LARKS' TONGUES IN ASPIC

Alright, since I'm being bashed for my review, I'll go ahead and elaborate. Since I'm not a huge King Crimson fan, I decided to see if this album would change my mind. Unfortunately, I was mistaken and believe me I tried. I think that this would better suit someone who likes things with a bunch more of a avant-garde, extreme experimental piece, but since I'm not that kind of person, I wasn't a fan. The opening piece "Larks' Part 1" didn't show anything that made me think "Wow this is great", it wasn't something I'd put on for any situation. I found that the scattered musicianship was very different and was able to appreciate what they were doing, but I wasn't compelled. Music for everyone can be a different experience, for me, when I'm listening to an album, I want something to hit me with emotion, the chord progressions, the quirks that Genesis was able to pull off and so many bands. I want an album to hit me with emotion, and every reviewer will have a different reaction to something, you will love something I might not.

Alright, for those who think I am just hating on King Crimson, I'm not. I like some of their material a lot, I'm a huge fan of Starless and Bible Black, why? Because it hit me differently than this, and one more time... I gave it a large amount of honest listens and it didn't click. I might revisit this album, and it might hit differently. I wasn't a fan of the over the top experimentation on this album, it just wasn't for me. Red was the same, I thought it was overly complicated and mainly just overly experimental to the point where it sounded like ... noise. I'm sorry but that's how it was for me, I grew up in a house where Pink Floyd and Genesis and The Flower Kings and Camel, etc, etc, was the norm. And maybe there are Genesis fans, etc, etc, who love this stuff.. but it just wasn't for me. Hopefully this is better, and again, I apologize if I caused any hysteria.

Alright, I know what people might say, I'm editing again to get people off my back, no... I forgot parts of the album. Exiles... how can I actually forget about Exiles. This song was the song that actually peaked my interest, the chord progression, the mood of the song, John Wetton's vocals, the structure of the song was great! I can't believe I forgot this. However... this is where it goes back down, Exiles and Larks Part 2 were the only songs I remember enjoying, and now ... I know I only enjoyed them. I gave the album 4 more strict listens, and frankly I do enjoy it a bit more but I still don't think this album works with me 100%. I understand and appreciate the experimental and avant-garde approach but it still doesn't work for me. I grew up with Selling England, Close To The Edge, Stardust We Are, Silent Knight, The Dark Side Of The Moon and of course Pat Metheny and many more. What I look for in an album is everything to be written and structured, a well constructed piece that has atmosphere, an album in where it sounds like everyone sat down and wrote every second to an absolute tee. Maybe now you will understand why I wasn't the biggest fan of this album. I'll give Red a few more listens and see how it treats me.