Tag: King Crimson

King Crimson – Model Man

This is my second King Crimson post. I’ve heard their debut album the most and I like it. I went exploring and found this one. I can hear the 80s in this but not as strong as some…I like the slide guitar sound of Robert Fripp in this song.

This song to me is bridged progressive rock with a more contemporary, new-wave-influenced sound. This song was not released as a single but has become a favorite among fans of King Crimson. Their 1980s lineup was Adrian Belew on vocals and guitar, Robert Fripp on guitar, Tony Levin on bass guitar, and Bill Bruford on drums. 

This song was on the album Three of a Perfect Pair released in 1984. It peaked at #58 on the Billboard Album Charts, #43 in Canada, and #30 in the UK. This song is only 3:49 but not your average pop song. They seem to like throwing curves and they did with this one…like with the slide I mentioned being slightly off by Fripp makes this interesting.

Three of a Perfect Pair is the third album in a trilogy that began with Discipline (1981) and continued with Beat (1982). In this period the band consisted of Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, and Bill Bruford.

Model Man

Look for the signsLook for the symptomsLook for the slightCalm before the storm

I feel the silenceI feel the signalsI feel the strainTension in my headWell, what more can be said

Not a model manNot a saviour or a saintImperfect in a wordMake no mistakeBut I give you everything I haveTake me as I am

Look for the signsLook for the symptomsLook for the slightCalm before the storm

I feel the silenceI feel the signalsI feel the strainTension in my headWell, what more can be said

Not a model manNot a saviour or a saintImperfect in a wordMake no mistakeBut I give you everything I haveTake me as I am

Not a model manNot a saviour or a saintImperfect in a wordMake no mistakeBut I give you everything I haveTake me as I am

Look for the signs

…

King Crimson – 21st Century Schizoid Man

This is my first King Crimson post. I’ve heard their debut album the most and I like it. I went exploring, found some others I liked, and wrote up one song (publishing later) but I decided to start with this. I have been a Robert Fripp fan from way back. This song is the opening track to their debut album In the Court of the Crimson King. I found out about this band through a big brother of a friend I have…the same one who introduced me to Big Star and The Grateful Dead.

The song was written by the original lineup of King Crimson, which included Robert Fripp (guitar), Greg Lake (bass and vocals), Ian McDonald (saxophone, flute, keyboards), Michael Giles (drums), and Peter Sinfield (lyrics). The debut album was called In The Court of the Crimson King. The album was a hit. It peaked at #5 in the UK, #27 in Canada, and #28 on the Billboard Album Charts in 1969.

For me to like progressive rock it has to have a good melody to it. King Crimson, ELP, and some of Yes do…, especially the live cuts. The musicianship on these albums is out of this world. I like this song’s changing time signatures and the rock, jazz, and classical feel.

This live cut is short but it’s the only thing I could find in this era. I always try to include a live version in the era it was released. 

21st Century Schizoid Man

Cat’s foot iron clawNeuro-surgeons scream for moreAt paranoia’s poison door.Twenty first century schizoid man.

Blood rack barbed wirePolititians’ funeral pyreInnocents raped with napalm fireTwenty first century schizoid man.

Death seed blind man’s greedPoets’ starving children bleedNothing he’s got he really needsTwenty first century schizoid man.