Red (studio album) by King Crimson

If I had a nickel for every time the penultimate track in a King Crimson album was mostly uneventful, I’d have two nickels. It’s not a lot, but it’s weird it happened twice, right?

Red, while being the best album by King Crimson in my opinion, has its flaws, mostly with its penultimate track, Providence. Being one of the two instrumentals on the album (which is pretty big knowing that the album only has five songs), it had the chance to shine just as bright as the title track, also an instrumental, but has a habit of being silent and kind of boring, although nowhere near as bad of a case as Moonchild. However, Providence does have its moments near the beginning, and through the last part of the song, which is a great moment in progressive rock. That’s my only complaint! Providence should’ve been more eventful.

Every other track is nearly perfect, as well as the closer, Starless, being a 10/10 song and one of the greatest endings to an album (and to a band, at least temporarily) of all time. Unlike Providence, every single moment is captivating. An album with Starless is not one that should be devoid from this website’s top 100 albums. Come on, people! Rate this album higher!

A strong progressive rock record from King Crimson that might not be their best work but it is definitely up there. There are 5 songs in total with 1 being great, 3 of them being outstanding and 1 being mediocre. The weak track is Providence with its unnecessary exaggerations of prog music that have not aged well at all . It is quite a long song as well and so it really drags this record down. Despite this, everything else is consistently great or better. The bookends are where the album peaks for me with a sensational opener that has some stunning instrumentation across the whole song. Then there is the closer which is one of the greatest songs the group have ever released and it always makes the album worth listening to as it just leaves you feeling fulfilled. The performances across all the 4 good songs are brilliant with Robert Fripp being a standout for me. Overall, this is an elite prog album which could be so much better if that one song was cut but even with it included it still deserves a lot of praise for it high quality.

I'v never been a dedicated fan of King Crimson, but I've really tried, I have their seven first records. This one I think is one of the better ones, very good compositions and melodies. Starless is the band at their best.

Nearly perfect album.

Likely their strongest album outside of the near perfect debut. Starless is just a stunning track!

I had high expectations for that record and tehy are mostly flufilled. Red is a kickass starter to the album of the same title and then Fallen Angel is even better, actually it's one of their best songs, One More Red Nightmare is great but a little too long and then the lowest point of the record which is Providence - this is experimental nonsense that could be twice shorter, but the ending track Starless is making this album 10 times better, such a beautiful piece of music. Overall their second best after In The Court Of The Crimson King.

King Crimson went out with a bang. After this, Fripp, Wetton and Bruford went their separate ways. What a way to end an era.
KC isn't only responsible for helping prog rock to emerge. They also put the final nail in the coffin with Starless. Fripp's one-note solo on this amazing piece of music is quintessential anti prog.

This album isn't perfect. But the highlight are so high.

Very strong progressive rock album from King Crimson. Features the career highlight Starless and some other great tracks, like Fallen Angel and One More Red Nightmare. It's not the most accessible prog album (nor is it King Crimson's best, see ITCOTCK), but it's a really good one once you absorb the sound it's going for. Bill Bruford on drums and John Wetton on base really shine in this lean King Crimson lineup, all behind the genius of guitarist Robert Fripp of course. Must-listen for prog fans, recommended for all.

From Larcx13 05/31/2021 00:58

The execution on the last track could've been a bit better than it is, mostly the guitars, but what an amazing record.

From Jbalbinolr 05/02/2021 23:53

The most influential album from the band.