Three 65, Day 14
King Crimson, In The Court Of The Crimson King

Simply put, the best progressive rock album ever made. Yes may have been more popular, and Pink Floyd may have written better songs; Rush may have more bombast, and Genesis may have been more complicated. But for prog-rock heads, this album is where it's at.

Largely the brainchild of guitarist Robert Fripp, King Crimson has had many line-up changes over the years, but for this first, crucial album, it was Fripp on guitar, Greg Lake (of ELP) on vocals and bass, Michael Giles on drums, and Ian McDonald on everything else - from flute to keyboards. Which isn't to say McDonald's contribution is to be understated; if anything, he is responsible for some of the loveliest sounds on this album, which heavily features the ultimate in prog-rock instruments, the Mellotron.

The opening track, "21st Century Schizoid Man," is one of the first heavy metal songs ever recorded. Over shrieking horns and buzzsaw guitars, a heavily distorted Lake sings about cat's feet, iron claws, and neurosurgeons. Just when the song can't get any hairier, a free jazz interlude is dropped into the middle, and the effect is like dropping a nuke into a lake: Everyone gets wet. This track has influenced more artists than I can list, even making it so far as to be sampled on Kanye West's "Power."

"I Talk To The Wind" and "Moonchild" are beautiful, quieter English pastoral numbers, but the real treat here is the last track, "The Court Of The Crimson King." After a very brief drum opening, the Mellotron kicks in, and if anyone out there thinks such an instrument is, well, "mellow," this song proves them wrong. In fact, it sounds positively apocalyptic, especially when layered with Lake's vocal harmonics on the choruses.

A brief album at just under 45 minutes, Court would go on to influence nearly everyone. The band would go through many stylistic and personnel changes, ranging from instrumental prog to new wave to metal, with Fripp the only remaining member to survive every incarnation. And many of those albums are suggested, but none of them holds a candle to their debut.