A King Crimson poll

Red, Discipline era, ITCOTCK, S and BB. Larks, Thrak, USA. Most of the rest I enjoy and respect KC were always on such a precipice per album.

Earthbound anyone? On paper it looks a fine album, until I hear it.

The 80s trio with Absent Lovers (absolute classic) finishing that era off was the business. Belew's guitar contributions alone...

Fripp had a good band (!) and could really establish with this structure a great compositional statement for the length of time it was required, 3 volumes.

T Lev's Chapman Stick writing and playing was and is mindblowing. The detail and rhythmic density was unmatched. No wonder KC were in demand as session guys for Zappa, Bowie and Peter Gabriel and others.

Then they went to the pinnacle - the double trio era. Not sure they achieved the compositional consistency of the '80s era but the growth in performance was even more so, if possible.

And around this time (mid 90s) was Steve Hackett's band with the odd KC alumnus turning up. Now this was what Asia and GTR etc should have been - song oriented but not limited. 

for now, its the 70's, but i want to look into more of their music by era. though i do like the song "Three of a Perfect Pair" and the album The Power to Believe is pretty good, but not one of my favorites of theirs. oh, and happy 40th birthday to Red!!!!!

Edited by Michael678 - October 06 2014 at 14:03

Svetonio wrote: "Up to (and including) "Red" - is THE Crimson Era. Imo.

It is not a surprise that 69-74 KC is winning because it is miles ahead of everything they ever did and ever will do and even at that they were not that great anyway 

Up to and including RED, plus USA, plus The Night Watch, plus The Great Deceiver. Having said that, there are a few bits 'n' pieces of the 80s & 90s I like, such as the THRAK and B'Boom albums, Waiting Man from the Absent Lovers set and Sleepless from 3OAPP. The Construction of Light and Power to Believe are unlistenable. Not heard Scarcity of Miracles or anything immediately before & after that.

69-74 hands down

Up to Red the Crims were an unstoppable tyrant! Then it went pear shaped  i am afraid.

The question is clear. Both. Everything. And including the Sylvian Fripp era.

The Bearded Bard wrote: HolyMoly wrote: Up to, stopping just short of, then revving up again and driving straight through Red, then doing a U-turn and hitting the gas station. Exactly this! "The Power to Believe" is excellent though. On level with most of what they did in the '70's, IMO.

I'm in agreement there! TPtB is an excellent album, and I have no reservation recommending it alongside the others from their previous inceptions. I like it better than Court, actually.

I actually thought this was a joke. Seriously?