100%. I see this a lot as a fan of The Mars Volta. A lot of fans think they've been getting worse since the first album or, at a push, the second. Their most recent work hasn't been well receieved and, while I also don't like it as much, I think it's amazing that they're still challenging themselves and finding a way to do things that fans don't expect. Since they refuse to retread ground, there's every chance the next album could be my favourite because I know I'll get to hear something new.

I really hate it when people think a band should make what they think the fans want. There's nothing wrong with just being a fan of an album rather than the band, and I'd argue being a fan of a band means being prepared to accept whatever they want to do with the risk that you may not enjoy it. Some people seem to take that as a betrayal.

Thank you very much.

I totally agree with you - you can't help what you like. It is not a decision even. But there is a difference between "their first album is my favorite", which is always a 100% legit thing to say, and "their first album is the best one". The latter is fine in many cases - bands like AC/DC or Cannibal Corpse, which deliberately are trying to consistently produce same or at least very similar music over and over, because that is their thing and decision, and that's what the fans want. But I stand by my argument that it is at least disappointing, if not disrespectful, in case of bands like King Crimson.

I wanted to comment on this sooner but Pixelween happened. Great rendition of a challenging cover! You handled the colours really well.

Really interesting commentary as well. Although to an extent you can't help what you like, I always think it's a shame when people don't want to meet art on the level it's trying to communicate. I guess it's easy to be blinded by our own preconceptions, but it also stops you from discovering so much amazing art.