite song: “21st Century Schizoid Man”

After seeing this album be posted repeatedly on r/vinyl I hated it for its cover. Now I can hate it for the music.

10/10, una experiencia cinemática

I didn’t get it.

Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Masterpiece - The blueprint for so much of the music I adore. Schizoid Man is one of the heaviest things ever recorded. The riff is just razor sharp and the whole thing sounds so intense. The faster solo sections are bursting with energy and the exploratory jazziness is so fresh and progressive. I Talk To The Wind is so delicate and artfully wrought. Epitaph has a grandeur that is almost unmatched in rock history (apart from maybe in a couple of tracks time). Moonchild is beautifully melancholy. There is something very mystical about the track. The melody has a folky feel that fits incredibly well with the freeform sections. The title track is a sumptuous, regal masterpiece that ends an incredible album with a symphonic flourish. The cover happens to be one of the most intense and iconic in the history of the album format as well. What a phenomenal record.

This was fascinating to say the least. An interesting trippy, psychedelic, experimental rock moment. I don’t know what they talking about but they’re having a good time let me tell ya Favorite: 21st century Schizoid Man

One of, if not the, most seminal albums of the early Progressive Rock movement. It's got most of the flavors, from the heavy and frenetic on 21st Century Schizoid Man, the symphonic styling through the rest, from the softer end on I Talk to the Wind to the harder stuff on Epitaph and the title track, even a little bit of Musique Concrete at the end of Moonchild

Started as a 3, then up to 4, back to 3 and ended up as a 4 It's wild to think how many bands this must have influenced

Kanye sample mentioned!!

вау это не только красивая обложка… надо будет переслушать

I just had an album by King Crimson! Ugh! This one was not as bad as the last one. It didn't have as many instrumental songs. There was more singing and not all of the songs were super long. Kanye West sampled the first song on the album, 21st Century Schizoid Man, in his song Power that I like so that was interesting.

what are they doing on moonchild lol 5/5

Sommige nummers goed, sommige te psychedelisch

Where Stephen King meets Kanye West (IYKYK) I'd heard this one a few times several years ago, and listening to it now I was like, "this is amazing, why don't I listen to this more often?" A few songs in I remembered why. Some of these records have an unfortunate experimental streak that may have seemed like pushing the boundaries at the time but now just sound like they were messing around and forgot to turn off the recording equipment. Still, the highs are so high. I love the hippies discovering metal/prog rock-ness of it all. So conflicted on this one which puts it at a solid 3.

You must appreciate the devotion and talent Fripp and friends bring to the show. I like the Belew, Levin, Bruford generation of KFC better. Tribute from April Wine is better than the original!!!

Not a prog rock person, couldn't do it.

Objectively a good album, but a little long and too much noodling around in some of the songs. I want music, not a middle schoolers first experience with an instrument!

Få dette på plate! Deilig album. Epitaph- stor sang, digger hvert instrument innslag, men trommene spesielt. liker at man hører hvor i rommet folk spiller. Moonchild- liker spenningen, får crouching tiger hidden dragon stemning. Court of the crimson king- David bowies verdensrom fase. Epitaph og denne gir den viben. I talk to the wind- duo var deilig, bedre en første. A man in a city- litt masete

21 Century Schizoid man, har bare hørt rappen;) The court of the crimson king va meget bra Beste sang: The Court Of The Crimson King

I can see why this album has a reputation for sucking people in. It's quite musically expensive and sounds far more modern than I would have guessed. Sadly, I'm still not enough of a prog rock enjoyer to truly love it, but I respect it and grooved with it more than I expected to, which is no small feat.

Day 54 Oh yeah I'm Fripping it I'm Fripping it good, mmm that's some good prog Fav track: Epitaph

Listenable, lush and imaginative, without being pompous- I don't know what to say, I got time for prog rock. And this is great for any genre, with lyrics that are suggestive and intriguing. I wanted to put it on again! (with perhaps one exception- Get out of here with your lovely moonchild! That sung section is tweee...)

fantastic

4/5

3.5 sterren

Iconico

Good grief no

Great album but id only listen to it for epitaph and The Court Of The Crimson King. 7/10

Solid album with long, interesting songs. I can't quite articulate why I didn't feel compelled to give it 5 starts, as it feels up my alley, but it just didn't completely grip me, and I don't feel like I'll relisten any time soon.

I recognize the first song from this record (and Kanye sampled it in Power) and it's a classic. This is some of the earliest prog rock ever made. The flute popping into track 2 was not expected! They cover SO MUCH GROUND here. Some ballads, some almost metal songs... Not exactly my style, but something I could see myself coming back to from time to time.

2.5

7.0/10 Took a few listens but enjoyed this one.. very interesting

Can this be considered the first progressive rock album? I personally believe it to be one of the greatest albums of all time across all genres! It is in my top five classic progressive rock records, and falls within the top 10 of my all-time favorite albums. The musicianship, the compositions, the production still sound relevant today. I do not believe it sounds dated as many other of the classic prog bands' albums from this time period like Camel, Starcastle, Vander Graff Generator or Gentle Giant do these days. 5 out of 5 for sure!!!!!

Labai patiko, tikrai meno kūrinys. Norėčiau gitara kai kuriuos išmokti groti kūrinius.

Sabía que "esa" parte era de una canción de rock, nunca pensé que iba a ser rock progresivo. Canción Fav: I talk to the wind - duo version No creo que lo vuelva a escuchar

Ah, real prog rock. Too long and meandering and weird. And yet, I actually kinda liked some of it.

Best appreciated in the dark with a great pair of headphones or the highest fidelity stereo system you have access to. Other option: Listening party with fellow enthusiast for musical exploration and appreciation. Set and setting are key, they extent to which you arrive to it in an already altered state - up to you. I feel like fully appreciating this album requires treating it with the reverence and seriousness of the band themselves when they made it. It may make you feel at onece silly, uncool, and try-hard, but let yourself go and feel something, man. P.s. I had fun hypothesizing what a double LP version of this album might look like based on their live sets at the time. An extension of the cycle? A repetition of the cycle with different tracks? Hard to imagine any change to the bookends, so that's gotta stay.

4 - BAD

4.5

This album always gets a ton of hype and praise and some.of the songs are good but overall not so much

This was probably super duper fire in 1969

omg screaming red face man! hello!!! 🤗🤗♥️♥️

hey its the Kanye sample

Hard to really judge this album. First song is a banger, the rest was just noise on first listen. I think more listens would help but not sure it is worth the investment here

Strong Guitar and ballads

An absolute classic. While they would go on to do more intresting things, KCs first album is an absolute staple and has some killer moments.

rough start but its going uphill

Otro álbum muy hypeado. No sé nada antes de escucharlo, solo que dicen que es muy bueno. Me gustó bastante. Muy interesante lo que plantea liricamente. Honestamente es un pensamiento muy adelantado a la época en la que fue hecho y su sonido también.

Yes

5/5. This is the album often credited as being the big bang of all progressive rock, and what an album to launch a genre with as this thing is basically perfect (and somehow not even the bands best record IMO, I’m more of a Red (1974) kinda guy.) The whole thing starts off on an amazing foot with “21st Century Schizoid man” which begins with a massive lumbering instrumental with vocals drenched in these strange, crunchy effects. But then it transitions into an insane section where the band trades solos and have back-and-forths with each other. The following “I talk to the wind” calms things down with some beautiful lead vocals and great flute soloing which leads into “Epitaph” which is probably the most emotional song on the record. The moment this album likely loses some people is “Moonchild” with its meandering noodling, but I personally love it, there’s a sense of spontaneity to it that just plays super well in my opinion. And it also serves in a way as the calm before the storm of the epic closer “Court of the Crimson King” which has one of the most triumphant choruses in all of Prog rock and some great instrumental sections. This album is one of the best debuts all the time, King Crimson doesn’t feel like a band finding their sound at all here, they feel completely formed and it shows in the tight five song tracklist that doesn’t waste any time. Easily one of the best albums of the 1960’s.

An album of all time. Sounded epic, definitely was sampled. I think that makes it quality.

Отличный прогрок, 8,5/10

My partner loved it, and I found it impossible to listen to

KING CRIMSON TE AMO ESTE ENTRA SIN DUDA EN UNO DE MIS ALBUMS FAVORITOS DE LA VIDA. 10/10

Given how much I have listened to prog rock, I don't know how this evaded me for so long. I will definitely give this many more relistens and have a more meaningful review.

In the Court of the Crimson King was the only half decent song. All felt very of the time, whimsy for the sake of it. A lot of endless jamming that didn't sound great. Not an enjoyable listen.

prog rock at its purest

cool and interesting, moon child is just too much...

I don’t usually like prog rock. There’s always way too much dead air with one instrument sporadically playing random notes. One song out of five is guilty of that on here. The other four are lights out incredible. The instrumentation, the harmonizing, the bombast. It’s just excellent. I’ve seen this album art many times without knowing what it was. And now I get why it’s stood the test of time. It has such a modern sound. Moonchild has a good start, but an annoying middle. If that was a bit shorter, this album would be so much better for it.

Enjoyed this one, particularly the songs: - 21st Century Schizoid Man - The Court of the Crimson King

I have never listened to this, but I should have. I absolutely loved it.

Thought I'd like this more than I did, perhaps I wasn't in the mood for this type of music. The kind of album that I'll persevere with though, can see that it'll grow with the listening.

cannot believe i have gone this far without this album

One of the best albums by one of my favourite bands.

I bought this on CD when I was 13 - 14 years old, and it quickly became one of my favourites. Felt like these guys were on the fringe of the classic rock scene I was listening too which felt fresh and cool. Still rips today, and the snare sound on 21st Century Schizoid Man is on of my all time favourites!

I don’t think I have much to say that hasn’t already been said about this album. In the Court of the Crimson King is an astounding debut album and 21st Century Schizoid Man is one of the strongest album openers. I was absolutely obsessed with this album in high school, but I haven’t given it a listen in some time now. It was great to revisit it today. Objectively this is probably a 5/5 album based on its historical importance and musical impact, and it is a phenomenal album, it’s just not quite my preference any more, so I’m feeling a strong 4/5.

I enjoyed this a bunch. I feel like it could be a 5 star after repeated listens. Time will tell!