IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING

In the Court of the Crimson King, along with Red and Yes' Fragile, were two albums that had and thoroughly enjoyed in my collection before I knew what progressive rock was. When I finally did research "progressive rock" and found these two great bands categorized there, it inspired me to check out so much more. Because this album essentially exposed me to prog, I'll always feel a special connection to it.

This is very arguably KC's most accessible release, most of the album is both an easy and a very unique and progressive listen. To combine these facets so well is a great feat, and makes this album a very significant and special one. Lizard and Larks' Tounges in Aspic represent some of the more challenging (but still very good) albums in KC's catalog.

However my favorite facet of this album is its ability to create a dark yet beautiful atmosphere within each of its 5 tracks. The unique atmosphere that this album creates for me has yet to be recreated by any other album I can currently think of.

21st Century Schizoid Man is a fast, manic, and very aggressive opener. It starts off mellow, then suddenly turns into a heavy fusion of guitar and saxophone. These instruments alternate between riffs and excellent solos, creating a very intoxicating listen.

I Talk to the Wind has a great flute melody throughout the song, over equally great keys. I often call it one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. This tune creates the more laid back atmosphere that the rest of the album carries out.

Epitaph is when the album shifts to a darker mood. The mellotron really stands out in this track, and the haunting lyrics are conveyed very well by Lake's passionate singing. As I've heard many people say, I always find this song chilling every time I listen to it.

Moonchild starts out very well, a great transition from the previous track. The first few minutes of the longest song of the album are a beautiful ballad. However this ends quickly, and the rest of the song I feel is the weakest point of the album. It seems to me just like pointless noodling that really doesn't lead anywhere musically. However generally when I listen to this album from start to finish, I'm so far into the unique atmosphere of it that I can listen to all 12 minutes of the song with unabridged interest.

In the Court of the Crimson King combines some of the great aspects of the other songs into one epic song. Again the mellotron and flute are both great. Giles' drumming, while very different, suits the music here exceptionally well just as it does with all of the other tracks on the album. All in all, just as great a closer as 21st Century Schizoid man is an opener.

This is one of my favorite albums of all time, even outside the scope of prog. In my opinion it is simply a timeless release. A historically important and cutting-edge masterpiece with clever tunes that never get boring or old.