#227: King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)

Emily: Prog tends to go a few ways of me. Its influence can add a rambling, experimental quality to pop or rock music. However, when that quality becomes the main focus of an album it can become too long and overwrought, perhaps requiring the listener to take part in the drugs that were taken to make the music happen. King Crimson's debut, though theoretically a wholly prog rock album, doesn't fall into that trap. Its five tracks, ranging from 6 to 12 minutes in length, keep listeners' attention by playing with sound and style. Jazz influences add an element of improvisation with a slight rock edge peeking through in the vocals and instrumentation. The result is unique and surprisingly modern - though released in 1969, it could be from the '80s or even this decade. King Crimson's influence on prog rock and rock in general can't be ignored, and this debut is worth a listen to find out why.
Favorite Tracks: 21st Century Schizoid Man; The Court of the Crimson King; Moonchild

Zack: I didn’t know much about King Crimson prior to today other than what I’d read on a few “Best Prog-Rock Band Lists” (don’t ask) and the sample on Kanye’s POWER. But those two things were enough to get me excited. This album, overall, was sort of backward in the best possible ways. The concluding track – The Court of the Crimson King – sounds a hell of a lot like an opener. And the first two tracks may start out relying predominantly on traditional rock instruments, but halfway through they let other instruments – horns in 21^st Century Schizoid Man, a flute in I Talk to the Wing – drive the songs instead of accentuating. Everything seemed to be constructed in a counterintuitive manner, and I loved that about it. The album seemed to lag a bit in the middle, but the beginning and end were cool, enjoyable and just downright infectious.

Favorite Tracks: 21^st Century Schizoid Man; The Court of the Crimson King; I Talk to the Wind