All art is a subjective experience, and as such, universally speaking, there is no best. It all depends on what people find in the art, that which speaks to them, that which they find more important.
As one looks at the entirety of the human race, it can be apparent as to what everyone actually needs, that does them the most good, and that is what I find in my preference of my most important art, that which is best, to me, for the entirety of the whole world, what is actually best for everyone.
For me there are so many, so it's impossible to name the best 'one,' but here are three that are very close to the top, not so coincidentally from the same group and album. The music on the entire album is top notch, as well as it's lyrical content. It is in fact Progressive rock and was released in 1969, during the Vietnam war. As history repeats itself, when shall we ever learn.
This album, one of many, that has lent to my philosophy.
The whole album is worth a listen, if you like prog rock, performed by talented musicians. Many have stated that the album was ahead of it's time, I concur, you?
(Find links and lyrics to 3 of my favorite tracks below, though all tracks are awesome.)
Here’s a:
Review by Bruce Eder:
"The group's definitive album, and one of the most daring debut albums ever recorded by anybody. At the time, it blew all of the progressive/psychedelic competition (the Moody Blues, the Nice, etc.) out of the running, although it was almost too good for the band's own good -- it took King Crimson nearly four years to come up with a record as strong or concise. Ian McDonald's Mellotron is the dominant instrument, along with his saxes and Fripp's guitar, making this a somewhat different-sounding record from everything else they ever did. And even though that Mellotron sound is muted and toned down compared to their concert work of the era (e.g., Epitaph), it is still fierce and overpowering, on an album highlighted by strong songwriting (most of it filled with dark and doom-laden visions), the strongest singing of Greg Lake's entire career, and Fripp's guitar playing that strangely mixed elegant classical, Hendrix-like rock explosions, and jazz noodling. Lineup changes commenced immediately upon the album's release, and Fripp would ultimately be the only survivor on later King Crimson records."
Artist:
King Crimson in 1969 was: Robert Fripp / Michael Giles / Greg Lake / Ian McDonald / Peter Sinfield
Album:
In the Court of the Crimson King
1) 21st Century Schizoid Man including Mirrors
2) I Talk to the Wind
3) Epitaph including March For No Reason & Tomorrow And Tomorrow
4) Moonchild including The Dream & The Illusion
5) The Court of the Crimson King including The Return of the Fire Witch & The Dance of the Puppets
---Moonchild is a really sweet, while quite gothic IMHO---
The 1st track:
21st Century Schizoid Man including Mirrors
Lyrics:
===================
Cats foot iron claw
Neuro-surgeons scream for more
At paranoia's poison door.
Twenty first century schizoid man.
Blood rack barbed wire
Politicians funeral pyre
Innocents raped with napalm fire
Twenty first century schizoid man.
Death seed blind mans greed
Poets starving children bleed
Nothing hes got he really needs
Twenty first century schizoid man.
The 3rd track:
Epitaph including March For No Reason & Tomorrow and Tomorrow
Lyrics:
===================
The wall on which the prophets wrote
Is cracking at the seams.
Upon the instruments of death
The sunlight brightly gleams.
When every man is torn apart
With nightmares and with dreams,
Will no one lay the laurel wreath
When silence drowns the screams.
Confusion will be my epitaph.
As I crawl a cracked and broken path
If we make it we can all sit back
And laugh.
But I fear tomorrow Ill be crying,
Yes I fear tomorrow Ill be crying,
Yes I fear tomorrow Ill be crying.
Between the iron gates of fate,
The seeds of time were sown,
And watered by the deeds of those
Who know and who are known;
Knowledge is a deadly friend
If no one sets the rules.
The fate of all mankind I see
Is in the hands of fools.
<instrument solos>
The wall on which the prophets wrote
Is cracking at the seams.
Upon the instruments of death
The sunlight brightly gleams.
When every man is torn apart
With nightmares and with dreams,
Will no one lay the laurel wreath
When silence drowns the screams.
Confusion will be my epitaph.
As I crawl a cracked and broken path
If we make it we can all sit back and laugh.
But I fear tomorrow Ill be crying,
Yes I fear tomorrow Ill be crying,
Yes I fear tomorrow Ill be crying,
Crying......
Crying......
Yes I fear tomorrow Ill be crying,
Yes I fear tomorrow Ill be crying,
Yes I fear tomorrow Ill be crying,
Crying.....
The 5th track:
The Court of the Crimson King including The Return of the Fire Witch & The Dance of the Puppets
Lyrics:
===================
The rusted chains of prison moons
Are shattered by the sun.
I walk a road, horizons change
The tournament's begun.
The purple piper plays his tune,
The choir softly sing;
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue,
For the court of the crimson king.
The keeper of the city keys
Put shutters on the dreams.
I wait outside the pilgrim's door
With insufficient schemes.
The black queen chants
the funeral march,
The cracked brass bells will ring;
To summon back the fire witch
To the court of the crimson king.
The gardener plants an evergreen
Whilst trampling on a flower.
I chase the wind of a prism ship
To taste the sweet and sour.
The pattern juggler lifts his hand;
The orchestra begin.
As slowly turns the grinding wheel
In the court of the crimson king.
On soft gray mornings widows cry
The wise men share a joke;
I run to grasp divining signs
To satisfy the hoax.
The yellow jester does not play
But gentle pulls the strings
And smiles as the puppets dance
In the court of the crimson king.
Edit: Lyric Correction
