LARKS' TONGUES IN ASPIC

This was my introduction to King Crimson back in 1991 (though I had actually heard bit and pieces of the debut album before). I was completely blown away. I had never heard anything like it before. I was listening to it on the tape player of my fathers mini van while driving down a gravel road in pouring rain, stoned out of my mind. I wondered why I was feeling so tense and anxious, then I realized it was the music :-) Ever since, it has been my favorite Crimson album. Sure it has dark and sinister character in songs like Larks Tongue, but also a kind of pastoral beauty in songs like Book Of Saturday. I find this album to be a perfect blending of early period and mid-period Crimson. Songs like Exiles harking back to In the Court, and songs like Larks Pt. 2 pointing the way to the future, while Easy Money represented the here and now (of the band in 1973, that is). The only song that is a bit trying for me is The Talking Drum, and really only because of its repetitive nature (it is still a good song though).

Anyway, one of those rare perfect albums for me. 5 stars without question. Crimson begginers be warned though! This is not an easy listen if you are familiar with this band (though I suppose that could be said of nearly every Crimson album). The debut is probably the best place to start for you. But ultimately, every prog head should hear this album at some point.