Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

progrules wrote:   Good post Roland ! There are some meaningful and sharp points you are making here but that has also to do with me agreeing with you of course (about the70's point) . There's just one thing I do not completely agree with. Contrary to you I don't dislike Yes. But I do very well understand what you mean. I think Yes just made a (very) few very good songs during their large discography. To me those are the incredible Gates of Delirium and Close to the Edge. And I can only add  Awaken, Yours is no disgrace, Starship Trooper and And you and I to them as very good songs. The rest I don't really care about in fact. And then to think that many people dare to maintain that TFK is just a Yes-rip off band. I get so angry when I read such stupid nonsense . All facts considered Yes gets nowhere near TFK in my opinion. I'd better watch out now or it will be . Yes is sacred to many     I really like these talks about TFK compared to the ultimate greats on PA. I wanted to do this for a long time ! Thanks guys

Thanks PR,

And it's not that I dislike them, I just have a similar stance towards them as you do with Genesis, utmost respect, just can't really get into them and think they're over rated.  Though I'm creating a playlist with the songs that you recommend, well everything except Awaken.  I don't seem to have that song, which album if you know off the top of your head?

My very first FK impression was that they were a Yes imitator, the first CD that I picked up by them was Retropolis with the very Yeslike "There is More to this World".  That didn't bother me cause I still enjoyed the song, enough to explore more.  I picked up Stardust next and it was history from there.

I would hardly call them a Yes rip-off, frankly, I think they're far better.  On a musician by musician basis, the only Yes member that I'd take is Rick Wakeman.  I prefer Stolt over Howe. 

I like the Stolt / Froeberg combination better than Anderson on vocals.  I know this one would be unpopular but I think Anderson's voice is a little too pristine.  Very beautiful and clear though not quite as gritty as I'd like.

I don't care for their rhythm section, Squire and Bruford don't strike me as a rhythm section as much as competing soloists.  Even if I did like Chris Squire's style, Jonas Reingold blows him away from pure feel.  The last couple of minutes in 'The Devil's Playground' is some of the most compelling bass work that I've heard in quite a while.

Wakeman is fantastic, Bodin is great as well, I just think that Rick Wakeman wins on that one.

In all fairness, the Genesis comparison...give me Banks, Collins, Gabriel, Reingold and Stolt.

Gotta run or I'd probably keep going...

Peace

I don't know, but there's something I don't like about The Flower Kings. Sometimes they rock, but other times they get into cheesy stuff that almost sounds like a parody of prog-rock.

cacho wrote: Guys! Karmakanic's Who's the Boss in the Factory? arrived today, and it's fantastic!!!!!! Highly recomended for all of you here. A mix of the dark mood and chords of The Tangent and TFK's stunning melody and epicness.

 I agree ,Excellent record

Nov wrote: progrules wrote: Just another interesting thought. I recently shared my thoughts with Roj about Monsters & Men but just the other day another great song came to mind: Big Puzzle. Just have another listen to the part from 2:10 till 6:10. These must be amongst the best composed and executed minutes of music in history. How can anyone invent such brilliant stuff ? Only a genius I guess. One of the many reasons I'm in love with this band. Anyone that feels the same way about this song ? I love Big Puzzle To me it's one of TFK's very best tracks and the section you mention is just pure prog glory and right up there with anythingthat Yes or Genesis have produced (and I grew up with those bands). I'm currently listening to "Theme For A Hero" and it's glorious. This band should be massive.

cacho wrote: Guys! Karmakanic's Who's the Boss in the Factory? arrived today, and it's fantastic!!!!!! Highly recomended for all of you here. A mix of the dark mood and chords of The Tangent and TFK's stunning melody and epicness.

progrules wrote: Spot on post once more ! You have the gift to make every word count. I don't think the qualification newbie suits you, dude. Just keep sending in the posts (especially on this great thread ) and you'll be a groupie and senior in no time.

I might be a newbie on here but I'm a right old fart on the Genesis and Spock's Beard forums

Thanks for your kind words though and I look forward to plenty more TFK chat in this thread for months to come.

Have a look at how long the TFK threads have been going on the Genesis forums

Wow!!  So many posts this weekend  to all of you.

Edited by Roj M30 - March 16 2009 at 04:37

OK.  Inspired by Henk's (progrules) monumental top 50, here's my personal Flower Kings top 25, culled from the eight albums I have.  Can you tell which are the 2 I've not got .

progrules wrote: cacho wrote: Guys! Karmakanic's Who's the Boss in the Factory? arrived today, and it's fantastic!!!!!! Highly recomended for all of you here. A mix of the dark mood and chords of The Tangent and TFK's stunning melody and epicness.   I suggest you do the review then my friend. And please bring in another 5 starrating for it. I'm getting sick and tired of all those prog reviewers saying it's such a great album and still give it 4 (ONLY 4 that is) !!    The average rating is way too low for this masterpiece.

I do love some of the songs (especially Send a Message from the Heart) but I simply can't give it 5 stars. It isn't a "masterpiece" of prog nor is it "essential." I don't think it should ever go below 4 stars.

Roj M30 wrote: cacho wrote: ^ ...... I was planning to give it a 4 stars, to be honest, hahaha Just listened to it...   Glad you like it Pablo, it makes a change for me to recommend one for you .   I'd rate it as a 4.5 myself, but the first track is simply wonderful so I'd round up to 5, when I get the chance to post a review .