Is King Crimson the best rock music has to offer?

[Iconito]

Checked...nothing...

I know. I just wanted you out of this thread 


(OK. That's enough. Off to sleep now. Bye!)

[Mirror Image]

I know. I just wanted you out of this thread 


(OK. That's enough. Off to sleep now. Bye!)

It's going to take more than a PM to make me leave this thread. Things are just now starting to get interesting.

[Karl Henning]

Why did you post what might be the worst song Genesis ever recorded?

Very interesting, Don! That you might think so poorly of this song, I mean.

Thread duty:  A day or so ago I read the Wikipedia article on King Crimson.  On the one hand, I've learnt more than I ever knew before of the personnel shuffles between the debut album and Larks' Tongues in Aspic; on the other, I'm even less inclined to check out that corner of their discography (YMMV).

It did get me strangely curious about The ConstruKction of Light, though . . . .

OT tangent . . . I've relatively recently re-visited Kansas (the band), and although I don't think any one album of theirs completely "great," a lot of their stuff strikes me now as better than I remembered it . . . .

[jowcol]

As far as 70s progressive rock goes give me King Crimson, Gensis, Yes, Pink Floyd, Rush, or Camel any day.

A woefully neglected prog album from the 70s was "It will All Work Out In Boomland" by T2.   It may be out of print, but there may be vinyl rips out there in the blogosphere. 

You can follow another "prog" thread of some of the more jazz-blues  inspired British groups of the 70s. 

Soft Machine's Third has some great moments-- although I must confess I think the first of the four sidelong tracks has the most edge.


Colosseum also has some good stuff. 




The Valentyne Suite is definitely proggy, and I love the song Lost Angeles  from their live album. 



Although the Keef Hartley Band broke out, to some degree from John Mayall's Blues Breakers, they definitely had a jazz and prog feel as well, although their albums can be a bit uneven.  The first side of the debut is one of my favorite stretches of 60s music EVER.  After a jazz fusiony instrumental workout, the long blues Born to Die has some great playing, and the last three minutes kicks into a 6 on 4 thing that is really stunning. 
  The second side is more dedicated to song writing and arrangements-- which are good, but doesn't quite match the opening side.

The Live Little Big Band album works very well, and is more weighted towards the Jazz and prog elements:


Of the other albums, Overdog and Time is Near have moments, but for many of the albums it became clear that this band was being forced to write more accessible songs, and made them less distinctive.

[kishnevi]

Why did you post what might be the worst song Genesis ever recorded?

I'd nominate "Illegal Alien" for that dishonor.

[Karl Henning]

To veer that truer onto topic:  Any nominees for worst King Crimson track?  And is it genuinely bad, or just . . . the least good?

[chasmaniac]

To veer that truer onto topic:  Any nominees for worst King Crimson track?  And is it genuinely bad, or just . . . the least good?

Something from Lizard. Yuck!

[jowcol]

To veer that truer onto topic:  Any nominees for worst King Crimson track?  And is it genuinely bad, or just . . . the least good?

Although I'm not calling out specific tracks, Earthbound's sound was horrid, and I don't think the band's live sound was nearly as overpowering as the Lark's Toungues lineup, which is my favorite.  (The Great Deceiver collection is good if you want more of that.)

There's a few tracks on Three of a Perfect Pair I can live without.

[Karl Henning]

Although I'm not calling out specific tracks, Earthbound's sound was horrid, and I don't think the band's live sound was nearly as overpowering as the Lark's Toungues lineup, which is my favorite.  (The Great Deceiver collection is good if you want more of that.)

My good angels have preserved my ears from almost everything between the debut album and Larks' Tongues. Possible exception: "Cat Food" . . . must have been a track from that dubious era, yes?

And it is time I revisited The Great Deceiver here . . . .

[71 dB]

My good angels have preserved my ears from almost everything between the debut album and Larks' Tongues. Possible exception: "Cat Food" . . . must have been a track from that dubious era, yes?

"Cat Food" is from KC's 2nd album In The Wake Of Poseidon which is one of the group's weakest efforts. I don't care about "Cat Food" either that much.

The 3rd album Lizard is a whole different story and one of my favorites. Islands is nice too. Heavy classical music influences in these two!

[Karl Henning]

I like "Cat Food" all right for what it is; would certainly never nominate it for worst King Crimson song ever ; )

[petrarch]

An earlier track to lookout for is their first of four remixes of "Voyage 34" .  It starts with some late 60s anti-drug album about the horrors of LSD narrative by Dick Clark with a very groovy musical accompaninment.  As bad trips go, its very good. 

http://www.youtube.com/v/GR75Qv3Mv5A

This is a bad trip? I was expecting something dark, moody and obsessive... in any case, it was quite enjoyable (thanks for posting!) and the first time I ever heard of Porcupine Tree (my past prog-rock exposure was a lot more focused on the german, kraut-rock kind).

[snyprrr]

I'd nominate "Illegal Alien" for that dishonor.

No, you're right. That IS the work Genesis song.

[Karl Henning]

On the train last night, I revisited the title track of Starless and Bible Black. Love this stuff!

[jowcol]

On the train last night, I revisited the title track of Starless and Bible Black. Love this stuff!

Fracture is my favorite on that album, and I also like the Trio as a change of pace.

[Karl Henning]

Agreed, "Fracture" is the heart of the album. The title track is an effective prelude, though : )

[Karl Henning]

Turned on an old Ohio friend to KC these past few days.

[snyprrr]

John Wetton

[Karl Henning]

Well, he was neither a Tony Levin, nor an Adrian Belew . . . but Wetton did acquit himself well at the last on Red.

[ibanezmonster]

http://www.youtube.com/v/bhkpCjmXHTU
BTBAM: Swim to the Moon

This isn't even their best, but a good intro to BTBAM. Like King Crimson, their music is capable of an extremely wide range of expression, each aspect of which they master. Actually, I can't think of any other band so talented in each aspect. But of course, all that's left is whether it suits your tastes or not...