IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING

Essential in the context of it being part of the origins of prog. An outstanding opening and closing, and personally 20th century schizoid man is the highlight of high drama ahead of the title track. Sadly the middle of the album, while it is far better than filler material, does seem a little too padded out for me. The jamming and messing about in Moonlight is definitely polarising, personally I'm in the category of it being a negative. However, listening through it does then mean that the grand opening of The Court seems far grander by comparison.

While its status as the common ancestor of all prog rock means it is an essential, I can't go as far as calling it a masterpiece. 4 and a half stars would be about right.