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King Crimson Albums - Best To Worst |
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Chaser 
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Joined: April 18 2018 Location: Nottingham Status: Offline Points: 1202 |
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 Posted: April 21 2019 at 13:07 |
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[QUOTE=DreamTechPlus
I enjoy prog but, to be quite honest, I've fallen out of love with the type of bombast you might get out of symphonic prog records that you'd find on the Greg Lake era. I think a lot of ITCOTCK is a bit dated. Influential, important and essential yes. But just for me I find it in 2019 to be a bit... well... silly. I enjoy prog with more modernity (it is in the genre's name after all) and a more current political and social consciousness as well as a more pop and rhythm based aesthetic.
I'm not a big fan of Greg Lake, and I don't like ELP very much. I would agree that ELP can be bombastic at times. I don't think I would describe ITCOTCK as "bombastic" though. A bit dated in parts, yes, possibly, which is partly why I don't rate it as the best KC album or the best ever prog rock album (as some do), although it's importance in the history of prog rock cannot be denied. What I don't accept though, is the idea that modern prog rock should be rated more highly than classic prog rock, simply on account of it being newer. My understanding of the term "progressive" rock is that it was called "progressive" because the songs progressed from one point to another, rather like a symphony, as opposed to constantly repeating themselves, as in the standard verse/chorus pop song. in other words "progressive" doesn't imply some imperative to constantly "progress" into the future and reinvent the music, rather it simply describes the structural form of progressive rock music. Anyway, keep enjoying the music.
Edited by Chaser - April 21 2019 at 13:11 |
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Songs cast a light on you
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kenethlevine
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Prog-Folk Team Joined: December 06 2006 Location: New England Status: Offline Points: 8950 |
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Posted: April 21 2019 at 21:33 |
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I think the social consciousness of ITCOCK is still applicable today, expressed in songs like "I Talk to the Wind" and "Epitaph". Not that it needs to be judged in those terms mind you, but I think it holds up quite well in that regard
Edited by kenethlevine - April 21 2019 at 21:33 |
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DreamTechPlus
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Joined: January 12 2015 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 165 |
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Posted: April 22 2019 at 00:08 |
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I don't think I said that. I hope that wasn't the inference you got. I can only speak for me and my preferences, and that's how I phrase my sentiments about music. What I meant was that I prefer prog whose aesthetic, cultural and sonic choices veered more towards the contemporary, which need not necessarily be about strictly age. I would argue, for instance, that Third by Soft Machine for its awareness of jazz and funk and proclivity towards a more urban palette of music influences is a much more modernistic album than, say, the mysticism and fantastic imagery of a Flower Kings album, despite the latter being much more recent. Likewise, 80s King Crimson for its inclusion of new wave and funk rock styles in its palette as well as its narrative nods to Jack Kerouac, inner-city America and post-war malaise speaks to me more than the mythological imagery, medievalism and ersatz spirituality of the earlier albums. Give me Thela Hun Ginjeet over Lizard, if you please.
Edited by DreamTechPlus - April 22 2019 at 00:09 |
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Chaser
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Posted: April 22 2019 at 03:57 |
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Thanks for the clarification DTP. Yes, I understand you better now, and I'm more inclined to agree with you. I agree that the best albums are those that sound fresh and relevant regardless of when they were created. "Third" is an album that I rate very highly and it sounds as cutting edge today as it must have done when it was first released. I agree with you about 80's King Crimson. I regard "Discipline" as an essential classic and "Beat" as an excellent album also. "Lizard" can sound very 1970's in parts, especially a track like "Indoor Games", although I have to say that I saw KC live in London last year, and the medley from Lizard was extremely enjoyable, and hearing it live made it sound much fresher. "Red" from 1974 sounds as fresh and relevant today as it did when I first listened to it 30 years ago. The very best albums do indeed have a timeless quality to them |
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Songs cast a light on you
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Man With Hat
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Jazz-Rock/Fusion/Canterbury Team Joined: March 12 2005 Location: Neurotica Status: Offline Points: 166178 |
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Posted: April 23 2019 at 16:14 |
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Slight update for me five years later: Discipline LTIA Lizard Red The Power To Believe In The Court... Three Of A Perfect Pair SABB The ConstruKCtion... In The Wake... Islands Beat Thrak
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Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
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kaiofelipe
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Joined: May 09 2019 Location: Rio de Janeiro Status: Offline Points: 7 |
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Posted: May 09 2019 at 14:59 |
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1. In The Court of The Crimson King
2. Red 3. Discipline 4. Larks' Tongues in Aspic 5. Starless and Bible Black 6. Lizard 7. In The Wake of Poseidon 8. Thrak 9. Three of a Perfect Pair 10. Beat P.S.: If the top 10 can include live albums, then Absent Lovers would be at #4, USA / Live at Asbury Park at #6 and The Night Watch at #9. Edited by kaiofelipe - May 09 2019 at 15:00 |
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Erenan
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Posted: May 10 2019 at 12:26 |
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Super important tier, mega amazing albums of eternal significance: 1. Red 2. In the Court of the Crimson King Excellent tier: 3. Discipline 4. Larks' Tongues in Aspic 5. THRAK 6. The ConstruKction of Light Very good albums that I almost love but which are meaningful to me for non-musical reasons: 7. Islands Very good albums that I almost love: 8. The Power to Believe 9. Three of a Perfect Pair 10. Beat Least favorites and probably should listen to them more:
11. Lizard 12. Starless and Bible Black 13. In the Wake of Poseidon Edited by Erenan - May 10 2019 at 15:21 |
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King of Loss
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Joined: April 21 2005 Location: Boston, MA Status: Offline Points: 16435 |
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Posted: May 13 2019 at 00:23 |
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My favorite King Crimson Albums: 1. Islands 2. In the Court of the Crimson King Top Tier King Crimson Albums: 3. Lizard 4. Larks' Tongues in Aspic 5. Red Mid-tier King Crimson Albums: 6. Starless Bible and Black 7. In the Wake of Poseidon 8. The Power to Believe 9. Discipline 10. The ConstruKction of Light King Crimson Albums I barely, if ever listen to: 11. THRAK 12. Three of a Perfect Pair 13. Beat
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dougmcauliffe
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Posted: May 19 2019 at 15:38 |
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My second favorite band!
Starting with my least favorite 13: Construction Of Light The title track and FraKtured are great, the rest gives me a headache 12: Beat This ones got some good songs, just kinda poor in comparison to the rest of the discography 11: Three of a Perfect Pair Same deal as beat, the title track is good as is model man, nauges is also quite cool. Larks part 3 is the highlight 10: In the Wake of Poseidon This album is quite mixed, it opens with what I believe to be one of the best king crimson songs and is followed by the beautiful cadence and cascade. Wake of Poseidon just sounds too much like epitaph, side two is quite weak but still interesting 9: Thrak This is hard to put at 9 because it is quite a good album, not really any weaker tracks, dinosaur annoys me a bit but I just like the others better 8: Power to Believe I honestly love this album, I don't have anything bad to say about it 7: Discipline I always see this at the top of peoples rankings, side one is very very good side two is a bit mixed for me, the title track is probably the low point for me, still a great album. 6: Islands This was very hard to pick between this and lizard, this album is truly beautiful, love every second of it 5: Lizard Just a magical album, also quite heavy at times. There's just so much to keep coming back to here 4: Starless and Bible Black I was tempted to put this at 3. This contains some of my absolute favorite work with The Night Watch and Fracture as well as a favorite The Great Deceiver. Easily one of their best. 3: Larks Tongues in Aspic A big milestone for the band, love it all the way though. Easy Money and the Talking Drum are my two favorites 2: Red Heres when things go from great to amazing. First of all, starless is the best song ever made. The rest is just amazing. What can I say 1: Court of the Crimson King If starless is my favorite, 21st century, Epitaph and Court are my number 2, 3 and 4. Just a perfect album
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LakesideRitchie
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Posted: June 24 2019 at 14:26 |
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From worst to best: 13 The ConstruKction of Light Yes, I'm one of those people who think Lizard in Crimso's best output! Edited by LakesideRitchie - June 24 2019 at 14:28 |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Joined: September 16 2019 Location: Nottingham, U.K Status: Offline Points: 39936 |
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Posted: February 09 2020 at 16:47 |
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1. In the Court of the Crimson King
 2. In the Wake of Poseidon  3. Lizard  4. Islands 5. Larks' Tongues in Aspic  6. Starless and Bible Black 7. Red 8. Discipline
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The Dark Elf
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Posted: February 09 2020 at 17:38 |
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Surprised I never got around to this...
1. In the Court of the Crimson King 2. Lark's Tongue in Aspic 3. Red 4. Lizard 5. Starless and Bible Black 6. In the Wake of Poseidon 7. Islands 8. Everything else
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...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
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Mortte
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Joined: November 11 2016 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 5538 |
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Posted: February 09 2020 at 22:01 |
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Already made this 2018, but here´s reprise (haven´t changed my mind):
KC haven´t made any bad album. Anyway here´s my order: 1. In the Court 2. Red 3. Lizard 4. Larks Tongues In Aspic 5. In the Wake Of Poseidon 6. Starless & Bible Black 7. Islands 8. THRAK 9. Discipline 10. the ConstruKction Of Light 11. the Power to Believe 12. Beat 13. Three of a Perfect Pair |
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Mortte
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Posted: February 09 2020 at 22:02 |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: February 10 2020 at 00:34 |
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It all comes down to a matter of personal choice. I'm sure you'll agree with my rating for King Crimson's universally acclaimed first album though.
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Guldbamsen
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Posted: February 10 2020 at 02:57 |
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I feel the same way Mårtte but then again this very site would be horrendously boring if we all shared the same tastes.
Crimson’s finest period is obviously from Lizard to Discipline  
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: February 10 2020 at 03:35 |
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I listened to King Crimson's first eight albums just a few days ago in preparation for choosing my favourite eight songs for the Make Your Own King Crimson Album thread. At least the Lizard album picked up an extra star from me, because I'd always regarded it as a two-star album before, but after listening to Lizard again for the first time in over forty years, I was rather surprised to find I was actually beginning to like it.
Edited by Psychedelic Paul - February 10 2020 at 03:36 |
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Mirakaze
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Posted: February 10 2020 at 03:50 |
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1. Red 2. Starless and Bible Black 3. Discipline 4. Larks' Tongues in Aspic 5. In the Court of the Crimson King 6. In the Wake of Poseidon 7. Three of a Perfect Pair 8. Lizard 9. The Power to Believe 10. The ConstruKction of Light 11. Islands 12. Beat 13. THRAK Very much subject to change: even the top spot isn't stable. Numbers 1-7 I absolutely adore, the three below that I still think are very good, and I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to any of the bottom three but I don't think any of them are bad. In my opinion the only truly bad album with the King Crimson name attached to it is Jakszyk, Fripp & Collins's A Scarcity Of Miracles
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Guldbamsen
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Posted: February 10 2020 at 04:04 |
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Lizard is another fave of mine. I think I generally go for the type of albums that divide opinion..at least regarding the more well-known groups. It’s never intentional though but usually tends to end up that way My four favourite Crimson albums are Lizard, Larks’ Tongues, Starless & BB and Discipline. I wouldn’t know how to rank these other than to say that they work differently on different occasions. It’s all down to my mood as to which one I’d reach for. |
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams |
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Nogbad_The_Bad
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Posted: February 10 2020 at 04:58 |
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If you think LTiA, Discipline & SABB are two star albums I'm not sure why you are spending the time putting yourself through listening to them so that you can contribute to threads. That would be like me listening to Marillion's catalog so I can post in a Make Your Own Marillion album.
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Ian
Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/ |
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Chaser wrote: