King Crimson

glasshouse

i've got in the court of the crimson king
and
the power to believe

haven't listen to either of them for a prolonged time. definitely something i need to remedy! not easy listening, but brilliant musicianship

wcsmith

"King Crimson is amazing...Tool is not."

I'm not sure that I agree with this. While Tool was clearly influenced by King Crimson, they are demonstrably different. Tool is much darker and not nearly as avant garde (check out ProjecKts for an example).

I have been a fan of Tool for nearly 15 years and a fan of KC for nearly 5 years and have a deep appreciation for both. I am continually amazed by the need on this board to engage in mutually exclusive thinking when it comes to bands. Tool does not cease to be amazing because they are influenced by King Crimson. In my mind, that makes them even more amazing in that they are channeling and using some really complex and challenging music to shape their own. By sheer talent alone (listen to the drumming throughout Lateralus, by way of example) Tool can easily be placed in the 'amazing' category, at least by layman's standards.

elmer

glasshouse wrote:

i've got in the court of the crimson king
and
the power to believe

haven't listen to either of them for a prolonged time. definitely something i need to remedy! not easy listening, but brilliant musicianship

for me, the early period Crimson sound a little Pink Floyd. You need 'Red'.

restlesssoul

i picked up in the court from this lady. ive never really got around to listening to it. its on vinyl, ill pull it out thanks to this thread.

Thoughts_Arrive

I have not listened to this band yet.
I have been told and read that "In the Court of the Crimson King" is a masterpiece. 
Other than this album, where else should I start?

qontheboard

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I have not listened to this band yet.
I have been told and read that "In the Court of the Crimson King" is a masterpiece. 
Other than this album, where else should I start?

Start with "DISCIPLINE". It's their real masterpiece.
   

Thoughts_Arrive

I wasn't that satisfied with my first listen of their debut. I talk to the wind and epitaph I don't mind. Too many whisper quiet moments with chimes that dragged on.

Then again I felt the same the first time I listened to dark side of the moon and Animals

Thoughts_Arrive

Any more fans here? 

Thoughts_Arrive

I am confused with their line up changes and the fact they had lyricists that didn't actually sing or play any instruments.
Not used to that band set up.

Loujoe

Thoughts_Arrive said:

Any more fans here? 

Me. Late to the party. Got a best of cd for cheap. 'The Compact King Crimson'. I find myself listening to it a lot. Refreshingly different music after I thought I heard it all.

jbrownie

qontheboard said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I have not listened to this band yet.
I have been told and read that "In the Court of the Crimson King" is a masterpiece. 
Other than this album, where else should I start?

Start with "DISCIPLINE". It's their real masterpiece.
   

I would say 'Red' is, but they've had several incarnations.  'Discipline' was probably their best 80s album.
I started with Larks Tongue in Aspic, because I was familiar with John Wetton from Asia & Bill Bruford from Yes, and I wanted to hear what they sounded like together. They were a ferocious rhythm section. So, I really like the '73-'74 lineup best. This is where I hear the most resemblance to Tool.

njnancy

I saw King Crimson at Rutgers University in 1982 and Bruford was on drums - it was incredible. 

I also saw them in 1996 as part of the  H.O.R.D.E. festival line-up. 

The concert at Rutgers was in a small room - I was close to the stage and I happened to be walking to the bathroom when Bruford did a drum solo & I was right behind him and stood and watched him. Heavy metal and prog were my life so seeing King Crimson and Yes's drummer playing with them was completely amazing. I saw Bruford with Yes several times so this was icing. 

I haven't listened to them in a long time but I listened to them a lot back in the earlier days. 

Definitely a band full of exceptionally talented musicians and they are one of the bands that a fan of prog music just sat in stunned appreciation of the live experience. 

Thoughts_Arrive

I don't like the fact the band line up changed so much over the years and that they brought in external lyricists. 

Brotherjohnno9

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I don't like the fact the band line up changed so much over the years and that they brought in external lyricists. 

Not sure what you mean by external lyricists? Pete Sinfield is considered external to some degree, he contributed lyrics to some of their earliest material but he also did some keyboard work around the same time. The band line-up has certainly changed many times but when you consider how their music progressed over the decades it is justifiable. Some of the musicians from the early 70's line-ups probably wouldn't have dreamt of playing the stuff they produced in the 80's/90's.

jbrownie

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I don't like the fact the band line up changed so much over the years and that they brought in external lyricists. 

Yes, if it's Pete Sinfield you're referring to that you don't like as an external lyricist, well...we know you'll never be an ELP fan, LOL. He worked with them, and Greg Lake, Crimson's 1st singer, for most of the 70s.
The lineups were vastly different. You don't sound like you enjoy their 1st album & that's fine. I don't care for their 3rd album, Lizard (with Gordon Haskell on vocals), OR their 4th (Boz Burrell on vocals). Then John Wetton joined, who, as I said, I knew from the band Asia.
There's bound to be 1 incarnation that catches your fancy.

Thoughts_Arrive

jbrownie said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I don't like the fact the band line up changed so much over the years and that they brought in external lyricists. 

Yes, if it's Pete Sinfield you're referring to that you don't like as an external lyricist, well...we know you'll never be an ELP fan, LOL. He worked with them, and Greg Lake, Crimson's 1st singer, for most of the 70s.
The lineups were vastly different. You don't sound like you enjoy their 1st album & that's fine. I don't care for their 3rd album, Lizard (with Gordon Haskell on vocals), OR their 4th (Boz Burrell on vocals). Then John Wetton joined, who, as I said, I knew from the band Asia.
There's bound to be 1 incarnation that catches your fancy.

I actually don't mind their first album. I love I talk to the wind and Epitaph. Great songs.
Yeah I'm referring to Pete Sinfield. I prefer lyrics written by the actual musicians in the band.

Thoughts_Arrive

jbrownie said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I don't like the fact the band line up changed so much over the years and that they brought in external lyricists. 

Yes, if it's Pete Sinfield you're referring to that you don't like as an external lyricist, well...we know you'll never be an ELP fan, LOL. He worked with them, and Greg Lake, Crimson's 1st singer, for most of the 70s.
The lineups were vastly different. You don't sound like you enjoy their 1st album & that's fine. I don't care for their 3rd album, Lizard (with Gordon Haskell on vocals), OR their 4th (Boz Burrell on vocals). Then John Wetton joined, who, as I said, I knew from the band Asia.
There's bound to be 1 incarnation that catches your fancy.

I mean someone who is not a musician in the band but writes their lyrics.

Thoughts_Arrive

I'm liking Larks' Tongues In Aspic.
And that song "Starless" is great.

Thoughts_Arrive

This is amazing...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhKJgqxNDD8

Thoughts_Arrive

Larks' Tongues in Aspic is a brilliant album.

Wobbie

court of the crimson king is a stoner must have.

unavailable on itunes, I believe.

Thoughts_Arrive

Wobbie said:

court of the crimson king is a stoner must have.

unavailable on itunes, I believe.

Fripp sure makes it hard for people to access his music.

Thoughts_Arrive

Fripp looks evil here...

https://youtu.be/Hn4-ofDHk1k

brianlux

Loved seeing Crimson at the Greek Theater in Berkeley in '82.  Standing in line outside the theater listening to Robert Fripp sound check was mind blowing.  Second only to hearing Hendrix doing a sound check in '68.

Thoughts_Arrive

Wobbie said:

court of the crimson king is a stoner must have.

unavailable on itunes, I believe.

I just checked and I can see their albums on iTunes. 

Thoughts_Arrive

brianlux said:

Loved seeing Crimson at the Greek Theater in Berkeley in '82.  Standing in line outside the theater listening to Robert Fripp sound check was mind blowing.  Second only to hearing Hendrix doing a sound check in '68.

You are very lucky, I wish I could have seen Hendrix.

Thoughts_Arrive

I can never find their CDs in store.
Not sure why this is (the retailer not stocking or the band not releasing).

Wobbie

Thoughts_Arrive said:

Wobbie said:

court of the crimson king is a stoner must have.

unavailable on itunes, I believe.

I just checked and I can see their albums on iTunes. 

you originally couldn't. I once mistakenly purchased a song from a KC tribute band.

Thoughts_Arrive

^ ^ haha!

Amazon has CDs for over $150 wtf?

njnancy

brianlux said:

Loved seeing Crimson at the Greek Theater in Berkeley in '82.  Standing in line outside the theater listening to Robert Fripp sound check was mind blowing.  Second only to hearing Hendrix doing a sound check in '68.

I saw them on that same tour at Rutgers in New Brunswick, NJ,.

Small venue at the Student Union Building, a 5 minute walk from my dorm. I am a huge YES fan & I was double psyched because of  Bill Buford.