Islands

King Crimson

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 20, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 1971
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Discipline Us
• ASIN: B00064WSNC
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,580 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
2004 reissue of the band's 1971 album. Discipline label.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quiet and brooding release from King Crimson, January 19, 2006

By	Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I really enjoy this 1971 release by King Crimson in spite of the fact that it is neither as wildly virtuosic nor heavy as the first album and the trio of brilliant albums released during 1973-1974. In contrast, Islands is largely quiet and brooding, with dark, low tones played on reed, brass, and string instruments, woodwinds, along with moody mellotron pads here and there. With respect to the new band members, bassist Boz Burrell's lack of familiarity with the electric bass and his admittedly simplistic approach to the instrument might not have worked in any other setting but works well in this stripped down context. Fortunately, his lack of playing ability is more than compensated for by his great vocal abilities, superior acoustic bassist Harry Miller (his bowed and plucked parts are featured on the first piece), and superb drumming by Ian Wallace. Fripp of course is excellent as both a composer/arranger and guitarist, although his guitar playing is not featured prominently on this album - in fact, with the exception of a single, frenzied guitar solo on Sailor's Tale, the electric guitar is pretty much absent. Keboardist extraordinaire Keith Tippett is another person that I wish there was more of on this album. The pieces including Formentara Lady/Sailor's Tale, The Letters, and Islands are more or less similarly sullen, quiet, and acoustic, while the classically influenced instrumental Song of the Gulls is hauntingly beautiful and features a wonderful string arrangement written by Robert Fripp. In stark contrast to these five pieces is Ladies of the Road, which is a brash and vulgar song (with Beatle-esque undertones) that pays homage to groupies and is not terribly good, although Mel Collins sax solo is perfectly "brash and vulgar". Although this album may not be a fan favorite and the lineup was pretty awful live (listen to Earthbound for proof), I find great pleasure in the overall darkness and gloom of the recording. Although King Crimson would go on to greater things following this album, I consider this an excellent addition to any King Crimson collection.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Waves sweep the sand from my eyelids..., February 25, 2006

By	R. Recchia "the handsome bug" (Ithaca, ny) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Not nearly as weird and as jazzy as it's predecessor ' Lizard ' and not as heavy as it's studio successor ' Lark's Tongue ', 'Islands ' is to me an underrated classic by King Crimson. The arrangements are sparse, the mellow moments (which there are a bunch of here) are absolutely beautiful, the band rock out a few times (though maybe not enough), and the production nearly flawless.

As one other reviewer pointed out, Boz Burrell is given relatively simple bass lines, probably due to the fact that he didn't even PLAY bass before joining King Crimson...he was chosen as their bassist after Fripp heard him noodling around on a bass guitar and liked what he heard. Boz does play his bass parts well, however and also does a fine job singing. Saxist/flutist Mel Collins is his usual brilliant self, drummer Ian Wallace gives some underrated performances. As for Fripp himself, this album really was a showcase for his writing and arranging skills. He does get in some terrific guitar playing here and there, particularly on the very nasty and funny ode to groupies ' Ladies Of The Road ', especially during his solo, during which he seems to be fighting the rather awkward blues of the song itself! I also love Sinfield's naughty lyrics, Mel Collins entrance after the line " I smiled and just unzipped her.. ", the way Wallace comes in after the first verse, the refrain (done in 3/4 time), etc...

The only word to desribe the last two songs, ' Prelude: Song Of The Gulls ' and ' Islands ' is gorgeous. Actually, I CAN think of other words, like melodic, peaceful, tranquil, wonderful, sleep inducing, blah blah blah. My youngest brother and youngest sister thought that Boz sang ' eyelids ' instead of ' Islands '!

I like the second half better than the first, though that is certainly not a knock on the first half, which definitely has it's moments, like the opening song and Fripp's evil professor guitar playing during ' The Letters ', which gets my vote as the most depressing King Crimson ever..at least the lyrics.

This is a great album!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars so good, May 12, 2007

By	B. E Jackson (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What makes King Crimson so good is the fact that they write music in such a way where ANYTHING is possible. This means they can write music anyway they want. With that in mind, Islands continues with the enjoyable "weirdness" that Lizard did so well. The music on this album is only weird because it's unlike anything else I've heard.

I'm sure you'd agree that there's nothing more rewarding than being able to discover new things in music even after hearing the same songs over and over, a hundred times? That's what King Crimson did so well in the early days- they were apparently a band on a mission to toss in as many instruments and songwriting styles as possible, and putting songs together any way they felt like. The results are not only fantastic, but able to be played over and over, as you hear more sounds the more times you listen to the music. What a great band.

Islands doesn't quite remind me of an island, or outer space (well, except for Track 2). It's really a strange album. You'd be crazy if you went in expecting every note to click the first time you hear them. It doesn't happen that way. In fact, only the title track and that classical instrumental will be the only tunes you'll remember the first time you play the album. This is certainly an album that requires repeated listens.

Pick up Lizard first, then Islands. Two great albums.