Let's talk about the Crimson. Also let's talk about why they don't tour anymore because I really want to see them. Also has anyone scene them? Talk about your live Crimson expirence.

I was listening to 21st Century Schizoid Man in a computer class last year at school, and my teacher told me that he's friends with Tony Levin (current bassist I think?)
Not sure if I believe him, but Levin did grow up in Boston so it's possible.

I love King Crimson, but know basically nothing about them.

@PosterNutsack said:

I downloaded their discography and was very let down. 21st schizoid man is their best song that I've heard..... by far. Prove me wrong gimme some other songs cause I've still got them.

I really enjoy the album Three of a Perfect Pair

@PosterNutsack said:

I downloaded their discography and was very let down. 21st schizoid man is their best song that I've heard..... by far. Prove me wrong gimme some other songs cause I've still got them.

well, they may not be for you. and i say that with no shit-giving. they aren't the most accessible group to new ears. theres really four eras

1)the mellotron drenched 1st four albums. all very ornate, very english prog. i love it, personally especially Lizards.

2) The Bruford years. This group was a growling monster on stage. Check Larks Tounges and Red. Youll be ready for Starless and Bible Black soon enough

3)The Belew Years. Discipline is one of the greatest albums from the 80's hands down.

4)Thrak and beyond.....im not at all familiar with this era. see @joechip.

i approve. people need to listen to more music like this

not a very original choice, but it's a good'un





looks like someone beat me to it but that's ok here's discipline

robert fripp's solo stuff is crazy good

oh & then there's this creature

This is a good summary. I think the place to start for Crimson noobs is In the Court of the Crimson King and Larks' Tongue in Aspic. I find those two the most accessible. They are NOT an easy band to listen to. Very challenging music and very, well, King Crimson. Nothing else like it. It took me a bit to get it, but once I did, I couldn't get enough. So, guy who dl'd their entire catalogue, be patient and keep listening. Sometimes the best albums are the ones that don't catch you until you listen to it handful of times.

Crimson is a world unto itself.

oh where to begin with this band. Discipline got me into this band. It can come across a bit cheesy but if you really focus on the time signatures and compostional aspects, you will get rewarded. As of now Starless and Bible Black is my favorite of there. Entrances you from the first notes. I'd start with those two albums then move on to some of the slower ones. Oh and watch this

Love to see this thread! As some of you regulars already know I'm a huge Crimson fan.

As far as the OP: Yes, it does seem as if King Crimson is done as an active touring band. Fripp has a diary over at his record company's website http://www.dgmlive.com/ , and judging from the direction of his career and his thoughts on the music business and playing live, it's hard to imagine him deciding to go back out on the road, or frankly even to start playing "Crimson-like" music again. He played the Winter Garden at the World Financial Center a few years ago and was saying those were possibly his last public performances.

I saw the last Crimson performance at the Nokia in NYC in 2008. By that point, Fripp's discomfort with the live setting had evolved to the point where he practically sat offstage, hidden behind his effects rack. He literally turned away from the audience, though his focus on the music was still very apparent.

That was a great show, but one of the highlights was when Fripp came out about 40 minutes before the show and played a beautiful layered soundscape that just soared. He soloed over the top of this lush background he created and played these pure, liquid lines echoing his guitar parts from 70's Crimson material like "Starless" and "Epitaph".

I really liked the 2000-2003 lineup of Crimson with Adrian Belew, Pat Mastelotto and Trey Gunn. I saw some very powerful shows of that group. They had some really cool material, and were massively heavy at times. The last studio album, "The Power To Believe" from 2003 was good.



"Red" is probably my overall favorite Crimson album. I always say "Red", "In The Court" and "Discipline" are the three Crimson essentials. "Lark's" is very creative but it wasn't particularly well recorded, especially compared to Red which, IMO, is one of the best-sounding rock albums ever.

Frankly I wasn't too psyched about "A Scarcity of Miracles". It's cool but it hasn't really grown on me...it's a little too "smooth jazz" or something for my taste. It would have potential as a possible new direction for Crimson for sure, but it doesn't seem like it'll have a chance to develop into anything more.

I love the two guitar lineups but it's a matter of taste. The way they intertwined their guitar lines was definitely really innovative. I think Belew's freewheeling soloing style makes for a nice contrast with Fripp's controlled, precise playing.

Here's a two-part radio show from Fripp's last shows at the WFC, with interviews and performance excerpts. According to his diaries, playing in the rebuilt Winter Garden was very meaningful for him, since he played there in the fall of 2000 before it was virtually destroyed on 9/11/01.
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newsounds/2010/dec/22/
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newsounds/2011/jan/26/

The Discipline/Beat/Perfect Pair is the era that I was able to see them live; mostly shows in Philly/Princeton area (I bet Trey was sitting right next to me at that tiny round theater in Princeton U). But a friend's older brother was who already intro'd us to vintage Crimson before that era came about. Red is probably my favorite but Starless & Larks tongue are very close runners-up.

Saturday-bored-at-work-bump

I rocked my "Larks tongues in Aspic" shirt at the Woosta show last night. May have become my lucky show shirt.

I listened to Absent Lovers straight through today whilst I was cruising around Baltimore... excellent live album.

A lot of that Discipline stuff sounds really similar though, its a little overbearing through a whole show.

Please dudes, lead me in the direction of more of their songs in the same vein as "I talked to the Wind" im diggin on this soundscape that is cascading mystic vibrations over my consciousness and making my mind smile.

@BernardShakey - There aren't too many songs by any band as gorgeous as I Talk To The Wind but by Crimson you might like some of their other ballads like Cadence and Cascade, Book of Saturday, The Night Watch, or even a couple from the Belew era like Matte Kudesai and Walking on Air. I love the more delicate Crimson tunes, they really work in such a heavy context.

I love these guys, where have they been all my life!

@joechip said:

@BernardShakey - There aren't too many songs by any band as gorgeous as I Talk To The Wind but by Crimson you might like some of their other ballads like Cadence and Cascade, Book of Saturday, The Night Watch, or even a couple from the Belew era like Matte Kudesai and Walking on Air. I love the more delicate Crimson tunes, they really work in such a heavy context.

Love this





another favorite

Another of my favorite Crimson ballads:

Gotta bring this thread back

Their live releases covering 1973-74 are reasonably priced. The Night Watch (Amsterdam, fall 1973); The Collectable KC vol. 1 (2 CDs, Mainz and Asbury Park, 1974); and now The Great Deceiver box set comes as (2) two-CD sets. TGD box is full of improvs and jams. 4 very talented musicians. Bruford and Wetton were one of the great rhythm sections.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X8pddqAAPU

King Crimson - Central Park, New York, June 25th 1973

Easy Money

'nuff said