In item 196, response 83, Michael Griffin (otaking) wrote: > I keep meaning to get some King Crimson CDs? Any recommendations? In my opinion the King Crimson albums vary widely in style but are consistently good up until the most recent reformation of the band -- I'd recommend any of them. If you're not familiar with King Crimson, it helps to know that the band has gone through a number of personnel changes over the years (the only constant member is Robert Fripp) and that each line-up change has marked a new musical style.23 responses total.
A brief (and considerably simplified) synopsis of the band's career:
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Early King Crimson: More traditional 70's style progressive rock
Studio Albums:
In the Court of the Crimson King
In the Wake of Poseidon
Islands
Lizard
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Middle King Crimson: Somewhat more experimental and improvisational
Studio Albums:
Lark's Tongue in Aspic
Red
Starless and Bible Black
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80's King Crimson: A definite shift. Influenced by Eno, Talking Heads, etc
Studio Albums:
Beat
Discipline
Three of a Perfect Pair
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"New" King Crimson:
Re-formed in 90s with mostly same lineup as 80s band, music not as good.
Studio Albums:
Vrooom (EP)
Thrak
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In addition to these studio recordings, they've released a lot of live
recordings lately, covering all of the various periods.
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You're going to get pretty different characterizations of different Crimson
albums from different fans. However, my recommendations for staters are:
Early period: "Lizard" or "Islands"
Middle period: "Red"
80's period: any, but I especially like "Beat"
I like the recent stuff.
Has anyone here heard any of the recent live releases?
I listened to "The Night Watch" in a listening station at Borders and decided I ought to buy it, but then got lured away by "Absent Lovers", which I chose to buy instead because it covered mostly material from the 80s incarnation of the band, which is my favorite.. Unfortunately the performances on "Absent Lovers" didn't impress me and I was left wishing I'd bought "The Night Watch" instead..
I was never much into Fripp, though I've been to two of his concerts long ago. The first time, an old girlfriend insisted that we go to the League of Gentlemen tour -- late 70s? The second time, a co-worker who was a real Frippmaniac insisted that I come along to the first US tour by the "Discipline" era King Crimson. Both shows rank as memorable; even so, I have never owned any Fripp recordings. (Namedrop, namedrop.)
Almost 10 years ago I talked a friend into going to see "Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists" at the Power Center. We still talk about that concert -- it was probably the most memorable performance I've ever been to, though I've never been able to clearly explain why. Unfortunately studio recordings put out by the LCG never even came close to capturing the energy and atmosphere of that evening.
I've always liked Fripp's work on Brian Eno's solo albums (I still need to get the full-on collaboration "Evening Star"). King Crimson never did it for me. Too... I dunno, virtuostic. All the emphasis seems to be on "Hey, listen to this kick-ass guitar solo!" rather than emotion or meaning. Maybe I'm missing something. (Although, granted, the only album I've heard all the way through is "Discipline.")
That's odd. "Discipline" is not a big guitar solo album, but rather focusses on odd meters and tight coordination of parts.
OK, "Listen to us all play together really fast!" :)
Yeah, that's "Discipline" all right, but whaddaya expect from an album with that title? I can't think of any Crimson albums I'd give top-notch ranking for emotion and meaning, though...
I'm thinking you might like "Beat" better..
Red
I got e-mail from home today, saying that there's a new King Crimson album on display at SKR, called "Beginner's Guide to the ProjeKts" or some such. I have no idea if this is a genuine new album, or just yet another compilation, but I'm passing the news on....
...hmm. None of the web discographies have this one yet, that I can see, and the Discipline Global Mobile is less than helpful. It _looks_ like the double trio from THRAK etc. has split up into four smaller groups, most helpfully titled Projekt 1, Projekt 2, Projekt 3, and Projekt 4. The recent release consists of a boxed set with a full disk from each Projekt, and a sampler disk -- evidently the one my dad saw on display.
Check the web for the Artist Shop. They're a distributor of independently produced music, among them King Crimson and every member's individual output, plus a whole bunch of music I've never heard. I'll check the url later.
New Crimson CD, new lineup! Actually, not really new linup. The band is now Fripp, Belew, and then the other two guys from the THRaK lineup: Trey Gunn and Pat Mastelotto. The new CD is "the construKction of light" [sic]. I bought a copy a couple days ago, and here's my scratch review: Sounds more like the "Discipline" era band. Sounds pretty cool so far, but I'm only on the 2nd or so time through.
10 points for bothering to copy their freaKish capitalization......
Yeah, and the switched k and c. Damn, that's annoying and pointless. ;)
Ah well. They're Famous RoKc Stars, they can do what they want....
I still want badly to hear fripp/eno "no pussyfooting"
If they didn't switch the c and k, it would be crimson King.
which would be the Red King, who's dreaming us all...
re #20: If you want it badly enough to pay for it, I'm pretty sure that the complete "No Pussyfooting" is available on the "Essential Fripp & Eno" disc, along with a couple of tracks from "Evening Star" and a set of variations on a previously unreleased work.
You have several choices: