King Crimson - RED REACTION/REVIEW

Instagram - davidsmagala
FAV TRACKS - Red, Fallen Angel, One More Red Nightmare, Starless

[@alikns6370]

Starless best song ever not gonna lie...

[@DarwinsChihuahua]

You are technically correct. Which is the best kind of correct.

[@huffle-bloodprince247]

yuh turk bulduğum yere bak

[@KazBodnar]

ПРАВДА

[@aquamarine.1533]

​@@huffle-bloodprince247 böyle camel king crimson tarzı grupları türkler biliyor niyeyse :D

[@samuelgl3733]

If only one song could be the best of history of humanity, Starless would be a very strong contender

[@specificocean77]

So I’m not sure if anyone has told you this yet but King Crimson has had a few different line-ups throughout its existence with only one consistent member, that being guitarist Robert Fripp. In the Court of the Crimson King was their first album and the band broke up right afterwards. Since then Robert took the Miles Davis approach of sticking a bunch of crazy talented musicians into a room, creating a few albums, and then disbanding for a different group of people. Almost every album is a completely unique experience because of this.

[@smags1082]

I actually didn’t know that. I would’ve loved to have been a fly on the wall for those studio sessions

[@henryandrews2825]

@@smags1082 The band has actually realeased the complete studio sessions on their web site dgmlive at the end of the 50th anniversary year of each album (apparently due to an obscure copyright rule). I made an intro playlist covering all of the lineups: kzbin.info/aero/PLnI2rHEC1HbxVuO94LKCdCelX4fJiyMdT

[@markjohnson4217]

Actually the line up of their follow up album from 'The Court' was the same , 'The Wake of Poseidon' was also Greg Lake and Michael Giles with Fripp and Sinfield, and I think it was every inch as great as the debut. Perhaps a bit TOO much like the first one, but in some ways, a more refined version. 'Pictures of a City' and 'Catfood' are outstanding. The Devil's Triangle' is like a more devastating orchestral version of the experimental improvs from the first Album. It was the third release, Lizard, when we saw the first sign of trouble. The rhythm section was no match for Lake and Giles and no amount of trumpet-sax racket could hide the fact that it was an inferior line-up. The writing was still cool, but the delivery was a mess. No disrespect to ELP, but why oh why didn't Greg stay with KC, and why oh why did Giles have to fall in love and stop playing?

[@specificocean77]

Yeah but it was Mel Collins instead of Ian McDonald on sax, they also had some other dude on piano I forgot his name. But I agree In the Wake of Poseidon is just as good as Court. @@markjohnson4217

[@Calamity417]

It’s ironic I love both king crimson and miles Davis ( kind of blues a masterpiece and doo bop and in a silent way etc)

[@johnwise9811]

This is my favorite Crimson album. Starless feels like the perfect swan song for the 70's era of the band.

[@billgonzo116]

Im from Perú and "Starless" its my breakfast everyday.

[@donaldanderson6604]

Starless is a total masterpiece and even better live. Fripp disbanded KC after this album because he probably knew that it was his finest hour. This was Kurt Cobain's favourite album!!!

[@trendydelquendy]

Anything that Bruford is involved with is going to be interesting

[@lemming9984]

...apart from his Jazzy stuff!

[@David-iv6je]

@@lemming9984 Seriously? The first Earthworks album is phenomenal

[@Saffy-yr8vo]

Totally

[@rotuh]

The last 3 minutes of Starless live rent-free in my head, such a powerful ending to a song and an album

[@gzaq]

Wish I could hear this album again for the first time. A true masterpiece.

[@JimB0802]

I remember exactly where I was and who I was with the first time I heard King Crimson. Properly blown away and life altered.

[@christopherjobin-official7440]

The amount of days I would give up to listen to Starless for the first time again... That song made me cry, dude, and it still does. I think the amount of emotion it carries only grows with time.

[@sunandablanc]

Little known fact: Kurt Cobain was a huge fan of this album and said it was a big influence on In Utero.

[@shma1israel]

Whenever Starless plays, the world stops and listens.

[@DWHarper62]

The "string" sound in Starless is the Mellotron keyboard which reproduced acoustic instruments in a tape loop system... That "perfect amount of distortion" from the guitar is one of Robert Fripp's signature sounds on his Les Paul...

[@Cypmongolien]

this is the best King Crimson album imo very underrated, great video

[@kidflersh7807]

underrated? bro aside from ITCOCK this is their most famous

[@Cypmongolien]

@@kidflersh7807 litterally see only people talking about ITCOTCK but ok

[@kidflersh7807]

@@Cypmongolien depends where you are, anyone whos clued into KC loves this album

[@bhandaribawa]

best king crimson album (in my opinion)

[@jonathanroberts8981]

The interplay between Wetton and Bruford is unmatched.

[@johnthursfield3056]

Mel Collins is playing the sax. I saw KC in 2015 and he was playing in that incarnation. They were, it goes without saying, brilliant. Starless btw was the final track on the final album by the classic Fripp Wetton Bruford line up.

[@mikael355]

Ian McDonald is also on the album, I don't actually know when is each one playing, but I think is McDonald playing the starless solo

[@timhalo7898]

@@mikael355 ian is on One more red nightmare and mel and ian are on starless

[@Saffy-yr8vo]

Yes they WERE brilliant live saw the original line up.

[@smokeylonesome4328]

Red might be their best album- glad you enjoyed it! This particular line up of Crimson went for a heavy, aggressive sound. Larks Tongues in Aspic and Starless and Bible Black are from the same era. Check out Discipline if you’d like to hear their unique 80s sound. If you like the more jazzy stuff with saxophone, the early 70s albums like Lizard and Islands might be worth listening to. They’re more like In the Court.

[@petecip2951]

King crimson ( indiscipline) and yes ( close to the edge ) are 2 of my personal favorites of all time

[@jameslocopo4742]

Since you like jazz, I would highly recommend King Crimson’s earlier album Islands which has many jazzy elements to it. Highly underrated album of theirs

[@Saffy-yr8vo]

Yes

[@pockmonters]

Providence is a live track that was recorded from one of their concerts (Recorded in Providence, Rhode Island hence the name). This era of the band was heavy into the improvisational experimentation during their concerts. The song "A Voyage To The Centre Of The Cosmos" is from that same concert.

[@NewBritainStation]

Providence is entirely improvised. At this point Bruford (drums) and Wetton (bass/vocals) were probably the loudest and heaviest rhythm section in rock. They were fans of jazz/fusion keyboardist Herbie Hancock’s headhunters and too it to another level. Robert Fripp (guitar/Mellotron) said it was like playing against a flying brick wall. David Cross, on violin Mellotron and pianet here, had all been sidelined during many of the improvs at this point - it starts with a bit of space for him, but then Bruford/Wetton come in. Fripp’s guitar was loud enough to work, but violin amplification onstage made it very tough for David. New lineups of Crimson would frequently abandon the earlier material, perform only the new material, and fill the rest of the concerts with improvs. This particular era (the albums Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black, and Red) was centered around the idea of blurring the line between composed and improvised music.

[@mavsfan4161]

Please listen to Emerson Lake & Palmer Trilogy or Tarkus album (lead singer is the same singer from In The Court of the Crimson King Greg Lake)

[@VegasAlien1]

Yep. I ya thought this album confused him, Tarkus will put weird thoughts in his head and looks on his face.

[@falcon215]

I've been a Crimzoid for a long time and have always been fascinated by their ongoing evolutions. There are times when I swear bits of melodies sound like something from courtyards and castles of the 12th century. I don't know what they're channeling but every time I listen to them I hear something new even upon repeated plays. I love it and always come back to it. I would really love to see you react to both 'Lizard' and 'Islands'.

[@robertpetre9378]

Fantastic reaction red is an amazing album and starless is a masterpiece

[@Suburbangeek]

Yes, it was thrilling watching you react to an album that has been loved by many of us for 50 years. Great review! You might consider listening to Fripp [KC's founder] & Eno's No Pussyfooting, from 1973.

[@feltwavey5002]

Glad you enjoy Crimson. They're Jimi Hendrix's favorite band. Interested in your take on their 80's albums like 'Three of a Perfect Pair' which is pretty sick. 🌊🌴

[@tsufmosplaysm336]

After I saw your THE COURT reaction and the first thing I thought to myself, HE NEEDS TO DO A "RED" REACTION. thank you!

[@frogwizardry]

Bro, you got to react to Larks Tongues in Aspic as well! About the improvs being the 4th track, it's not that fixed, ITCKC and Red end up having that, but Larks for example has no improvs and other albums like Starless and Bible Black have A LOT of them.

[@MFHeadMan]

When you get started on King Crimson it's hard to stop, the best one to try next is definitely Discipline. Earned a sub bor this and In the Court of The Crimson King.

[@christianpereyracespedes8099]

Great awesome reaction my friend. Really enjoyed, keep it up

[@ggaworowski]

Yayyy! You’re listening to more KC!! Red is one of their best albums - along with Larks Tongues in Aspic and Starless and Bible Black albums with Bruford/Wetton.

[@user-td1fp3gs9i]

Hi Smags, I´m so happy that you - as a young man - have discovered the "grit" and the beauty of this old album. It was so ruthless and uncompromizing at the time. For me, it flicked a switch back in the 1990's and since then, listening to King Crimson has become and remains something very special to me. You're not alone with your fascination. :-) Paul

[@Lightmane]

The first piece of music by King Crimson that I listened to was 21st Century Schizoid Man, back in the 70s. It blew my mind. So did Starless and Epitaph. In my opinion, those are their 3 best pieces of music, but there's a lot more that are great also.

[@VegasAlien1]

Schizoid Man was unknowingly my introduction to their music. I heard the April Wine version first. I am a huge KC fan but prefer the April Wine cover, especially drum-wise. I never liked the distortion on the original but revere what was laid down on that original track.

[@chrisb2942]

Later on they put out whole songs live improvised on stage, e.g. Asbury Park. It's crazy. Also, don't miss their Larks' Tongues in Aspic, it's their best album from my pov. The opener will just blow your mind, it did it to me at least. It's haunting and wild like a caged animal.

[@NalinX]

I recommend checking out the album Discipline next, with yet another Crimson lineup. It's a lot more fun, though Red is my favourite album of theirs

[@JimB0802]

Loving your King Crimson content bro you have a good style.

[@smags1082]

Thanks bro

[@Grithron2]

ICYDK: The bridge section of Fallen Angel is something Fripp had cooked up a couple of years before. One More Red Nightmare has a signature riff which Fripp started using in onstage jams earlier that year. (And the sax on that one is McDonald, not Collins. Both saxmen are on Starless). I'm guessing you already know the story of how Starless evolved. There are pre-album live versions of Starless which are "better" if you like to hear Bruford go mathematically crazy during the crescendo section. Comment: If you hear an improv like Providence (or ...Cosmos) and ask "what's the point?" - you're bringing the wrong attitude.

[@josedebayres321]

Starless: "so tragic but beautiful". You instantly nailed, guy 👍We all stay like this after hearing it for the first time. It happened to me about thirty years ago.

[@Saffy-yr8vo]

Can you imagine being me, saw them live early days as a teen. My heroes ever since. It would take me too long to describe what they were like live, even better than recorded, just perfect. They disturbed me and took me to heaven. Stood so close to them too. Honoured.

[@jimdukeproject]

Definitely cool seeing someone react to one of my influences and appreciate what they offer.

[@TheArcade70]

Glad you enjoyed it ! This album is a masterpiece. Hi from France. Try Emerson Lake & Palmer, especially their their first album (1970) ;-)

[@ottolehto]

Great reaction and classic album. KC have many great albums. Each era comes with different lineups and musical genres. You might wanna try the 80s lineup, with Adrian Belew, but beware it will sound pretty different. The best album from that era is probably "Discipline." From more recent stuff, 2003's "The Power to Believe" is also excellent (and, as it turns out, their final proper studio album).

[@henryandrews2825]

Yeah I'd pick Court, Red, Discipline, Larks' Tongues in Aspic, and The Power to Believe for my top five. If you want an overview of everything, the live album Meltdown: Live in Mexico City 2018 is fantastic. Or the shorter Live in Chicago from the same year.

[@nathandix8522]

Best KZbin music critique

[@mattleppard1964]

Have you done any Yes? Try Close to the Edge (same guitarist as on this track), and Gates of Delirium? Can they not be chopped up somehow?

[@dantheman9766]

You should check out the Islands album by King Crimson. Has more of their jazz leaning songs!

[@jameslocopo4742]

‘This is how you end a song!’ Never truer words spoken….amen

[@diverdown631]

Next you need to check out Emerson lake and palmer. This the band king crimson vocalist Greg lake went to try the album Tarkus.

[@RickTBL]

Tarkus, live, from WBMF is the best.

[@ka5333]

Too bad ELP sucks and never made a piece of music that could even step to anything made by King Crimson

[@billmay7364]

The last song KING CRIMSON Played live in 2021 in Japan. Was STARLESS. For good reason. I seen this Tour. RED is a powerful record. Almost like the first album. ITCOTCK. But just different. ROBERT FRIPP is Like MILES or ZAPPA. Different Lineup Approach. Result. FRESH , DIFFERENT , GROUNDBREAKING. Seen the Band many times over the years. Instead of having the Same Blueprint. Fripp used many blueprints. Alot Bands fall into trap. Hear one. Hear them all. Fripp Miles Zappa you don't get that. They were all great Composers. Who knows? Maybe CRIMSON will reappear again. It's doubtfully but never unlikely.

[@Wotan2900]

You have got to do some Gentle Giant - the most influential band that most people have never heard of. Do their earlier live concerts.

[@smags1082]

do you have an album that you prefer by them?

[@CaryOn11]

Maybe not ready yet for GG!

[@Wotan2900]

@@CaryOn11 I just want to see his face when they bust out the four you-know-whats and play that very famous US tune! 😀

[@Wotan2900]

@@smags1082 GG are known for their multi-instrumental musical proficiency and a great live presence that accurately reproduces their complex material. If you want to hear a pure prog-rock concept album from them, go for "Three Friends". It was rarely performed live, but is something that improves with every listening, especially Kerry Minnear's final Hammond organ outro, which is my personal favourite. Here's a vinyl rip: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJCpqpygl7Ccd9E "In a Glass House" & "The Power and the Glory" are also concept albums, from which they would often play tracks live, sometimes as amalgamations of different tracks. Alternatively, if you want more song-orientated albums to review, review "Octopus" or "Free Hand". But to get the real essence of GG, take a look at them playing live - in fact, I think this version has some of the best sound and visuals of the band: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3rXk6h_r76bqZo Fun fact: Because this recording was made for very early telly, the audience couldn't move while the band were playing, hence the subdued response! Personal disclosure - this band broke up when I was 17 and I never got to see them live. In fact, I didn't know who they were until I was 51. That sucks.

[@smokeylonesome4328]

Free Hand is probably the best choice for a first Gentle Giant album. Unlike King Crimson, GG actually encourages reactions to their music.

[@heresthething41]

I dig that you're diggin' King Crimson. A great album you should check out is "Foxtrot" by Genesis. Another great 70s prog album.

[@ManikMekanik]

Track 4 "Providence" is a live improv! And the strings you're hearing (other than the violin) is a Mellotron, an early keyboard sampler using tape loops....they used it from the first album through Red en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mellotron

[@dannycheesums]

Hey bro just found your channel and subscribed. King crimson and joy division are two of my favourite bands and big influences on my own music too. If you like the jazz influences in a rock context I’d really recommend the first 3 soft machine albums. The cornet player on fallen Angel also collaborated with soft machine on their fourth album, but that one isn’t as good as the first 3 which all feature vocals

[@EccentricAuntWanda1]

This and Discipline are my favorite Crimson albums. Great stuff. This album was the first with former Yes drummer Bill Bruford.

[@VegasAlien1]

Red Rules. King Crimson have a large and eclectic catalog featuring different combinations of excellent musicians. This is my fave line-up. Bruford. This is the 3rd KC album Bill did after jumping the Yes ship post-Close to the Edge. He and John Wetton worked together on the 1st UK album. Bill's career is incredible. There's no one else like him. I did an improv drum cover of KC's Larks Tongues in Aspic on my channel. Fun tune. Cool to see you discovering this stuff.

[@jareczek1980]

Bill is amazing. The most creative drummer in history of rock music. Very underrated which makes me ungry

[@Saffy-yr8vo]

My fave line up is Wetton Bruford Cross and MacDonald

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Nice astonishment to a great album that I wore out. Another great prog band is Yes and a good place to start is a song called Roundabout. 🙏🍁

[@ricraw6690]

Starless is indeed a monster! If you're digging, the jazz elements you should try Steely Dan - Aja.

[@janekkraska1955]

I recommend reacting to Larks' Tongues In Aspic next. My favourite album by King Crimson.

[@silvertube52]

Sax was Mel Collins. He was also with King Crimson for their last tour in 2021. Starless is the masterpiece from the album. The strings are Mellotron.

[@7cColin]

You're getting it. Many don't.

[@samuelecallegari6117]

My suggestion is: Jethro Tull. One of the most strange and variegated bands in the classic prog rock scene. They started as a blues rock band and gradually evolved in a full prog band with a lot of folk and medieval influences. But in their career they tried a ton of different genres and sounds, synth pop, world music, blues, hard rock, prog, folk, classical. I suggest you to begin with the classic albums, but keeping in mind that they did very different things, like Aqualung, Stand Up and Songs From the Wood. Ah yes, if you listen to Tull, go for the Steven Wilson's remixes

[@HairyHog77]

PLEASE react to Larks' Tongues in Aspic, the first album recorded by this same lineup + Jamie Muir, a percussionist who adds a significant amount to the albums textures and layers. It's my personal favourite KC album.

[@notgary1111]

If you like the 'tragic but beautiful' guitar toward the beginning of Starless, look into the album Evening Star. It's the result of a collaboration between Robert Fripp and Brian Eno, and it's a beautiful example of 70s ambient music, very spacey, very relaxing. Not sure it's the kind of thing you'd do a reaction to, but give a listen regardless.

[@mattleppard1964]

Among the best Crimson albums ❤

[@kmichaelp4508]

On of the best albums of all time.

[@gregjones861]

Oh, are you about to enjoy discovering a hitherto unknown artist. The album I'd check out next just to see how they kept evolving is Discipline. But if you want to keep the Red feels going longer, then the one before it is a game changer. That album is called Starless And Bible Black and the opening song made my head explode with deconstruction of what a "song" could be.

[@Rowenband]

If you want to be surprised by great vocals and lyrics, try out the album Godbluff by Van der Graaf generator. They were close with King Crimson and especially VDGG singer, Peter Hammill and Robert Fripp, KC leader, often collaborated. And maybe you don't need to cut of the songs, as VDGG doesn't have the same politics then KC.

[@markjohnson4217]

Apparently they are the only band that released three cornerstone classic albums in three different decades: in 1969- Court of the Crimson King 1974-Red 1980-Discipline Personally, I think Lark's Tongues and The Power to Believe deserve to be on the list as well. Please check out The Power to Believe, released in 2003, it stands shoulder to shoulder with their very best of the previous decades.

[@nathandix8522]

Let's gooo!!!

[@godbluffvdgg]

Now listen to it a thousand more times, and you'll be official. This is THE Crimso...

[@nathandix8522]

Next king crimson album you should try is larks tongues and aspic and if you like the jazz the most you should also listen to islands by the same band

[@johnkramer2144]

This is probably super late, but is there anyway to see your full reactions? I would love to see it!

[@smags1082]

The videos take up a lot of space on my computer, so I no longer have the clips from this video unfortunately

[@johnkramer2144]

@@smags1082 unfortunate, but understandable

[@BQIMining]

Ok. Time for your expansions to continue. Essential 1970s: Genesis Selling England, Yes Close to the Edge, Floyd Wish and Animals….and by the end you get to Clash London Calling. Then, boom, Talking Heads Remain in Light changes it all and ushers in the 80s, which leads back to Discipline by King Crimson

[@thisaintnothang]

OK Time for Zappa's One Size Fits All.

[@andrewdyke5561]

I really do agree with this

[@westmaatita8822]

Listen to Larks Tongues in Aspic and Starless and Bible Black. Also listen to Discipline, THRAK and The Power to Believe. Yer welcome

[@seancromwell327]

You are correct sir! The fourth song is always an improv… Just like the first in each album is an unrelenting jam.

[@joelclark4081]

Good luck my friend! I'ma follow you to a million 👍

[@joelclark4081]

Oh, and smoke 'em if you got 'em.

[@smags1082]

I got em bro

[@kasparisdead]

“100 subs is a lot of people” If only he knew..

[@konteros9850]

Please listen to emerson lake and palmer tarkus!! I'd also check in the wake of poseidon, it's basically in the court of the crimson king part 2

[@jareczek1980]

I recommend you to listen Lizard from Kc. With Jon Anderson in the title track. This is a journey

[@davidfisher8821]

Check out David Bowie’s Heroes and Scary Monsters, King Crimson’s guitarist Robert Fripp plays on them and it is awesome!

[@ggaworowski]

Listen to King Crimson from 72-74 all three albums and the live ones from that time like USA and the Great Deceiver. 💕

[@francoispitre6292]

Now you should listen to King Crimson Lark's Tongue In Aspic

[@jorm77]

Three of a perfect pair is another great album by King Crimson you should give that a listen

[@blueconcretezebra]

You're changed forever. There's no going back...

[@tsufmosplaysm336]

NOW DO SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND - GENESIS

[@StormedTreeFX]

its hilarious how at the end you gonna listen all king crimson discography

[@CaryOn11]

Ian McDonald original member departed after ITCOTCK returned to play saxophone.

[@lifeinlimbo2186]

To me,it just sounds like a bunch of guys from the early 70's improv jamming.

[@tomekjedynak2971]

nice one, thank you! if you'd like something REALLY insane, try their album "Thrak", which was recorded 20 years later. honestly I don't know if you're ready for that and and if you'll like it - I don't really wanna be responsible for any exploded brains... but... no risk no fun, right? peace.

[@doyasteve]

"Relax?" That's rich.

[@seancromwell327]

Try Larks Tongue in Aspic next…

[@alexcsajs29]

You should listen to Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow by the band Rainbow real good stuff!

[@WilliamJones-sf5pt]

My interpretation of that first song is a Harley revving through the gears. This is their black album. I feel a lot of chaos, titty squeezing, tattoos, and dirty hairy balls in this album.

[@bobby666666]

The bass line in Red is a Cello.

[@zex7689]

Catchy

[@brettcarroll4676]

Mastery of dissonance. That's King Crimson's shtick. You can summarize their entire catalog with those three words.

[@KingsOfCamel]

red=subscribed

[@bayes7k]

Frank Zappa, Inca Roads please

[@CaryOn11]

Not cellos on Starless. Mellotron.

[@dantheman9766]

There is cello in starless though...the player is uncredited, but they play cello and double bass!

[@CaryOn11]

@@dantheman9766 You are correct. If memory serves and mine does not nowadays my comment was directed at the time point of his statement. It was mellotron he was hearing.

[@dantheman9766]

@@CaryOn11 thanks for clarifying!

[@jawaidbazyar3437]

One guitar, and a violin

[@alexandredincao3645]

The next album should be Three of a perfect pair or Discipline, so you can say that you listen to all three phases of King Crimson 😂😂

[@louisbhtanner7503]

Try some genesis bro you won't regret it :)

[@andrewg..]

This was in Kurt Cobains 50 favourite albums

[@cachockey]

Mellotron not cellos

[@smags1082]

my bad

[@VegasAlien1]

Everyone who doesn't know the Mellotron should check out one of the videos about how they work. It's one of the strangest instruments, bizarre technology but an essential and coveted instrument. KC had 2 on stage in this era.