Islands (studio album) by King Crimson

Islands by King Crimson
Year: 1971
Overall rank: 2,241st   Overall chart historyOverall chart history
Average Rating: 
76/100 (from 301 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution   Average rating historyAverage rating history
Accolades:
Award Top albums of 1971 (49th)
Award Top albums of the 1970s (429th)
Award Best albums of all time (2,241st)
Product Details
Availability

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KING CRIMSON “ISLANDS” 1971 VINYL LP, GATEFOLD, ATLANTIC RECORDS, SHINY BEAUt NM
Condition: Used


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KING CRIMSON - Islands 1972 12” Vinyl LP Atlantic Records SD 7212 (EX/VG)
Condition: Used


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King Crimson Islands Vinyl Rare Club Edition 1ST 1972 SD7212 OG LP EX Prog Rock
Condition: Used


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King Crimson bestography

Islands is ranked 8th best out of 90 albums by King Crimson on BestEverAlbums.com.

The best album by King Crimson is In The Court Of The Crimson King (An Observation By King Crimson) which is ranked number 25 in the list of all-time albums with a total rank score of 30,558.

King Crimson album bestography « Higher ranked (2,223rd) This album (2,241st) Lower ranked (3,957th) »
In The Wake Of PoseidonIslandsBeat

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Islands track list

  Track ratingsTrack ratings The tracks on this album have an average rating of 82 out of 100 (all tracks have been rated).

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1.
Rating: 81 (66 votes)Comments: 2
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2.
Rating: 83 (66 votes)Comments: 3
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3.
Rating: 78 (59 votes)Comments: 1
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6.
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Rating: 86 (92 votes)Comments: 3
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Islands rankings

Islands collection

Islands ratings

Average Rating: 
76/100 (from 301 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.

Showing latest 5 ratings for this album. | Show all 301 ratings for this album.

Sort ratings
RatingDate updatedMemberAlbum ratingsAvg. album rating
 
70/100
 Report rating
11/25/2024 23:30 slatsheit  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1,93482/100
 
75/100
 Report rating
11/15/2024 03:00 davidleewrong  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 2,13381/100
 
85/100
 Report rating
10/30/2024 13:20 duelek  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 91681/100
 
35/100
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10/29/2024 04:20 Proto  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 2,23639/100
 
90/100
 Report rating
10/18/2024 13:40 Philly28  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 80468/100

Rating metrics: Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some albums can have several thousand ratings)

This album is rated in the top 6% of all albums on BestEverAlbums.com. This album has a Bayesian average rating of 75.9/100, a mean average of 75.9/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 76.1/100. The standard deviation for this album is 14.5.

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Islands comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 12 comments |
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Rating:  
70/100
From 01/12/2023 12:13
Islands did not grab me, and the recording or mixing lacked dynamics on earphones
Please leave jazz instruments to jazzmen..
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 01/23/2022 21:50
Frankly i really fo not understand why that's not considerated as a peak from King Crimson; after "In the Court" and "Red" is definitely my favourite: easier to listen respect others, but so lovely; hundred times prefer this kind of King Crimson respect the Discipline ones, and even respect the "Lark's Tongue" or "Starless" ones (tastes are tastes...)
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 11/05/2021 07:44
Few bands know to change their sound as often as King Crimson. This is their 4th album and their 2nd departure from earlier sounds.

The impressive thing is, they pull it off! This is a fantastic Jazz-influenced album. Listening is a journey, an experience.

Highlights: Formentera Lady, Sailor's Tale, The Letters, Islands
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
50/100
From 04/21/2019 08:54
The weakest of the first seven albums. However it is an album that still shows a willingness to experiment, and this is what we value in King Crimson.

I like The Letters, a sombre ballad. And Ladies of the Road has a very "Gentle Giant" feel to it.

But the title track "Islands" is probably the strongest on the album. Also nice touches sprinkled throughout from virtuoso Mel Collins.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 03/03/2019 16:02
Might not be their best and it doesn't really take a hold of you like some of their other albums do but it's still a good mellow album.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 10/09/2017 00:48
Sailor's Tale is my favorite on this album along with Formentera Lady, Prelude: Song of the Gulls and Islands. I don't know why but Radiohead's The National Anthem (from Kid A) keeps reminding me of Sailor's Tale. King Crimson has been playing this on their last two tours.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 06/08/2017 15:44
One of the overlooked King Crimson records, it's a perfect background music as well as a great chill album. Beautiful piano in many songs, love it
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 02/02/2017 18:48
The mellowest album ever
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 12/28/2016 05:26
Really underrated album. While it features one of King Crimson's less memorable lineups, "Islands" is definitely worth the listen.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +4 votes (4 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
75/100
From 11/24/2016 21:07
Favoritas: Prelude: Song Of The Gulls, Islands,Ladies Of The Road
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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Best Albums of 1971
1. Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) by Led Zeppelin
2. Who's Next by The Who
3. Hunky Dory by David Bowie
4. What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
5. Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
6. Blue by Joni Mitchell
7. Tago Mago by Can
8. Meddle by Pink Floyd
9. L.A. Woman by The Doors
10. Tapestry by Carole King
11. Fragile by Yes
12. Bryter Layter by Nick Drake
13. Master Of Reality by Black Sabbath
14. Aqualung by Jethro Tull
15. Ram by Paul & Linda McCartney
16. Electric Warrior by T. Rex
17. Imagine by John Lennon
18. Maggot Brain by Funkadelic
19. There's A Riot Goin' On by Sly & The Family Stone
20. At Fillmore East by The Allman Brothers Band
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