Search - King Crimson :: Islands

Islands
King Crimson
Islands
Genres: Rock, Classic Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (6) - Disc #1

To celebrate King Crimson's 30th anniversary, Robert Fripp has remastered the catalog utilizing the latest in 24 bit technology. Islands is the album that cemented King Crimson's American fan base, being the basis of th...  more »

     
2

Larger Image

CD Details

All Artists: King Crimson
Title: Islands
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Virgin
Release Date: 3/1/2001
Album Type: Import
Genres: Rock, Classic Rock
Styles: Progressive, Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 724384894924

Synopsis

Album Description
To celebrate King Crimson's 30th anniversary, Robert Fripp has remastered the catalog utilizing the latest in 24 bit technology. Islands is the album that cemented King Crimson's American fan base, being the basis of their groundbreaking 1972 US tour. Includes the tracks 'Ladies Of The Road' & 'Sailor's Tale'.

Similar CDs


Similarly Requested CDs

 

CD Reviews

...Let me tell you of the sailor's tale, of islands galore..
Eddie Lancekick | Pacific Northwest | 01/29/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"King Crimson the band, in their own right, is like an ancient, lost civilization: They once ruled with dignity and style, class and power, and though they are not around any more, many of the things we have today still come from them, and their influence on rock music and progressive rock themes.



What makes this album stand out to me is the overall tone, the guitarwork is done extremely well and paces itself throughout with songs like "Formentera Lady" and "The Letters". Sailors tale and "islands" are also vintage prog rock. The sound quality is excellent and the mixture of overatures vs. jamming out type tunes weaves well in and out of each other to give us an extremely diverse, well recorded progressive rock treasure that is not listened to or discovered enough by the people who walk the planet today."
Beautiful, Intense, Sparkling,Chaotic, Wild, Weird, Restful
Talking Wall | Queen Creek, AZ | 07/31/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been listening to Crimson since that age of 16 in 1972. A "friend" got me fried on about 5 joints of weed(my first experience with pot and pretty much my last) and played "In the Court of the Crimson King" The weed experience didn't take but King Crimson sure did. When I recovered (and it took a few days!) I went down the mall from record store to record store buying up the catalog that did exist at the time (a whopping 4 albums). Island was the second King Crimson I purchased.



Many Crimso fans won't get this at all. It isn't full of blazing Robert Fripp guitar etudes but Fripp does note that his single echo guitar solo (lot's o' diminished and altered dominant chords played at alarming speed) Sailor's Tale was the beginning of the next phase of his playing style. Most of this session was pretty laid back, Formentera Lady has lots of windchimes and flute, they even hired a mezzo soprano singer with a very haunting voice. This gal is singing beautifully while Mel Collins plays a jazzy tenor solo complete with the odd Pharoah Sander honk and squawk here an there. This interlude evenually fades and Ian Wallace begins tapping out the time signature for The Sailor's Tale, Boz comes in with a jazzy (but repetitive bass line that Robert taught him to play) and then we get the urgent melody played in unison by Mel and Robert while Ian drives the whole thing along. This is a stunning, let me write that again, stunning moment in the Crimson catalog - a must have just for this little trilogy alone.



Rest of the Lp is good, others have mentioned the Beatlesque Ladies of the Road (Just want to feel your Fender?). Islands is another peaceful track that finishes up with a rousing cornet solo by Crimso guest Mark (Fallen Angel) Charig.



No, this isn't Fracture or Son of Fracture or Son of Fracture Junior. It's a different Crimso that, contrary to widely-held opinion, was a very good band... the other members left King Crimson to go play blues with Alexis Korner? That just doesn't make any sense to me.



The 30th anniversay edition was lovingly remastered. Buy it you Crim-head. You know you want to. [...]"
Definitely an underrated album
Joseph C. Helton | 09/15/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a jewel in the King Crimson catalog, make no mistake. It's a bit more subdued and introspective than other KC offerings, but it is outstanding. Definitely a good addition to your cd collection."