LARKS' TONGUES IN ASPIC

Larks' Tongues in Aspic is one of the most successful mixtures of every musical genre imaginable that I have ever heard. The title track alone incorporates at least four genres that I can think of off the top of my head. This fantastic masterpiece has flaws, but the greatest things about it are so great that they easily outweigh these flaws. This album also contains some of what I would argue to be the greatest work be Bill Bruford. The beast that is Bruford is truly let out on the title track.

"Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part 1" is stunning. This song sounds like a prog-metal version of a jazz-rock song with a fabulous violin part near the end. Actually, this song probably contains roots in so many genres that it would be pointless to try to name them all. I absolutely love the way this song builds and slows down, only to build up again later. The guitar lines are absolutely genius. A true prog masterpiece. 5/5 stars, without question.

"Book of Saturdays" is the weakest song on the album, in my opinion. Wetton's vocals annoy me here. Fripp has some fantastic sweeping guitar lines, which must have sounded so dynamic when people heard it for the first time considering it sounds that way today. Still, not a strong point of the album. 3/5 stars.

"Exiles" is a good song for soft, melodic King Crimson. I love the lines that Fripp includes, as they are so tastefully placed. Great violin here. Doesn't quite amount to the grandiose title track, but is certainly a solid track. 4/5 stars.

"Easy Money" is a great song. Very explosive and experimental percussion used on this track. I love the vocals, surprisingly, seeing as Wetton's vocals were always my least favorite part of this Crimson lineup. Fantastic guitar, as is always with Fripp. 5/5 stars.

"Talking Drum". I really wish this song would build quicker and last longer while built up. That said, it is a great song. The bassline is KILLER! I mean, tons of tritone, what else could a progger want? Wetton's tone near the end is amazing, once the song picks up. A great jam song, as King Crimson is a great progressive jam band of sorts. 4/5 stars.

"Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part 2" is a great ending to the album. Much more structured than part 1, this very heavy song has a very math-rock type feel to it. It also gives the feeling of progressive metal, and I guess that's why Dream Theater covered it (although they seem to cover everything). It is a great way to close a classic prog album. 5/5 stars.

This album is highly recommended. It gets my absolute highest recommendation, and rightfully so, because it captures a mixture of so many genres just with the title track alone that it is truly "progressive" in the most pure form of the word. It has vision, and that vision is certainly accomplished.

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