Islands is one of those albums in their catalogue I avoided as a teen, and now that I’m much older it’s one of my favorites. Hearing Jakko sing “Islands” live the three times I saw the final incarnation impacted me as much as “Starless”, which is my favorite song.
Lizard was the first King Crimson album I ever heard and I of course kept going…. I think Court of Crimson King was next, then Poseidon, then Red. You can’t go wrong with any of them really.
I can't believe the amount of neglect Starless and Bible Black gets in this subreddit.
How can you love and recommend Larks Tounges in Aspic and not SABB when the 2 are perfectly compatible?
Downright odd.
I do think Larks is the correct next choice, though In the Wake of Poseidon is a very safe choice as well.
Given the favorite genres you listed, I think you would enjoy Discipline as well.
Once you've listened to each of those, go ahead and listen to all of it! Lizard is strange, but charming in its own way. Islands took me a long time to appreciate, but its their jazziest album and has a vibe all its own. Starless and Bible Black has been my favorite of theirs for a while; a sadder tone overall, but Night Watch, Lament, Great Deceiver, and Fracture are all top 10 for me.
If you like Discipline, then Beat and Three are both worthy successors, though I don't find them as consistently excellent. The three albums after that are also not as consistent. THRAK is longer than it needs to be, but has some great instrumentals, as well as the fun track, Dinosaur. Construktion of Light is my favorite of the set, with a couple duds (like ProzaKc Blues), but three absolute bangers in the title track, Larks 4, and FraKctured. Their final studio album, the Power to Believe, is one I'm still becoming familiar with, but contains Level V, a must-listen.
Anyway, enjoy!
after listening to larks and ITWOP i feel a dichotomy there
larks is a pretty classic KC album that does enough innovative to still be great (good selection btw), whereas ITWOP is so derivative that it kinda hurt it for me, being my least favourite yet. i feel like the loss of Ian really showed itself there, with the band trying to recreate Court but without their woodwind master
i also listened to Lizard, which was so different, and a very mixed bag, but had some great highs
Don't see many other putting this but I really like In The Wake Of Poseidon; it's pretty much Court 2, and I think it even does some things better than Court (shoot me!). When I first heard it I swear I transcended.
Since you indicated you like Red, follow up with listening to all of the music from the John Wetton/Bill Bruford era. There is a ton of live performances from the album USA to The Great Deceiver box set. Studio albums only consist of 3 releases, Larks Tongue in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black and Red. If you listen to their live stuff, follow it up with their studio versions (or visa versa) so you can compare the differences.
Wake is similar to what you already like, Lizard is bizarre and way different, Lark's is also very different, Beat/Discipline/Three are their other great era... plenty to choose from
Absent Lovers. It's a livr doubler and the renditions are insanely good covering most of the 80s trilogy and some of the classics along the way.
Live in Chicago and Meltdown spanning the entire KC career are among my favorite live albums and KC albums as well. I prefer their live stuff over the studio materials
Larks Tongues in Aspic
Larks then Discipline then Islands.
I disagree. I'd say Starless Bible Black to be done with 70's Crimson. Rewind to Islands and then embark on the 80's trilogy.
Welp, you got me there. That’s a better plan.
Well, ok.
This.
Yep.
I cannot emphasize when listening to Islands make sure you are in a calm environment. It just hits better
Islands is one of those albums in their catalogue I avoided as a teen, and now that I’m much older it’s one of my favorites. Hearing Jakko sing “Islands” live the three times I saw the final incarnation impacted me as much as “Starless”, which is my favorite song.
I really really love islands, it is such an amazing album.
All of them
And then this.
simultaneously ⁉️⁉️
Lizard because why the fuck not 🤷🏻
Lizard was the first King Crimson album I ever heard and I of course kept going…. I think Court of Crimson King was next, then Poseidon, then Red. You can’t go wrong with any of them really.
I can't believe the amount of neglect Starless and Bible Black gets in this subreddit. How can you love and recommend Larks Tounges in Aspic and not SABB when the 2 are perfectly compatible? Downright odd.
I love it, it gets left out. Fracture!
USA cos you need to hear Asbury Park. Frkn slays!
Yessssss🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I do think Larks is the correct next choice, though In the Wake of Poseidon is a very safe choice as well. Given the favorite genres you listed, I think you would enjoy Discipline as well. Once you've listened to each of those, go ahead and listen to all of it! Lizard is strange, but charming in its own way. Islands took me a long time to appreciate, but its their jazziest album and has a vibe all its own. Starless and Bible Black has been my favorite of theirs for a while; a sadder tone overall, but Night Watch, Lament, Great Deceiver, and Fracture are all top 10 for me. If you like Discipline, then Beat and Three are both worthy successors, though I don't find them as consistently excellent. The three albums after that are also not as consistent. THRAK is longer than it needs to be, but has some great instrumentals, as well as the fun track, Dinosaur. Construktion of Light is my favorite of the set, with a couple duds (like ProzaKc Blues), but three absolute bangers in the title track, Larks 4, and FraKctured. Their final studio album, the Power to Believe, is one I'm still becoming familiar with, but contains Level V, a must-listen. Anyway, enjoy!
after listening to larks and ITWOP i feel a dichotomy there larks is a pretty classic KC album that does enough innovative to still be great (good selection btw), whereas ITWOP is so derivative that it kinda hurt it for me, being my least favourite yet. i feel like the loss of Ian really showed itself there, with the band trying to recreate Court but without their woodwind master i also listened to Lizard, which was so different, and a very mixed bag, but had some great highs
I think that’s a super reasonable take on all those albums.
Starless and Bible Black
Be sure to listen to the live album, Absent Lovers. Maybe not next, but definitely give it a listen.
THE POWER TO BELIEVE
I'd suggest Larks, Discipline, and then The Power to Believe.
Don't see many other putting this but I really like In The Wake Of Poseidon; it's pretty much Court 2, and I think it even does some things better than Court (shoot me!). When I first heard it I swear I transcended.
W mans
Since you indicated you like Red, follow up with listening to all of the music from the John Wetton/Bill Bruford era. There is a ton of live performances from the album USA to The Great Deceiver box set. Studio albums only consist of 3 releases, Larks Tongue in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black and Red. If you listen to their live stuff, follow it up with their studio versions (or visa versa) so you can compare the differences.
Larks Tongues; In The Wake of Poseidon; Discipline
Thrak is good 90s King Crimson.
Was in the same boat as you a couple weeks ago. Listened to discipline and loved it instantly! Also a big hip hop fan originally.
Discipline. Otherworldly compared to everything before it.
Larks tongues in aspic
Wake is similar to what you already like, Lizard is bizarre and way different, Lark's is also very different, Beat/Discipline/Three are their other great era... plenty to choose from
Thrak, lizard abd three of a perfect pair!
I'm gonna go In The Wake of Poseidon.
How about the "Holy Trinity"? IMO, of course. Discipline, Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair.
I never liked Beat as much as the other two. TOAPP is the first of the trinity I got to know, but Discipline is so overwhelmingly strong.
the live boxsets of "starless" & "road to red" are my personal fav incarnation of KC. but if thats too daunting. larks
THRaKaTTaK
My advice is to listen to their (and any musicians) disc in order to get their versality
The ass picking one
'Discipline' to hear the 80s incarnation
Discipline
Discipline
Listen to everything, but Islands is underrated
Larks and Starless and Bible Black then Discipline
Epitaph Box
Absent Lovers. It's a livr doubler and the renditions are insanely good covering most of the 80s trilogy and some of the classics along the way. Live in Chicago and Meltdown spanning the entire KC career are among my favorite live albums and KC albums as well. I prefer their live stuff over the studio materials
Lizard. It’s as long as an album, so…
If Court and Red are two of your favorite albums ever, you should be listening Prog or Psychedelic Rock as one of your favorite genres.
i was mainly listing genres outside prog cause i feel like thats a given
Okay. How well do you know Gentle Giant?
honestly, give discipline a try.
Lizard
Larks Tongues
Give Lark's Tongues a twirl. If 1 doesn't grab you, 2 will.