LARKS' TONGUES IN ASPIC

To each his own with Crimson albums, and I think each person has their own era of Crimson music that they like the most- 1969-1971(In The Court, In The Wake, Lizard, Islands), 1973-1974(Larks, Starless, Red), 1981-1984 (Discipline, Beat, Three of A PP), and even those who just like everything afterward....although almost everyone I've known sticks to one of the first three periods, since I have to say Thrak, Construcktion and The Power To Believe is some of their poorer work and I can't stand Gunn and Mastelotto. But, anyway, about Larks' Tongues In Aspic, which I happen to be listening to right now, WHAT A MASTERPIECE! I've been listening to King Crimson since 8th Grade, and I'm 17 now, so I've listened to all of their albums at least five times. In fact, KC was my first intro to prog rock. But I used to like their earlier stuff the most....my stepdad liked the LTA, Starless, Red period the most. I thought it was cool, but in my opinion, could never touch Lizard or In The Court. Well, anyway, KC was the ONLY band I listened to in 8th Grade, and I even saw them live then, too. But after ninth grade, I toned out on Crimson, and started expanding my prog tastes. But then I got into KC again. The first albums I listened too, conceivably, included LTA. And my eyes opened for the first time. And I realized what a godly album this is! Again, KC broke the records on their own music, and progressed from floaty, orchestrated rock, directly to straight, tight madness rock. And this stuff is amazing. "Larks' Tongues In Aspic, Part I" is such a maddening instrumental. 13 minutes of head-driving, levitating, frightening glory! The first time I actually cared to listen, my legs were shaking just after that very first song! "Book of Saturday" is this album's token excessible song, but it doesn't fall to pop-level, which is good. "Exiles" is stunning, and thrills me without bringing me into prog rock spasms, like LTA Part I does. "Easy Money" is my least favorite track. I dunno, it just could never reach me. "The Talking Drum" is a instrumental that goes at a good pace, and gears me up for "Larks' Tongues In Aspic, Part II", which is almost as good as the first. All in all, this is a stunning example of prog rock, and it is one of my favorite albums of all time...I have no problems giving it five stars. It deserves more.