RED

I hate Kurt Cobain, but knowing he worshipped Red is at least something I can identify with. This is the best King Crimson ever made and it's all the more inspiring to know they were on the edge of the cliff and that Robert Fripp withdrew his opinion shortly after having his head blow off by J. G. Bennett: it sounds like it and it doesn't.

What I find the (to use those dreadful superlatives) most unbelievable about this period of KC and which separates it from all others is the role live improv played in the music birth, out of the five cuts, three were informed by live improvs ("Red" - Felt Forum '74, I believe; "Fallen Angel" - late '72; "One More Red Nightmare" - Toronto '74) and one is recorded live ("Providence" - Providence '74), not only that, but the improvs themselves were darker and more intense than they were previously and would be afterwards.

Red is one of those albums which something new is discovered after every listen and all of the elements inside it contribute to the lasting effect it produces. It is as beautiful as it is nihilistic and sombre, and why it cannot be overrated ever, it is one of those albums which is as good as it is claimed to be, and this one is excellent!