IN THE WAKE OF POSEIDON

Hey everyone in Prog Land! Time for another review. Today, I will be reviewing "In the Wake of Poseidon," the 2nd album by proggers King Crimson. Oddly enough, I actually found this one a little more interesting than the debut (What? Really? Yes actually and I have my reasons). I like it more primarily for the Peace trilogies and the ballad 'Cadence and Cascade" (I know, I know blasphemy huh? But different strokes for different folks I guess). A little bit of its background. The record was released in 1970, a year after the highly acclaimed "In the Court of the Crimson King" and I believe it also featured the debut of Mel Collins (not 100% sure about that though as King Crimson has had about a 1,000 musicians in its timeline lol). He brought another element to the band as I will talk about more in subsequent reviews! Anyway, on to my actual review!

1) Peace - A Beginning - An interesting and odd but ultimately harmless little vocal track. It makes for a good listen. Not perfect but it does keep me on my listening ears. 8/10

2) Pictures of a City - This is possibly the second best piece on here behind the next track (that of which I will talk about next). Yes, I know it seems like a variation of 21st Century Schizoid Man but it's still very crazy and very good. It's not as annoying or as grating as Schizoid Man and I actually like it a little more. 8/10

3) Cadence and Cascade - Another stellar piece might remind one of I Talk To The Wind a little because it is a relaxing piece but I happen to like it a little more. Fripp's guitar actually shines here. 9/10

4) In the Wake of Poseidon -This song is good but again I feel it is a direct copy of Epitaph from In the Court. Also, by this point in the album I feel like the band is rehashing old and used up material (Ouch!). That's not a good thing. 6/10

5) Peace - A Theme - A sweet little guitar piece from Mr. Fripp himself but it's nothing too spectacular. 8/10

6) Cat Food - This one just doesn't do much for me. Kind of reminds me of Emerson, Lake and Palmer actually. That's not a compliment either. 6/10

7) The Devil's Triangle - This one is just terrible! Utterly terrible! (Mellotron on top of a bolero ayy) Another experimentation gone wrong. Also, like its predecessor, Moonchild, it's the longest track on the album and it's just as bad or perhaps even worse. 4/10

8) Peace - An End - I actually thought that this was an interesting idea. It has both elements of Peace - A Beginning and Peace - A Theme and it's tied together but it's just too damn short. A neat idea but not nearly as captivating as other works done by other prog bands of the time period. 8/10

Overall, I feel that In the Wake of Poseidon is a decent album. It's not a groundbreaking record at all. I actually believe it to be a retread of the debut (that's never really a good thing) but with some minor tweaks. However, it is also definitely not terrible as I could see why some people would like it (with exception to the Devil's Triangle, who really listens to that?) It's just not one that I go back to often. Another 3 stars for the Crimson King! Peace Out!