Band:	King Crimson
Album:	In The Wake Of Poseidon
Style:	Progressive rock
Release date:	May 15, 1970
Guest review by:	Harlequin Devon

01. Peace - A Beginning
02. Pictures Of A City
    1 - 42nd At Treadmill
03. Cadence And Cascade
04. In The Wake Of Poseidon
    1 - Libra's Theme
05. Peace - A Theme
06. Cat Food
07. The Devil's Triangle
    1 - Merday Morn
    2 - Hand Of Sceiron
    3 - Garden Of Worm
08. Peace - An End
09. Cat food [single version] [30th Anniversary Edition bonus]
10. Groon [30th Anniversary Edition bonus]

In the Wake of Poseidon is King Crimson's second album, and would be considered by many to be ground breaking. That would be the case if it wasn't so similar to their debut album In the Court of the Crimson King. Sure the production is cleaner, and there is an even bigger mellotron presence but that's where the differences end.

"Pictures of a City" is a slower, less dissonant "21st Century Schizoid Man". The three "Peace" songs and especially "Cadence and Cascade" share way too many structural elements to "I Talk to the Wind" ranging from the flute passages to the vocal lines. In The Wake of Poseidon's title track resembles "Epitaph" when it comes to creating a larger than life symphonic prog epic. "The Devil's Triangle" meanders and jams just like "Moonchild", except this time without being needlessly tedious, while at the same time having the grand scale of In The Court of the Crimson's King's title track with its heavy use of mellotron. The end of "The Devil's Triangle" even incorporates "In the Court of the Crimson King"'s iconic chorus at the end of the song swirled with "The Devil Triangle"'s own chaotic melodies.
The only truly unique song on this album is "Cat Food", a swinging, jazzy arrangement with the unique lyrical matter of just how awful fast food tastes.

Despite how negatively I depict In the Wake of Poseidon, it is not a bad album. In fact, if someone was to listen to this album before listening to In the Court of the Crimson King, they may even like it better because of the improved production, stronger vocals, and there is nothing as tedious or overindulgent as "Moonchild". However whenever I listen to it, all can think of is that King Crimson were treading water and sticking to what worked the last time around. In The Court of the Crimson King worked because it was so radically different to everything else at the time, establishing the blueprint for what became progressive rock. In the Wake of Poseidon ignores this element of progressing, instead settling on predictability making it an odd, but still enjoyable mark in the band's discography.