RED

Fripp. Bruford. Wetton. 3 geniuses working together to create one of the most influential and epic albums of all time. The band was (seemingly) in a state of disrepair at this point, yet were able to create this masterpiece. I hate giving albums 5 stars because, lets face it, nothing is perfect. Yet I have to give Red 5 stars because of the talent, instrumentation, and emotion put into this album. This is one of those albums that grabs you by the balls and doesnt let go until the very end.

The album begins with "Red" - This title track kicks things off instantly. No bullshit, just a crazy Fripp riff with some frenetic drums and bass. One of the best KC instrumentals, it kicks this godlike album off with a scream.

The second track is "Fallen Angel" - One of the few KC songs featuring Fripp on an acoustic. Wettons vocals are the star of the show here, telling us the story of a biker in a gang who gets killed. The narrative is told from the viewpoint of the bikers brother. This has to be one of the most depressing and heartbreaking songs of all time. A great followup to a classic album opener.

The third track is "One More Red Nightmare" - Yet again, Wetton carries the narrative with his amazing voice. This track is about a man who dreams of dying in an airplane crash. (Fear and death are a constant narrative of the album, almost making it a concept album). The song length, which is 7:07, is possibly a reference to the Boeing 707 airplane.

The fourth track is "Providence" - An improvised instrumental that was recorded live at, you guessed it, Providence, RI. Some regard this as the weakest track on the album, although its still a great track. I personally love improvisational KC, so this may be my favorite song on the album, though its hard to pick.

The fifth and final track is "Starless" - a 12 minute end to a near perfect album. Hands down, this is the best song on the album. Wetton comes back with an amazing vocal performance, probably his best. After the vocal part is just sheer King Crimson instrumental goodness. A fucking epic guitar build-up pays off as the mellotron screams its way into the track for an epic solo. This song even rivals "Epitaph", which in my opinion, is the best KC song.

Track Ratings 1. "Red" - 5/5 2. "Fallen Angel" - 5/5 3. "One More Red Nightmare" 4.5/5 4. "Providence" - 4/5 5. "Starless" - 10/5 (what did you expect).

Overall Rating - 5/5