IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING

"Progressive. Yes, that's it. Progressive."

And thus was born the genre we all love as we know it now. The mastermind behind King Crimson, Robert Fripp, introduced the world to a strange new sound with the band's 1969 debut, IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING. The album is completely flawless. It does more invention and reinvention for the genre of prog rock than any album before or since, with the erratic time signatures and distorted vocals of "21st Century Schizoid Man", the free jazz diversions of "Moonchild", and the epic poetry of "The Court of the Crimson King".

Everything about COURT is brilliant, and it remains so nearly forty years after its release. It also happens to have the greatest cover and concept art of any album of all time. That classic schizoid man on the cover and crimson king in the layout (incidentally the artist's only works) leave an eerie afterimage in the viewer's mind every time they are seen.

However, this review is about the music, and it couldn't be more perfect. Fripp's guitar arrangements are unique and potent, showing the farthest reaches of what a guitar can do. Vocalist Greg Lake (later of ELP) does a brilliant job, and the rest of the band show an implacable virtuosity.

Best song? All of 'em. Buy it now.

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