IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING

I just got this album a few weeks ago, and I was impressed from the first blaring moments of 21st Century Schizoid Man to the final thundering mellotron on In The Court Of The Crimson King. While many albums seem to work on energy, this one seems to thrive on magnificence and style. Every track is inspiring and moving.

21st Century Schizoid Man is the only really energetic track on here; the others are mellow. Flute is scattered throughtout and is used brilliantly, particularly on the beautiful I Talk To The Wind. Eptiaph is deep and moving with light guitar, mellotron and rolling drums. The universal complaint for this album seems to be Moonchild. The first two and half minutes are dreamy and mezmirizing; after that is goes into an extremely quiet section with bass and, toward the end, light drums. It is reminiscent of the guitar part from Take A Pebble by ELP in its pace and its near randomness. It is rather slow, but I have grown to enjoy it. In The Court Of The Crimson King closes it out very well, with a sound to match its eerie lyrics: "[I]The black queen chants the funeral march, The cracked brass bells will ring; To summon back the fire witch To the court of the crimson king.[/I]" All of the lyrics, by the way, are spectacular; easily some of the best I've ever heard and as consistently brilliant as the music itself throughout the album. This is prog rock at its beginning and its best.