In the Court of the Crimson King 30th Anniversary Edition
Described by The Who’s Pete Townshend as 'an uncanny masterpiece', King Crimson’s debut was released in October 1969 becoming an instant chart hit on both sides of the Atlantic - not bad for a band who only got together less than ten months earlier. 21st Century Schizoid Man showcases the band’s ability to blend music that had the brutal attack of a claw hammer yet wielded with the skilled precision of a surgeon’s scalpel. Consisting of a visionary blend of gothic ruminations, anthemic Mellotron-laden grandeur, ornate arrangements and introspective folkish abstractions, the album was a huge influence on bands such as Yes and Genesis and countless other acts on the ‘70s rock scene. ITCOTCK’s distinctive sound is as fresh, bold and as startling as when it first appeared.
In the Court of the Crimson King 30th Anniversary Edition
Described by The Who’s Pete Townshend as 'an uncanny masterpiece', King Crimson’s debut was released in October 1969 becoming an instant chart hit on both sides of the Atlantic - not bad for a band who only got together less than ten months earlier. 21st Century Schizoid Man showcases the band’s ability to blend music that had the brutal attack of...
One of my favourites. It changed my perception of music. Long live the king.
Written by Jure Humar
The debut of a legend
In The Court of The Crimson King is an album that, firstly needs no review and secondly cannot be truly described so I'll just say a few personal things about it.
It was a cold january day of 2010 when I first listened to this album. At first, I was so involved I didn't know what to think (forgive me). After the album finished I got a weird, amazing sensation I had just listened to an album that was about to change my life. Although the first King Crimson album I heard was Lizard, ITCOTCK was a...
In The Court of The Crimson King is an album that, firstly needs no review and secondly cannot be truly described so I'll just say a few personal things about it.
It was a cold january day of 2010 when I first listened to this album. At first, I was so involved I didn't know what to think (forgive me). After the album finished I got a weird, amazing sensation I had just listened to an album that was about to change my life. Although the first King Crimson album I heard was Lizard, ITCOTCK was an album that introduced me to a band like no album ever has (although I DO OWE to Lizard as much as I do to ITCOTCK). From the absolute frenzy of Schizoid Man, to the unspeakably beautiful I Talk To The Wind, to the outrageously underrated Moonchild (the improvisational and much maligned second part is a beauty in itself), to the sad and depressing Epitaph and finaly the grandiose and interesting title track, the album never looses it's purpose: to enthrall, enrich, mesmerize and utterly confuse the listener.
ITCOTCK is an album that has a very special place in music history and while it's not my favourite KC album (as a matter of fact one of my least favourite, if that even makes sense), it's a wonder that such a masterpiece even exists. How a band could produce such a powerful, lucid and mystifying first album is beyond my comprehension. Something magical must have happened back in 1969.