RED

One of KING CRIMSON's best! They know how to make ground-breaking and innovative albums. This is maybe the first (proto) prog-metal album. The guitar sound is distored and the overall atmosphere is dark. This music must have sounded very heavy for that time.

All tracks are strong except "Providence". I prefer deeply emotional and well structured songs over longish directionless experimental songs or exaggerated jams (lacking the beforementioned two quoalities). The same problem is already with "Moonchild"...

The mellotron classic "Starless" is an amazing masterpiece! The melancholic atmosphere is chilling and the main guitar theme is unforgettable! Sax parts and WETTON's voice also fit in nicely... The depressive middle section with interesting drumming has an excellent building up to the explosive jazzy climax and it all ends with a powerful recapitulation. Perfect!

Darkish music is usually not my cup of tea but "Red" somehow captivated me. I had a hard time getting into KING CRIMSON because of the experimental edge and frequent harshness and I still can't enjoy their albums on the whole... but some of their albums clearly show their creative force and musical genius throughout. "Red" is such an album thus deserving 5 stars!