Originally Posted by Trollheart (Post 2184602)

First, I'm in the minority but I agree with you on this (people here will say that just goes to show how wrong you are). I'm no expert on KC, I have only heard about six albums so far, and that's through my History of Prog Rock journal, so was of necessity. Most I thought okay, a few really good, a lot mediocre. You can be hanged for such comments here I know, but I don't give a... fig. I don't think I'll ever be a fan of Fripp's soundscapes, and the fact that King Crimson are so closely linked with jazz (and, worse for me, some free jazz) makes it very hard for me to like them. I don't like this album. I only listened to it the once, to be fair, but it did not impress me.

Second: Genesis, Yes and Floyd are certainly progenitors of prog rock (along with ELP, Caravan, Moody Blues and others) but APP came much later, their first album being in the late 1970s (1976) so they could not be said to have been laying down any sort of trail.

Third: Nobody, and I mean nobody should be able to tell you what you should like. If you hate an album, or artist, a million people love, it's been my experience that you should feel free to hate it. There's no rule in music that says you have to like this band or that artist. We're all different. Except me.

I liked your review. I thought it was honest and while you went on record (hah) to say you didn't like the album, you still paid it and the band some respect, which is I think important. Nothing should be trashed or disparaged out of hand. Other than Nickelback, of course. :)

Originally Posted by Guybrush (Post 2184605)

I feel like 95% of KC worship focuses on their debut. While there are some things I like a lot, like the song Dinosaur from Thrak or the title track from Red, I don't find their albums terribly interesting. Especially John Wetton I could never quite get behind, preferring Belew.

Some of the musical stuff Fripp has been interested in, like his 80s league of guitarists, feature some of the worst aspects of musicality/virtuosity with few or none of the attractions. He's an interesting character for sure, but not always appealing.

Originally Posted by rubber soul (Post 2184633)

I happen to like King Crimson a lot though I think Guybrush is right that most fans fixate on the brilliant debut. There are so many incarnations of King Crimson, which is essentially Robert Fripp and company, it's hard to keep count. I do think they've done a lot more than Court of the Crimson King though (In the Wake of Poseidon, Lark's Tongue in Aspic, Red). In fact, if you're only a casual fan, I'd recommend A Young Person's Guide to King Crimson. The complilation covers just about every great track Crimson did from 1969-1975 (though it did miss Easy Money off Lark's Tongue). Still the greatest prog band ever in my book.

Originally Posted by Eleanor Rigby 14 (Post 2184670)

P.S. It's almost ten o'clock here and I haven't posted a review today. Second day of school, and we already have tons of homework :(

Originally Posted by Trollheart (Post 2184674)

Ah, to be young again!
And also a robot.
:)
Worrying about school; how that takes me back. Sunday nights go in so fast, Monday mornings drag. Sorry, sorry.
:shycouch:

I will certainly agree that ITCOTCK is a great album, but I can't say whether all the worship is due to that, as I have not, as I said, heard all that much. Batty swears by Larks though. If that means anything.

Originally Posted by Guybrush (Post 2184685)

God damn mobile phone posting whole god danged reply gone in an instant.

Anyways, I like Larks even if it's a step down for Bruford coming in fresh from Yes' Close to the Edge ,(now there's an album). Jamie Muir is a nice presence.

ITCOTCK is good and in many ways a striking album, but unfortunately I have grown very tired of it from over-exposure. I'm hoping to enjoy it again, but it might take a few years.

Originally Posted by Trollheart (Post 2184767)

Oh no, they're huge. I regularly get slagged off for not having been into them from an embryo; I get told I can't be a proper prog fan without having at least heard King Crimson, which I never had until about a year or two ago. They're definitely on the level of Genesis and Yes and all the great greats.

Originally Posted by Guybrush (Post 2184785)

Yes, there are TONS of obscure prog bands, but King Crimson is not one of them. I heard about them long before I ever had any real understanding of what prog rock was.

Edit:

At a glance, I didn't see any obscure prog bands on your list. ELP, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Yes, all huge. Gentle Giant is relatively obscure outside of progheads, but relatively huge to people who dabble in the genre as their first 7-8 albums are generally well liked.

Soft Machine are more obscure again, but are much better described as jazz rock rather than prog.

Originally Posted by Eleanor Rigby 14 (Post 2196274)

Cheers and happy 2022 for everyone! :)