#168
Artist: King Crimson
Album: In the Court of the Crimson King
Year: 1969
Length: 43:56
Genre: Progressive Rock
“The rusted chains of prison moons
Are shattered by the sun
I walk a road horizons change
The tournament’s begun
The purple piper plays his tune
The choir softly sing
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
For the court of the crimson king”
Ever experience something, usually a piece of media, where after the experience you think to yourself “Why even try anymore?” I should clarify, I don’t mean try in life any more, but usually to the specific piece of media that has been created. For example, the 1992 film version of the Farce, Noises Off, is probably the greatest adaptation of the play that there really is no point even trying to put it on anymore as the version was just too good. That’s what I mean when I say why even try? When you experience something of it’s kind that is just so good that you feel there isn’t even a point in trying to do it as it has hit its’ peak, the best has happened, no matter what you create will never reach that height.
I realise that that’s a bit of a self-defeating idea. Thinking about it, just because you’ll never reach the height of the best of whatever it is you are doing doesn’t mean what you do within it won’t be really good either, which is also just as great. But It’s a little harder with adaptations because they will always be compared to the best version there is, but with other pieces of media, whether it be genres or anthology type stories, there shouldn’t be a reason why anyone shouldn’t jump into it just because they might not hit the peak. You may not write the best episode for Black Mirror, but it could still be a good Black Mirror episode, they don’t just stop the series after they made the best episode, right?
Ok, so I’m contradicting myself now, started by saying one thing and then kind of turning my thoughts on what I said. I’m very stream of consciousness in my style of writing, so bear with me. I do feel that way sometimes, where you experience something so good you just feel mediocre in comparison and that could put a bit of a block on your creativity. You feel no matter what you’ll never be good as that specific piece of media and feel completely and utterly defeated, as if your attempts are all fruitless. No bananas for this guy. So you give up, never doing what you want to do. But you know deep down that you can’t do that, you can’t compare yourself to the best and should focus on what you’re doing because you may not be the best but dammit you are the best you and you can do a great job regardless. Never give up, never surrender. Keep moving forward.
What am I babbling on about? I wish I had something that related to this but I don’t. The reason I was saying this is because…
This album is good.
It’s really good.
It’s so fucking good. Like why even make music after this? Prog rock started and should have ended here because there was no way you can make an album this great again. King Crimson not only paved the way for progressive rock groups like Rush and Tool but also burst through the door wearing the crown and made sure it stayed glued to their heads. For years, YEARS, I had heard about this album. A ton of people were recommending it to me, talking about it in such high regard and for the life of me I could NOT find it ANYWHERE. Wasn’t on Spotify, wasn’t on Youtube, couldn’t even find someone who owned it. Something out there did not want me to listen to this album for some reason. I got nervous when it came close to listening to it on the list, how would I find it, how would I listen to it? By pure chance, when it came time to listen to it, it had suddenly appeared in it’s full glory on Spotify and I got to listen to it once, twice, THREE times.
I have no words to describe this. Everything everyone had told me was true. I was in awe, pure admiration at what this album was blaring into my ears. Pure sonic majesty, a tapestry of royal sounds, the blue noise of the ancestral forefathers. This was not music, this was an aural experience beyond my understanding. Every note, every instrument, every sound meticulously crafted together to create, dare I say it, perfect songs. Even the 12 minute Moonchild, which should be a recipe for something I wouldn’t enjoy, was an experimental delight of soundscaping, stopping the music to play with dings and dongs in a way that just felt so right. I don’t usually use the term Perfect Album much, but this is definitely a Perfect Album.
Now excuse me while I burn all my records as there is no point listening to anything else ever again.
Good riddance!
Favourite Song: The Court of the Crimson King
-Bosco
Bosco's Modern Life 