IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING

So, how do you feel 21st Century Schizoid Man? Has the techno-mindrape driven you insane? That's okay just jack into your temple-vision and travel through endless utopian cyberspace realms.

Well, what can really be said about this album. An album that launched a million Prog Rock dreams in the Court of the Crimson King.

The album cover is a masterpiece of progressive, fantasy and avant garde art with a tale as tragic as the music itself. There was a local record store when I was a teen that had this in their window and every time I walked by I would be drawn in and just stare at the damn thing for an unknown amount of time. Calling to me?

It can be argued that this is the first true Prog Rock album although there are heavy contenders from bands like Pink Floyd, Pretty Things (SF Sorrow), Moody Blues, Genesis, Yes etc. But you can't argue that 21st Century Schizoid Man is one of the heaviest, craziest, most chaotic, acid-fueled, disturbingly prescient songs ever made. The song alone makes this a five-star record and is not for the faint of heart. And I say that without a grain of exaggeration or levity. The album should come with a warning about listening to it if you have a weak heart. And you could literally throw the rest of the album down the nearest memory hole and it wouldn't matter but the rest of the album easily elevates this to a five-star Prog masterpiece.

Happy inter-spatial travelling!

Sincerely, 21st Century Schizoid Man