King Crimson: Larks' Tongues In Aspic

I agree that its a classic. Disagree that its not accessible. I got into it almost immediately when I first played it many many moons ago

This is the point at which I adjusted my expectations of KC albums so that I would be satisfied with 1.5 tracks that I liked.  The half track is "Book of Saturday" and the whole track is "Exiles", even if Wetton's vocals on the latter leave me longing for Gordon Haskell!

dr wu23 wrote: A classic indeed....my third favorite behind Red  and ITCOTCK.

I fully agree with what the good doctor says!

This is the album that got my attention from KC.  I had listened to the earlier things and thought they were good but this configuration of the band hooked my immediately.  It helped that I saw them perform most of the album live before I actually heard the album.  I saw KC perform this album at a concert in Central Park NYC.  I went on purpose to see the opening act (who I believe was Buddy Miles). 

My favorite KC album.








Although Starless and Bible Black supersedes it on Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 5 and 11 pm.




Edited by HackettFan - November 13 2018 at 19:56

Great album indeed, even if I do like most of it better live. Exiles is slightly better (and harder) live (particularly on Collectable Vol 1, CD 2), and Easy Money is much better live (particularly on Collectable Vol 1, CD 1)... though the new versions are really great too. The last two tracks I do like better on their original versions, in great part because of Jamie Muir. And the first one has been the hardest for me to get into... even if the initial riff is great, there's too much jamming within the song... it's not been but until the new version with the added jazzy flute that I really was able to like it.

All of KC 69-74 is essential and this one is no exception. Lark's got all everything love about this band in spades - which is why I don't understand why its the one of their seven classics I reach for the rareliest. 

Chaser wrote: I agree that its a classic. Disagree that its not accessible. I got into it almost immediately when I first played it many many moons ago

"Not accessible" means that it doesn't appeal to the general public like Yes did with Roundabout. No songs on LTiA would have been hit singles on radio, regardless of how much you or I liked them.

Edited by SteveG - November 14 2018 at 03:51

Chaser wrote: SteveG wrote: Chaser wrote: I agree that its a classic. Disagree that its not accessible. I got into it almost immediately when I first played it many many moons ago "Not accessible" means that it doesn't appeal to the general public like Yes did with Roundabout. No songs on LTiA would have been hit singles on radio, regardless of how much you or I liked them.   Fair enough, but I think you could make that comment about any KC album.  I don't think that LTiA is any less accessible than any other of their albums   KC haven't had a hit single ever, and there aren't many prog bands that have.   Roundabout may be an exception, but I wouldn't say that Fragile is an album that the general public would find accessible in a radio friendly sense.   I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying that I don't think that "accessibility" is a criteria that I would use to judge a prog rock album.

No as there are songs on the debut that are accessible like "Talk To The Wind" or "One More Red Nightmare" from Red that would not be that off putting to those that like classic rock. And I'm not judging, I'm only stating a fact.

Edited by SteveG - November 14 2018 at 06:24

They're no more mainstream than Roundabout. And accessibility is subjective so I rely on the consensus of the album reviewers like Allmusic. If anyone knows what appeals to classic rockers, they do.