King Crimson Lizard

[Rolling Thunder]

I'm going to lose a few people on this one, but this album gnaws on my brain like a beaver to a tree. I like the music but also don't....whatever the heck that means. I also love the artwork of the album (just got a Steve Wilson remixed gatefold LP). The letter G is problematic but for medieval art its "period correct", not politically correct for 2022.

I feel like its the "head space" this album feels like it was recorded in that I'm fascinated with.

 

[P. Aaron]

The artwork reminds me of artist Invalid Link Removed who used similar styles throughout his comic book career.

Can't go wrong with King Crimson either.

 

[Michedelic]

I'm going to lose a few people on this one, but this album gnaws on my brain like a beaver to a tree. I like the music but also don't....whatever the heck that means. I also love the artwork of the album (just got a Steve Wilson remixed gatefold LP). The letter G is problematic but for medieval art its "period correct", not politically correct for 2022.

I feel like its the "head space" this album feels like it was recorded in that I'm fascinated with.

Here's a rabbit hole for ya…

(For the full content, you'll have to google "King Crimson Islands cover")

That one was always the awkward one for me; the original version of the band, and the remnants that produced the first two albums were all gone; Keith Tippett was held over from the Cat Food/Groon single, and a whole new cast of characters came and went, musically. "Circus" kept the demonic riff thing going from "Schizoid Man" and "Pictures Of A City", but overall it was an interesting change in direction, definitely an album only thing, KC in name only somewhat. Yes was trying to get Fripp to join them, that's why Jon Anderson sang on a track, then Fripp was doing all this outside production: Van Der Graaf Generator, and Tippett's insane big band project, Centipede, with their album, Septober Energy, worth checking out. Crimson got back to being an actual band on Islands, of course.

 

[sardocs]

I have worn out two vinyl copies of that album. I definitively give it a one hand clap!

 

[The Owl]

I really liked the first 3 songs, but somehow have a hard time with the rest of the album.

 

[Bob_Ross]

There's a certain (for lack of a better word) preciousness to the material on Lizards that sets it apart from most other King Crimson albums. For that reason alone I adore it...but I also admit that I rarely listen to it.

 

[smeet]

I like it, but in sort of a nostalgic way. For me, "Starless and Bible Black" is their peak, and Lizards as well as In the Court of the Crimson King are the quaint 60s roots where they started. I like this Wikipedia quote:

Larks' Tongues in Aspic (on which they had moved decisively away from a more traditional progressive rock sound drawing on American jazz, and towards the influence of European free improvisation

So I guess their path was: 60s jazz rock -> 70s European free improv -> 80s afro-minimalist groove -> ???

 

[Michedelic]

I like it, but in sort of a nostalgic way. For me, "Starless and Bible Black" is their peak, and Lizards as well as In the Court of the Crimson King are the quaint 60s roots where they started. I like this Wikipedia quote:


So I guess their path was: 60s jazz rock -> 70s European free improv -> 80s afro-minimalist groove -> ???

Don't forget the symphonic(and pastoral)aspects of the first three albums, then the 90's and 20-teens iteration was a summation of everything before, but with emphasis on total angular improv assault, utilizing more and more of what I used to call the 'monster movie riffs' that were the heritage of "Schizoid Man". Red was the ultimate Wetton/Bruford album for me.

 

[Michedelic]

I like it, but in sort of a nostalgic way. For me, "Starless and Bible Black" is their peak, and Lizards as well as In the Court of the Crimson King are the quaint 60s roots where they started. I like this Wikipedia quote:


So I guess their path was: 60s jazz rock -> 70s European free improv -> 80s afro-minimalist groove -> ???

Don't overlook the project Sunday All Over The World with wifey on vocals(I'm not the biggest Toyah fan, but it was interesting). Somewhat like Kate Bush fronting latter-day KC, sorta kinda, but it was also a ramp-up to the 90's band proper.
Better yet was Fripp's collaboration with David Sylvian of Japan(Fripp wanted to him to actually join KC). It was too good to last, but I got to see that tour, an all-star outfit…

 

[jerry]

Don't overlook the project Sunday All Over The World with wifey on vocals(I'm not the biggest Toyah fan, but it was interesting). Somewhat like Kate Bush fronting latter-day KC, sorta kinda, but it was also a ramp-up to the 90's band proper.
Better yet was Fripp's collaboration with David Sylvian of Japan(Fripp wanted to him to actually join KC). It was too good to last, but I got to see that tour, an all-star outfit…

I'm a Sylvian fan and have always dug the Fripp collaborations.

 

[Indiedog]

I am a very big fan of the album. It is certainly one of the odder albums from that time period. That all makes me like it even more.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I am a very big fan of the album. It is certainly one of the odder albums from that time period. That all makes me like it even more.

Agreed. The Court of the Crimson King is clearly their best work, but I like it a little eccentric (when done right).