A King Crimson poll - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Wanorak

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Posted: February 25 2014 at 23:11

1969-1975, but I like the later stuff as well.

A GREAT YEAR FOR PROG!!!

irrelevant View Drop Down

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Posted: February 25 2014 at 23:36

Went with the first option.

New album!
http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385

ExittheLemming View Drop Down

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Posted: February 26 2014 at 02:51

BaldJean wrote:

ExittheLemming wrote:

BaldJean wrote:

for me it is a mixed bag. I like "Thrak" better than some of the old albums ("Starless and Bible Black", "Islands" and "In the Wake of Poseidon") and "Discipline" at least better than "Islands". I like "Lizard " best though, followed by "Red"

The Fripp, Cross, Wetton, Bruford/Muir lineup which recorded Larks, Starless and Bible Black and Red are the only rock band who have ever existed capable of improvisation at a level of sustained brilliance on a par with that of the celebrated jazz giants like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk et al but who still played rock

I question that. some of the line-ups of Guru Guru (just listen to their live 78 album) or the short-lived band of Roman Bunka (Dein Kopf ist ein schlafendes Auto) would easily be their matches, not to mention several line-ups of Embryo (they even had several jazz musicians lining up with them). and I am more than certain they are not the only ones

Perhaps I expressed that clumsily, and shouldn't have named individual jazzers but ensembles instead. What I really mean is that Crimson manged to achieve what Colognians Can strove for but seldom attained i.e. spontaneous composition between all four individuals where the structure and form is only revealed at the point of creation and where there is no single dominating solo voice but a perfectly bartered synergy between the players etc Of course nobody fills entire albums full of such sublimely inspired moments as these but Crimson were 'in the zone' more than most for my money e.g. We'll Let You Know - The Mincer - Starless and Bible Black - (and also many other improvs from the Great Deceiver live boxed set)
I enjoyed the Dein Kopf ist ein schlafendes Auto tracks you posted and thought them very original although I could hear referential influences from Hendrix, Crimson, Taste, Guru Guru, psychedelia, Steve Hillage and many others. However it struck me this was a trio that adopted the approach of Cream who were brilliant improvisers over a given pre existing form (in Cream's case the blues) or a relatively static harmonic pivot (Miles rock fusion work) I've always found Embryo a bit noodley and rambling but that's just my taste and yes, it's my loss Wink

Imperial Zeppelin View Drop Down

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Posted: February 26 2014 at 03:23

I love them both, but their 69-74 work is much better

Edited by Imperial Zeppelin - February 26 2014 at 03:23

The Bearded Bard View Drop Down

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Posted: February 28 2014 at 18:57

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.

Edited by The Bearded Bard - February 28 2014 at 18:59

Kentucky_Hawkwindage View Drop Down

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Posted: March 01 2014 at 16:01

Voted for Up To And In including Red without hesitation

HackettFan View Drop Down

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Posted: March 02 2014 at 22:32

Mixed bag. I like the first era best probably except that I don't like Islands at all and I don't care for most of Red. Discipline is just right under Lark's Tongue for me. Thrak is nice too, far better than Vroom. I had other more recent Crimson for quite some time, but haven't gotten around to listening to it yet, believe it or not.

Mirror Image View Drop Down

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Posted: May 05 2014 at 11:57

Easy vote for me: 'Up to and including Red'. I do like their 80s albums and Thrak from the 90s, but I don't think any of these albums can match the individualism, originality, and sheer power of the 70s Crimson.

Edited by Mirror Image - May 05 2014 at 11:57

“Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov

Dr. Occulator View Drop Down

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Posted: May 05 2014 at 17:07

I actually thought this was a joke. Seriously?

My Doc Told Me I Have Doggie Head.

Horizons

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Posted: May 05 2014 at 17:14

Nobody could have predicted the results.

Crushed like a rose in the riverflow.

Neo-Romantic View Drop Down

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Posted: May 05 2014 at 17:48

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.

May God bless you all in Jesus' name. No matter who you are, you're special, you're loved, and you matter.

Blacksword View Drop Down

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Posted: May 06 2014 at 04:18

The Power to Believe and Thrak are both excellent albums and up there with much of what they released up to and including Red imo. The 80's period is the weakest but does include some gems.

I've a lot of respect for KC.

Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!

uduwudu

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Posted: May 06 2014 at 04:35

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

Ruby900

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Posted: May 06 2014 at 06:25

As much like the '80s trilogy, the albums up to Red are where the real quality is, the essence of the band.

Edited by Ruby900 - May 06 2014 at 06:26

"I always say that it’s about breaking the rules. But the secret of breaking rules in a way that works is understanding what the rules are in the first place". Rick Wakeman

AtomicCrimsonRush View Drop Down

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Posted: May 16 2014 at 06:38

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

Blacksword View Drop Down

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Posted: May 16 2014 at 07:09

richardh wrote:

'I don't care' as their are only two KC albums that I really love

Red & Power To Believe

KC are/were a patchy band imo.

Ok, I'm jumping back on board this thread now I've explored Thrak, Power to Believe, Beat and TOAPP fully.

I would have to disagree that they were a patchy band. If anything I would say they were one of the most consistently good prog bands. Their 80's output craps over that of Genesis and most 80's Yes imo.

Only Construktion of Light and Starless and Bible black have parts that leave me cold.

Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!

Prog 74

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Posted: May 16 2014 at 08:15

69-74 hands down

Undercover Man View Drop Down

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Posted: May 16 2014 at 17:39

Up to and including Red

John McIntyre View Drop Down

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Posted: October 05 2014 at 14:23

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.

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SteveG

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Posted: October 05 2014 at 15:03

Crimson made albums after Red? Shocked

Oh, go on!

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Poll Question: Which King Crimson do you consider to be better?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Up to (and including) "Red"	87	[75.65%]
From "Discipline" until today.	6	[5.22%]
I like both equally well	19	[16.52%]
I like neither	1	[0.87%]
I don't care	2	[1.74%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted