Classic Album of the Week - King Crimson - Beat

[Kittaan]

[BBvideo 560,340][/BBvideo]

[Kittaan]

As I've said before, KC can be viewed as many different and fully distinct bands over the course of its career. And another phase coming soon apparently.

I have liked them all, to varying degrees.

I hold a particular soft spot for the quartet of Fripp, Belew, Levin and Bruford, most likely because this was the first incarnation I was able to see live.

Beat is an excellent album and contains some of my favorite KC tracks. Enjoy.

[Ravenpig]

I just heard KC (In the Court..) for the first time in a long time yesterday. Will give this one another whirl before chit chatting about it!

[MOG]

I <3 King Crimson

No rating necessary. It's King Fucking Crimson. Robert Fripp is one of the most important guitar players of all time. Like I said, it's King Fucking Crimson. Kittaan with a solid win.

[not tyson]

Sounds like an out of tempo theme to Beverly hills cop.

No thanks.

[Kittaan]

^ Predictable trowel is obvious.

[hellboy]

Don't bring masonry into this

[The Boss]

I could SO kill someone with that trowel.

[not tyson]

You're supposed to use it to spread affection and kindness.

Oh, spoilers.

[hellboy]

I'll be over to administer the traditional penalty soon

[The Boss]

You're supposed to use it to spread affection and kindness.

Oh, spoilers.

Depending on whom I kill, I could totally be spreading affection and kindness.

[Ravenpig]

This album is good overall but weak for a KC release. It really didn't help that I had just heard In the Court... just yesterday, I admit.

It's good but KC has other albums much more worthy of the "classic" label.

7/10

[The Boss]

How "RED" wasn't picked, I'll never know. Even "DISCIPLINE".

Still, it fit the criteria . . .

[N.Y.H.C.]

"Red" is one of the greatest albums of all time. I dig "Thrak" too, "Dinosaur" is my shit.

[not tyson]

Thanks for commenting on the album.

[limeygringo]

I read an interview in Guitar World with the guitarist from Fall Out Boy talking about how you shouldnt go beyond your limits. Respectable statment, but I was listening to Vroom Vroom around the same time and I could really hear KC pushing their limits on that live album, going beyond them at times. And they know how to make it work. Bands like Fall Out Boy are terrified of that kind of thing. that's why i give this album a 10/10, because even King Crimson album that people think is sub par is way beyond most commercial shit these days. They are a band with balls made of the finest metals.

[UndKeineZwEier]

Bands like Fall Out Boy are terrified of that kind of thing.

They're saving rock n' roll!

[Ravenpig]

I read an interview in Guitar World with the guitarist from Fall Out Boy talking about how you shouldnt go beyond your limits. Respectable statment, but I was listening to Vroom Vroom around the same time and I could really hear KC pushing their limits on that live album, going beyond them at times. And they know how to make it work. Bands like Fall Out Boy are terrified of that kind of thing. that's why i give this album a 10/10, because even King Crimson album that people think is sub par is way beyond most commercial shit these days. They are a band with balls made of the finest metals.

Ugh. What? The reasoning you use here, well, I greatly disagree with it. Very PC answer, I know.

[N.Y.H.C.]

Thanks for commenting on the album.

my bad. Bruford is god. how's that?

[Kittaan]

Here's the thing: This is a killer album. Very short at about 35 minutes. Packed with great writing, soulful vocals and outstanding musicianship.

If you blew off listening to this for some pathetic reason, it's your loss. I'm jamming it right now and loving it.

I wish I had caught them on this tour so I could have seen more of these tracks live (not to mention Discipline) - didn't see them live first until the Three Of A Perfect Pair tour. Amazing experience I'll never forget, excellent seats 2 nights in a row at the Greek in LA

TL/DR: Invest 35 minutes and LISTEN. You lazy bastards.

[MOG]

Here's the thing: This is a killer album. Very short at about 35 minutes. Packed with great writing, soulful vocals and outstanding musicianship.

If you blew off listening to this for some pathetic reason, it's your loss. I'm jamming it right now and loving it.

I wish I had caught them on this tour so I could have seen more of these tracks live (not to mention Discipline) - didn't see them live first until the Three Of A Perfect Pair tour. Amazing experience I'll never forget, excellent seats 2 nights in a row at the Greek in LA

TL/DR: Invest 35 minutes and LISTEN. You lazy bastards.

^ That. Motherfuckers. It's King fucking Crimson. Your beloved Tool wouldn't be around if not for Fripp and Friends.

[Calfium Jay]

TL/DR: Invest 35 minutes and LISTEN. You lazy bastards.

Listening now. Not a big fan of early King Crimson - to be honest I prefer the Discipline era Crimson - so this one sits well with me. So far I'm liking but not sure it's really something that's going to make me want to go out and spread the word about KC.

One thing I really like about this era of the band is the absence of QUIET - which is all too common on their early releases. Especially on Lark's Tongues. Long passages of the album are SO DAMN quiet as to be almost inaudible. Find it very very frustrating. Maybe it's just me but I find the production on early Crimson is sorely lacking for such a technically proficient act.