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Larks' Tongues in Aspic (40th Anniversary Series Box)
by John Kelman
The idea of a 15-disc box set to commemorate the release of what was, in 1973, a single vinyl LP clocking in at a mere 46 minutes might seem a tad excessive, but when you're talking King Crimson and the seminal Larks' Tongues in Aspic, it's a whole other story. Beyond being an important addition to the legendary progressive rock group's 40th Anniversary Series of new stereo and surround sound mixes from Crimson cofounder/guitarist Robert Fripp and guitarist/keyboardist/singer Steven Wilson-a ...
Continue ReadingDiscipline (40th Anniversary Series)
by John Kelman
If King Crimson fans were shocked, stunned and grief-stricken when the seminal art-rock group was disbanded by its only original founding member, guitarist Robert Fripp, in September 1974--seemingly at the height of its power and prowess--then it's certain that many of them didn't exactly know what to make of Exposure (DGM Live) in 1979. After continuing to hone the tape-driven Frippertronics that he innovated with ex-Roxy Music keyboardist Brian Eno, on the equally seminal No Pussyfooting (DGM Live, 1973), Fripp ...
Continue ReadingStarless and Bible Black (40th Anniversary Series)
by John Kelman
They may be rolling out slower than fans would like, but given the superlative work that Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson has been doing to bring the decades-old King Crimson catalog into the 21st century--creating vibrant new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes, with Crimson co-founder/guitarist Robert Fripp's direct involvement and/or approval--he can be forgiven for taking the extra time to get them just right. So far, Wilson has managed to respect the original material, while creating more three-dimensional audio landscapes ...
Continue ReadingKing Crimson: In the Wake of Poseidon (40th Anniversary Series)
by John Kelman
Considered a poor cousin to In the Court of the Crimson King (DGM Live, 1969), 1970's In the Wake of Poseidon may possess superficial similarities to its groundbreaking predecessor, but as a 2005 All About Jazz review of an earlier edition suggested, ..."Poseidon also hints of changes in the wind." Part of the second round of 40th Anniversary Series CD/DVDA remasters/expansions of the King Crimson catalog along with 1971's Islands, Poseidon deserves reconsideration for its transitional music, Porcupine Tree founder ...
Continue ReadingIslands (40th Anniversary Series)
by John Kelman
With iconic progressive rock progenitor King Crimson's first batch of 40th Anniversary Series reissues, sole remaining co-founder, guitarist Robert Fripp--and, perhaps more importantly, Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson--embarked on a program that will, over the next couple years, bring Crimson's catalog into the 21st century, with double-disc reissues featuring (for the most part) brand new mixes in CD and DVDA format, and a plentiful bounty of previously unavailable bonus features, ranging from studio outtakes and live performances in audio format, to ...
Continue ReadingKing Crimson: Red (40th Anniversary Series)
by John Kelman
With numerous “definitive" editions already out, what can one more kick at the can of progressive rock progenitor King Crimson's discography offer? Plenty. With the entire Crimson catalog being remixed, remastered, and offered as CD/DVD-A sets that include stereo and 5.1 surround remixes in MLP Lossless, PCM Stereo, and DTS 5.1 formats, based on the first two 40th Anniversary Series releases--1975's Red and 1969's seminal In the Court of the Crimson King--they've simply never sounded this good. With added audio ...
Continue ReadingLizard (40th Anniversary Series)
by John Kelman
Often forgotten and sometimes maligned, Lizard is a King Crimson classic that's waited to be found for nearly 40 years. When it was first released in 1970, it was quickly overlooked as a transitional album between the group that recorded/released/toured its seminal debut, In the Court of the Crimson King (DGM Live, 1969) and the Crimson incarnation that would hit the road in support of Islands (DGM Live, 1971) a little over two years later. Lizard was never toured, but ...
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