Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

progrules wrote: M27Barney wrote: Roj M30 wrote: Well Rob, I agree fully on Stardust We Are.  It's superlative and my favourite TFK album too . I totally disagree on Dark Side Of The Moon though.  I personally think it's a great and timeless album.  There's many many discs in the upper reaches of the PA Top Albums that are much worse in my humble opinion. Let's stick on concerting our efforts to get TFK's albums higher in the ratings rather than resorting to these tactics.  Us TFK fans, we're much better than that. By the way, did you ever get a response from Sean Trane?    Mr Trane outlined his position as a reviewer - I think thats fair enough - He's not keen on Contemporary symphonic prog bands - His reviews reflect this............   Then mr Trane is a pretty short-sighted guy and it's his loss, right ?

Edited by Sean Trane - March 30 2021 at 16:59

Sean Trane wrote: progrules wrote: M27Barney wrote: Roj M30 wrote: Well Rob, I agree fully on Stardust We Are.  It's superlative and my favourite TFK album too . I totally disagree on Dark Side Of The Moon though.  I personally think it's a great and timeless album.  There's many many discs in the upper reaches of the PA Top Albums that are much worse in my humble opinion. Let's stick on concerting our efforts to get TFK's albums higher in the ratings rather than resorting to these tactics.  Us TFK fans, we're much better than that. By the way, did you ever get a response from Sean Trane?    Mr Trane outlined his position as a reviewer - I think thats fair enough - He's not keen on Contemporary symphonic prog bands - His reviews reflect this............   Then mr Trane is a pretty short-sighted guy and it's his loss, right ?   It's my loss allright, but short-sfghtedness is on your side   I figured my case was being discussed somewhere on this board..... since I've been getting complaints of my reviews......(one being three years old)     You can figure that  this ONLY happens to my TFK reviews. I've dealt some negative reviews to Caravan, Area, ELP, Spock's Beard, Marillion, even Floyd or Tull, but I never get anyone to complaint.   I've been even accused od skewing the ratings(as if my 1 would affect bu more than 0.03 the overall ratings)  >> and this very person wants to skew Dark Side in retaliation >>> GET A LIFE, buddy!!!     You guys need to come to grips that this swedish combo is not unanymously loved and praised by everyone and that the odd negative review can only do some good (like wake-up)   This guy (Stolte) writes "prog" on an industrial scale with TFK and his other projects , that only  Wilson and Zuffanti can follow....

Mr. Trane,

If it helps at all, I believe the reason that you're getting complaints, particularly about your "Flower Power" review is that it's the first review on the album page.  Not only is it a dismissive review but you admit in the review that you didn't even listen to all of it.

I've not personally complained but I do understand the point of the complaints.  I believe if your review had been less prominent, you'd not have had nearly the continuing string of complaints.

Sean Trane wrote: Roland113 wrote: Sean Trane wrote: progrules wrote: M27Barney wrote: Roj M30 wrote: Well Rob, I agree fully on Stardust We Are.  It's superlative and my favourite TFK album too . I totally disagree on Dark Side Of The Moon though.  I personally think it's a great and timeless album.  There's many many discs in the upper reaches of the PA Top Albums that are much worse in my humble opinion. Let's stick on concerting our efforts to get TFK's albums higher in the ratings rather than resorting to these tactics.  Us TFK fans, we're much better than that. By the way, did you ever get a response from Sean Trane?    Mr Trane outlined his position as a reviewer - I think thats fair enough - He's not keen on Contemporary symphonic prog bands - His reviews reflect this............   Then mr Trane is a pretty short-sighted guy and it's his loss, right ?   It's my loss allright, but short-sfghtedness is on your side   I figured my case was being discussed somewhere on this board..... since I've been getting complaints of my reviews......(one being three years old)     You can figure that  this ONLY happens to my TFK reviews. I've dealt some negative reviews to Caravan, Area, ELP, Spock's Beard, Marillion, even Floyd or Tull, but I never get anyone to complaint.   I've been even accused od skewing the ratings(as if my 1 would affect bu more than 0.03 the overall ratings)  >> and this very person wants to skew Dark Side in retaliation >>> GET A LIFE, buddy!!!     You guys need to come to grips that this swedish combo is not unanymously loved and praised by everyone and that the odd negative review can only do some good (like wake-up)   This guy (Stolte) writes "prog" on an industrial scale with TFK and his other projects , that only  Wilson and Zuffanti can follow....     Mr. Trane, If it helps at all, I believe the reason that you're getting complaints, particularly about your "Flower Power" review is that it's the first review on the album page.  Not only is it a dismissive review but you admit in the review that you didn't even listen to all of it. I've not personally complained but I do understand the point of the complaints.  I believe if your review had been less prominent, you'd not have had nearly the continuing string of complaints.   Mmmmmmhhh!!!.... I can see that this might irk a few fans, and I'm the last one who realised that. And there isn't much I can do, either. Dates can't be changed   Well recent attacks were about Space Revolver ans Sum Of No Evil and were questionning my integrity (asif it was possible NOT to love TFK) as a collab.

Sean trane is a very good reviewer, unfortunately his TFK reviews are pointless and probably only written as an outlet for his annoyance with the band. If they're written just to annoy others then that's even worse.


Edited by Dirk - August 13 2009 at 10:27

Just for the record guys, while we, the regulars of this thread all pretty much disagree with Mr. Trane's reviews of The Flower King's CD's, I believe that it shows a sign of character for him to take the time to come in to the lion's den so to speak and at least address our concerns. 

One other note, the reason for the continued dissension for "Space Revolver" is much the same as with "Flower Power", it's the first one.  Mr. Trane, you're also the first to have reviewed "Back in the World of Adventures", "Retropolis" and "Stardust We Are"  and the second for "Unfold the Future".  As for, "The Sum of No Evil" Mr. Trane's review came through in the middle of the latest batch of angst in this thread.  By the same token, I'd guess that you get the occasional complaint about your review of "Subterranea" by IQ as well.

At the same time, we (the regulars) are missing a prime opportunity here.  Mr. Trane is here, monitoring this thread.  Use the opportunity to try and show him what you enjoy about the band.  Highlight the good points about the band or about the community that we've developed within this thread rather than just react.  We've talked about how much we love the band for thirty six pages, engaging someone  who doesn't like the band in a mutually respectful debate on the subject seems to be a lot more productive.

Here is my question, and this is truly meant to initiate a constructive conversation.  Mr. Trane, why do you give "Back in the World of Adventures" a three star rating vs two stars for "Stardust We Are" vs a one star rating for "Space Revolver".  From the reviews, I don't understand what specifically you liked more about "Back in the World . . . " than the lower rated CD's.  The tone of all three reviews was similar yet each had a different rating?

Sincerely,

Tom

progrules wrote: Roland113 wrote: Just for the record guys, while we, the regulars of this thread all pretty much disagree with Mr. Trane's reviews of The Flower King's CD's, I believe that it shows a sign of character for him to take the time to come in to the lion's den so to speak and at least address our concerns.  One other note, the reason for the continued dissension for "Space Revolver" is much the same as with "Flower Power", it's the first one.  Mr. Trane, you're also the first to have reviewed "Back in the World of Adventures", "Retropolis" and "Stardust We Are"  and the second for "Unfold the Future".  As for, "The Sum of No Evil" Mr. Trane's review came through in the middle of the latest batch of angst in this thread.  By the same token, I'd guess that you get the occasional complaint about your review of "Subterranea" by IQ as well. At the same time, we (the regulars) are missing a prime opportunity here.  Mr. Trane is here, monitoring this thread.  Use the opportunity to try and show him what you enjoy about the band.  Highlight the good points about the band or about the community that we've developed within this thread rather than just react.  We've talked about how much we love the band for thirty six pages, engaging someone  who doesn't like the band in a mutually respectful debate on the subject seems to be a lot more productive. Here is my question, and this is truly meant to initiate a constructive conversation.  Mr. Trane, why do you give "Back in the World of Adventures" a three star rating vs two stars for "Stardust We Are" vs a one star rating for "Space Revolver".  From the reviews, I don't understand what specifically you liked more about "Back in the World . . . " than the lower rated CD's.  The tone of all three reviews was similar yet each had a different rating? Sincerely, Tom   Nice try Tom, I appreciate it. You are obviously showing yourself the wise man of the bunch but I´m not sure if mr Trane is willing to handle a serious conversation. He just tried to ridicule me on my own topic about discographies. That doesn´t sound very constructive to me. My thought is that his reviews should be changed into ratings without review which would also mean they only count for 1 instead of 10. It would be justified because it happened to me too in the past. Reviews that are not adequate because you explain not enough about the album should be removed. Period.

Yeah, but your comment about your respective ratings of Script For A Jester's Tear gave me a good chuckle

I had written a long and appeasing post last night, but I lost it somehow... I didn't have the courage to re-write (it was 3 AM), but I will try it again ASAP

Edited by Sean Trane - March 30 2021 at 17:04

Sean Trane wrote: [ To discover (and collect all 10 CD's) TFK's in the last six months has been a very pleasurable experience. I shall complete the reviews and later in the year I will know the FLOKIS studio work enough to indulge in a bit of top 10 epics and that sort of mularki. .....

Ok, so we're rating epics here:

1. I am the Sun
2. Garden of Dreams
3. Stardust We Are
4. The Devil's Playground
5. Love is the Only Answer
6. The Truth Will Set You Free
7. Monsters and Men
8. Love Supreme
9. Driver's Seat
   

Sorry guys, despite my love for Paradox Hotel, "Monsters and Men" is one of my least favorite epics by them.  It's not that I don't like it, it's just that I like the rest better.

If I might interject, one of the problems that we have here is that the scope of bands/artists on PA and the music that falls under the "prog rock" umbrella is so expansive there are going to be differences of opinion such as these.  I have found that there tends to be 3 or 4 different cliques within PA.  Of course there are the pre-1980 cliques who hate everything released after Relayer or Going for the One.  Then there is the RIO/Avant / jazz-rock clique that hate everything without an oboe, flugelhorn or saxophone as the lead instrument and the more the dissonance the better.  Then of course there are those who like there music faster than fast and if the playing on the newest release isn't faster and louder than the previous release then it sucks.  And finally, you have those fans that like their 70's prog because they like the sound of it, and they like post-Relayer bands that have a sound that is in common with the pre-Relayer releases, and hence why they like it.  As always, there are those who belong to multiple cliques and those that belong to none of these, but it is these cliques that tend to be "at each others' throats" the most, if that makes sense.   (I guess that I forgot the Post-rockers, but they are generally pretty quiet, kind of like their music ).  It just is what it is.  From a personal standpoint, I have to be honest when I say that I give little weight to Sean Trane's reviews, even though he is the most prolific reviewer.  The reviews that I have read from him have shown me that our tastes are very different.  His 5 star albums are probably 2 or 3 stars for me, while his 1 and 2 stars are probably 4 or 5 stars for me.  (Not all, but it seems to be a general rule).  And although I think that it is a shame that he finds an album that I like to be a 1 star and thus brings down the rating, that is the unfortunate consequences of having a site that attracts such a wide variety of music and such a wide variety of fans.

Edited by rushfan4 - August 14 2009 at 08:46