Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

I haven't heard any Kapia, yet either, though not really willing to due to reviews, however I might one day check their best rated album...

BTW Roger, very nice review!


Edited by The Quiet One - June 03 2009 at 15:31

Mindrevolution doesn't strike me as prog. I may get some flack for this but the vocals made me think of Disney songs or something along those lines. It took me a while but I think I've finally levelled off at liking 80--90% of the album. I've also got Angling Feelings and their 70s stuff but those are pretty new and I haven't really listened to them.

I haven't listened to TFK as long or as often as I used to recently. I imagine once the weather gets better around here and it actually feels like summer, they'll come back to the front.

Roland113 wrote: Roj, I'm curious as to what you think of Flower Power, let us know once you listen to it.

He guys, we often talk about the TFK related bands and solo artists but then we always forget about Kaipa. It's Rione's first band and was around them already in the seventies ! I just heard a song by Kaipa on Morow and it didn't sound bad at all. Though their album Mindrevolutions was not impressive to me. Especailly the vocals are below par. Anybody who knows Kaipa really well and did they ever make a masterpiece ?

Edited by progrules - June 03 2009 at 08:47

Roland113 wrote: Speaking of things in my mailbox . . . Frequency arrived the other day, I've given it a few listens and have a mixed review so far.  Some songs are great, other songs are unremarkable to my ears.  The look of the CD is great and the extra DVD is a lot of fun.  Great live version of The Seventh House on it.

Well the final two TFK albums have arrived in Roj's mail box.

infandous wrote: Roj M30 wrote: progkidjoel wrote: Can someone please reccomend a good begginer's album from The Flower Kings? I'm buying a CD for my dad as a thankyou for him buying me about 12 Marillion albums on eBay in the last 3 months, and I've heard alot of good about this band. He usually listens to Symphonic prog, mainly YES, Genesis and ELP, but he also LOVED "This Strange Engine" by Marillion, and also really enjoyed his birthday gift (From a loving son) of Porcupine "Tree's Stupid Dream"... thanks for all help, -Joel G   Well Joel, my recommendation would be definitely Space Revolver.  It's a consistently brilliant album and I found it very accessible (some TFK albums take quite a few spins to "get into").  The material is varied, mainly symphonic but with jazzy interludes and some truly stunning ambient parts.  Also, it's a single disc so may be the best starter. I find it hard to imagine how any true prog fan could NOT find something to love on this album.   I personally started with Stardust We Are, and that's my favourite TFK album, but for a smaller package that's very high on quality and consistency, I'd recommend Space Revolver.  I'd be interested to see what the rest of the fanboys think!  Strangely enough, I agree with this recommendation I would be inclined to suggest Retropolis, because that was my first and it hooked me completely on just one listen, but I get the sense that other folks don't hold it in nearly as high esteem as I do.  And Space Revolver is just an all around great introduction to the band, having lots of variety and some of their best songs (and I can't imagine any Yes fan that wouldn't love the finale of I AM THE SUN).

Like Infandous I started with Retropolis as well and it too hooked me so I would recommend Retropolis as a starting point.  It's easily accessable with a lot of references to more familliar bands like Yes and Genesis.  Also, as Prog Kid Joel pointed out, his Dad is already appreciative of Prog Rock, I wouldn't want to start him out on arguably their best CD.  Just about everyone says that Retropolis is at least good but some of their later CD's are even better.  Rather than starting out a new fan with their best output, I'd recommend giving him a bit of room to grow into the band.  Give him a chance to grow in to a band rather than start at a pinnacle with the possibility of everything being downhill from there.

I like the Stardust We Are, as it's also my first TFK album.

Can someone please reccomend a good begginer's album from The Flower Kings?

I'm buying a CD for my dad as a thankyou for him buying me about 12 Marillion albums on eBay in the last 3 months, and I've heard alot of good about this band.

He usually listens to Symphonic prog, mainly YES, Genesis and ELP, but he also LOVED "This Strange Engine" by Marillion, and also really enjoyed his birthday gift (From a loving son) of Porcupine "Tree's Stupid Dream"...

thanks for all help,
-Joel G

Here's my The Garden review by Unitopia: http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=217512