SPACE REVOLVER

I had been into prog for abut 6 months and my dad bought me Mountains Come Out of the Sky from a Barnes and Noble in Alabama on the way home from our family's vacation. As I browsed the pages, I read stories of all the classic prog bands and then I looked at the modern prog section. I saw this picture of this blonde guy with a Parker Fly and the covers to Unfold the Future and a little bit of the Space Revolver cover. This intrigued me, being the guitar geek that I am. So, I eventually began to listen to The Flower Kings on Pandora and the first song was I Am the Sun pt. 2. I enjoyed it and a few others (The Truth comes to mind, too), but I went onto Spock's Beard and Porcupine Tree and bought some of their albums first. However, a few months ago, I got on a Flower Kings kick and decided to order Space Revolver and The Flower King. While I enjoyed The Flower King, Space Revolver really stuck with me and I've listened to it a lot since (just finished I Am the Sun pt. 2 while typing).

There's my story, now onto the album.

The album opens with one of the best intros ever to a record (though the same effect was used on The Sky Moves Sideways and All of the Above). I Am the Sun is a great piece with a rocking section, a jazzy one, and a strangely calm ending. Maybe I can get my friends to listen to this and convert them ;). 5/5 for sure

Dream on Dreamer's alright. Good bass and sax work, but nothing special. 2.5/5

Rumble Fish Twist, here we go. Great, great instrumental with the first taste of Jonas's unmistakable bass-soloing and Roine's solo during the slow section may be the best on the album. 4.25/5

Monster Within was a grower. First couple times I listened to it, I gave it a 3, as it seemed incohesive and the ending was really anti-climatic. Then it started growing on me and now It may be the best song on the record. Though the ending is still kind of boring, it provides a relaxing transition into the next track. 5/5

I love Chicken Farmer's song and I don't care who disagrees. I thought it would be a silly track, but it's actually very uplifting with a great chorus. 4/5

Underdog has an uplifting chorus and interesting lyrics, but there isn't much to say. Not bad, but not great either. 3.5/5

You Don't Know What You've Got and Slave to the Money get nearly the same rating, but for different reasons. The first is a nice little acoustic ballad with good harmonies. The second is proggier, but a little incohesive. However, it ends in a great guitar solo. 3 and 3.5/5 each.

The last two songs are really connected for me. A King's Prayer is so emotional , even if it rips off Carpet Crawlers with the piano lines in the first verse. The chorus is so symphonic and the guitar solo at the end is definitely the best on the album (beating RFT and STTM) and maybe even the record's best moment (though there are many to chose from. IT goes into the 1st song I ever heard by them: I Am the Sun pt.2. I love Roland113's story about how the whole epic is about a hero growing up and the beginning of pt. 2 reminds me of a children's nursery song and is so relaxing and melodic. When it goes back to the main theme, it comes with a BANG and leads to the majestic finally that'll bring a tear to any prog fan's eye. The fadeout at the end lasts a good minute, but once it ends, you are left speechless (it usually takes me a few minutes before I can listen to something else).

I love with this record as it is just so uplifting and emotional, not just because of the great instrumental performances, but the voices of Hasse and Roine interchanging just brings something new to this record. Oh, and this album introduced one of my favorite bass players to the world. Sadly, I don't think I can give it a five because, while great, it doesn't have the same effect as, say, Thick as a Brick. Many moments on the album are amazing, but I think 4 fits the best. To all TFK haters, give this record a try, I think you might like it ;)

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