PARADOX HOTEL

This is the first album by the amazing Swedish rock band led by veteran guitarist Roine Stolt that I acquired and boy am I glad I did! Now I'm hooked to this band! Being a fan of the classics I didn't listen to much new prog at the time but this band caught my ears and made me feel comfortable buying more newer prog. Listening to their music I find that they sound very much like seventies prog almost a mix between Queen, Yes, and Pink Floyd yet they have their own distinctive sound. 4.2 stars for this one. Although consisting mainly of good tracks there are some that are just thrown in there such as Bavarian Skies and the seemingly pointless introduction Check In. Lucy Had a Dream is a nice song which goes to show you that not all good guitar riffs have been stolen. The slow-to- start What If God Is Alone is a good song and Mommy Leave the Light On sounds like something Roger Waters would have written. The epic track, Monsters and Men is one of the best tracks they've ever released sounding like a Yes epic such as Gates of Delirium and Pink Floyd epic such as Echoes at the same time. The filler (which it is filled with) is actually decent filler so it doesn't drag much.

All-in-all this is a very well put together album. (Although, what up with the artwork?)

EDIT 7/20/2011:

Oh my, how the tables have turned.

Although at times I'm proud of my changing tastes, it's albums like these that it makes me sad. I still love Paradox Hotel, I really do, moments of this record are absolute genius. But I have to admit, more than half of the double album is filler.

The good news is, when it's good, it's REALLY good. The long tracks especially really are The Flower Kings at their absolute best but songs like Hit Me With a Hit really bring down the overall quality.

I'll forever love you Flower Kings, 3 stars.